. O > • ^0 c " " ■= ♦ O '''^ A* •1 o c^'^. 0*0, O ' ...» A o > 4 O .•iq. ^* A ' .^" .40 yy . y^'s*'. .•i q. -'.-'. '> ' /\v;7^'\ c°^^^%'^°o /\c;^/'\ '^^ ""° - i^' >i?^- .^*" .^"^'^. <*•, '■cr. ^ V^ .•iq » ,'? A PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL 6 Y -/ RECORD "^ OK PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUTNTIES, OHLIO, CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY Prominent and Representative Citizens, TOGICTHEK WITH I'OKrHAITS AND MKKiK A I'M I I'.S ilK All llll P='RESIDENTS O F^ THE LJ N 1 T E D ESTATES, AM) liKKiKAI'llli'S ilK Till'. GOVERNORS OF OHIO. LOGANSHORT, I N D. A. \V. BO WEN & CO. 18©8. V- i-r O. '' FROM THE PRESS OF WILSON, HUMPHREYS k CO., FOURTH ST., LOGANSPORT, IND, '0/ INDEZX:. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Adams, J 29 Adams, J. Q 45 Arthur, C. A 117 Buchanan, J 80 Cleveland, S. G 121 Fillmore. M 72 Garfield, J. A 113 Grant, U. S 102 . Harrison, B 125 ^ Harrison, W. H 57 Hayes, R. B 106 /Jackson,, A 49 t Jefferson, T 33 ,' Johnson, A 98 / Lincoln, A 84 . McKinley, W 127 , Madison, J 37 1 Monroe, J 41 'Pierce, F TK v'Polk, J. K 64 V Taylor, Z 68 Tyler, J 60 / Van Buren, M 6:^ • Washington, G 25 PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS. Adams, J 28 Adams, J. Q 44 Arthur, C. A 116 Buchanan, J 81 Cleveland, S. G 120 Fillmore, M 73 Garfield, J. A 112 Grant, U. S 103 Harrison, B _ 124 Harrison, W. H 56 Hayes, R. B 107 Jackson, A 48 Jefferson, T. . Johnson, A.. . Lincoln, A. . . McKinley, W Madison, J. . . Monroe, J 32 99 8.5 127 ;{5 40 Pierce, F 77 Polk, J. K 66 Taylor, 7. 69 Tyler. J 62 \'an Buren, M 51 Washington, G 24 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. Allen, W 156 Anderson, C 1,52 Bartley, M 143 Bartley, T. W 142 Bebb, W 143 Bishop, R 157 Brough, J 150 Brown, E. A 136 Bushnell, A. S 163 Byrd, C. W 1,31 Campbell, J. E 162 Chase, S. P 147 Corwin, T 141 Cox, J. B 153 Uennison, W. J 148 Foraker, J. B 160 Ford, S 145 Foster, C 159 Hayes, R. B 154 Hoadly, G 160 Huntingdon, S 133 Kirker, T 133 Looker, 135 Lucas, R 139 McArthur, 1) 138 McKinley, W 162 Medill, W 146 Meigs, R.J 134 Morrow, J 138 Noyes, E. F 1.54 .Shannon, W 140 St. Clair, A 131 Tiffin, E 132 Tod, I 150 Trumbull, A 138 \ance, J 140 Wood, R 146 Worthington, I" 136 Voung, T. L 166 INDEX. PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES. Adams, B 107 Adams, F 167 Adams, W. H 988 Akron Chemical Co.. 173 Alford, W. V 3(59 Allen, A 582 Allen, G 1H8, 170 Allen, 1 174 Allen, G. L 170 Allen, M.J 585 Allen, P. L 578 Allen, R. H 168 Ailing, J 169 Ailing, \V 169 Allman, C 696 Allman,J 696 Andes, J 171 Andes, P 171 Arbogast, C 173 Arbogast, J. A 172 Aibuckle, T 759 Aultnian, H 186 Aultman, W 186 Bailey, E.B., Mrs.... 180 Bailey, G. VV 179 Bailey, \V 180 Baird, C 180 Baird, R 180 Baklwm, CO 883 Baldwin, E. L 182 Baldwin, H.. 708, 713,883 Baldwin, H., Sr 708 Baldwin, L.C 182 Barber, j 183 15arber, L 183 Barber, M 183 Barber, X. 1 183 Barholt, B 692 Barholt, H 691 Barker, J 439 Barker, L 439 Barker, \V 439 Barlow, F. F 595 Barnard, B 692 Barnard, J. B 692 Barnes, C. E 722 Barnes, P 722 Barnes, S 722 Barr, A 579 Barr, J .580 Bartholomew, C. A. . 881 Bartholomew, J 881 Bartholomew, J. P... 882 Bartholomew, 5s'. S. . 705 Bartholomew, W.... 881 Bauer, F.J 184 Bauer, J 184 Bean, F. 1 217 Beatty, H. L 191 Beatty, J. C 191,192 Beatty, R 191 Beattv, S 191 Becker, L. F 192 Becker, M 192 Beckley, N 194 Beebe, H. Y 195 Beebe, O. D 195 Beebe, VV. H 195 Benner, C. C 196 Benner, H 196 Benner, S 196 Bennett, D 197 Bennett, J. A '. ... 197 Bergin, P 198 Bergin, W 198 Betz, A 199 Betz, J 199 Betz, J. B 199 Bidleman, G 201 Bidleman, J 201 Bidleman, N. B 200 BiUau, J 202 Billow, G 202 Bisho]), G. L .580^ Bissell, J. M 947 Blackburn, T 600 Blackburn, W 600 Blackman, E. S .579 Bliss, E., Mrs 612 Bliss, F. W 581 Bliss, L 582 Boies, F. N 694 Boies, F. W 693 Boies, J 693 Bolender, G 204 Bolender, J 204 Bolender, S.J 204 Boosinger, C 209 Boosinger, J 209 Boslev, O 945 Boughton, A. L 441 Boughton, H. W.... 441 Bower. J 705 Bower, \V 703 Bowers, F 205 Bowers, H. F 205 Bowers, 1 205 Boyer, B. M 209 Boyer, G 209, 211 Boyer, M 211 Bracklow, W.J 212 Brewster, A 21.5, 696 Brewster, A. K 214 Brewster, G. \V 213 Brewster, H 206 Brewster, J. G. ..206, 508 Brewster, J. H 206 Brewster, S 214 Briggs, H 702 Briggs, X 703 Brittain, J. T 587 Brown, C. L 173 Brown, 1 173 Brown, J 213 Brown, S 214 Buck. H 440 Buck, J. E 440 Buck, O. H 440 Buehrla, A 707 Buehria, L 707 Buel, G. M 589 Buel, S .589 Burroughs, A 591 Burroughs, D 235 Burroughs, L 590 Burroughs, S 745 Burt, M 216 Burt, S. \V 216 Burt, W 216 Butler, F. \V 397 Butler, H. W 397 Byers, F 217 Byers, J. F 217 Cackler, C 218 Cackler, C, Sr 219 Cackler, T., Mrs 219 Canfield, \Y. H 220 Cannon, I 873 Cannon, J 833 Cannon, R. P 873 Caris, J 221 Caris, S 221 Caris, W. 1 221 Carr, O. B 443 Carr, S 442 Carson, D. D 714 Carson, G 717 Carter, A 591 Carter, IT.S 691 Carter, J. B 752 Carter, T. A 756 Case, A 312 Case, C 596 Case, H .593 Case, H., Mrs 593 Case, L 595 Case, R 695 Cassidy, J 717 Cassidy, J., Sr 718 Chalker, E 780 Chalker,J 222 Chalker, N 222 Chamberlain, M 886 Chamberlain, X 886 Chamberlain, W. E.. 597 Chapman, B 228 Chapman, E. E 229 Chapman, F. P 229 Chapman, W. D 229 Childs, D 223 Childs.O. D 223 Clapp, S. S 230 Clark, B.F 224 Clark, G. C 224 Clark, M. D 718 Cleaver, J. \" 231 Cline, J 749 Coe. E. J 888 Cole, A. S 234 Cole, B 232 Cole, J 232, 233 Conger, A. L 606 Conger, J 726 Conger, J. C 725 Conaghan, C. C 598 Conaghan, D 598 Conn, E 236 Coolman, D. C 234 Coolman, W 234, 235 Corbett, C 719 Corbett, L. S 719 Corbett, N 719 Cornell, 1 946 Courtney, F. E 238 Cox, C 237 Cox, C. L 237 Cox, J 237 Crane, CM 731 Crane, E. M 721 Crane Bros 720 Crane, E. P 728 Crane Family 720 Crane, F. T . .' 727 Cranz, D. E 239 Crawford, C 728 Crawford, J 728 Crocker, A 794 Crouse, G. W 165 Culver, CH 240 Cummings, C.W. A. TiO Cummings, M. B. . . . 730 Cuthbert, J 241 Cuthbert, S. B 240 Cutis, D. B 773 Cutts, R. B 771 Danforth, M. C 609 Danforth, \V 609 Daniels, F. J 7.35 Daniels, F. S 736 Danner, P 249 Danner, W 249 Darrow, C 247 Darrow, G 246 Darrow, G. L 246 Darrow, J 246 DarroNV, L 242 Darrow, X 246 Darrow, W 242 Davies, D 490 Davis, A 740 Davis, C M 248 Davis, E 738 Davis, E. S 737 Davis, F.J 738 Davis, G. S 446 Davis, J 738 Davis, J.C 444 Davis, J. D 248 Davis, M. H 443 Davis, O. A 739 Davis, W 445 Deisman, H. L 609 Deisman, W. H 608 Dell, J 732 Detweiler, S. D 740 Dickerson, F 745 Dickerson, W 745 INDEX. Dickinson, A Dickinson, H. B. Dickinson, W. J. Dickinson, W. P Doolittle, A Doolittle, A., Mrs, Doolittle, B Doolittle, H. A.. Doyle, W. B. .. Doyle, W. B.. Sr Duncan, C Duncan. | 248 247 447 248 747 74o 747 747 (il7 618 731 731 Ebright,G 24.5 Ebnght, L. S 24.5 Eckert, H. C 617 Eldridge, E .582 Ellsworth, H. F. . . . 616 Ellsworth, H.F., Mrs. 616 Ellsworth, H. L 617 Everett, J 496 Fairchild, E 250 Fairchild, I. 250 Fairchild, J 250 Falor, G. A 252 Falor, H.S... 252 Farrell, J. J 261 Farwell, C. H 619 Fauhle, M 621 Fauble, S 621 Feederle, H. O 263 Feederle, R 263 Fehler, A 252 Felmly, D. F 253 Felmly, J 264 Fenn, B 860 Fenn, J 264 Fenn, \.W 860 Fenn, P 865 Fenn, R 865 Fenn, T 867 Fenton, C 265 Ferguson, R 747 Ferguson, W 747 Firestone, T. L 266 Flath, P 256 Flemings, G. W 748 Flemings, R 749 Foltz, D 266 Foltz, G. K 268 Foltz, H. H 267 Foltz, M 257 Foltz, VV. K 2.56 Foote, E 259 Foote, F 269 Fosdick, M., Mrs 258 Fowler, E 264 France, E. E 260 France, J 260 Frank, D 267 Frank, P 267 Franks, E 269 Franks, 1 269 Franks, J 269 Fritz, H. A 7.50 Fritz, J 760 Fritz, P 760 Fry, J. S 756 Fry, W 756 Carl, R 435 Garl, S 435 Garrison, J 268 Garrison, M. G 268 Gaylord, C 7.57 Gavlord, J 270,757 Gaylord, .S 270,7.56 Gaylord, S., Mrs 766 Geidlinger, ¥ 271 Genereaux, N. F.... 626 George, T 812 Geyelin, G 271 Gilbert, C 751 Gilbert,!" 751 Gilbert, J. 1 272 Gilbert, 272 Gilmore, E., Miss.... 872 Gondy, J 821 Goodhue, N. P ... 284 Goodman, R 694 Graham, A 273 Graham, C 273 Graham, .S. H 449 Grant, C. R 567 Grant, H.C 274 Grate, G. 768 Grate, G.B '. . . 858 Grate, L 758,769 Gray, T. L 497 Green, C 276 Green, C. L., Mrs 277 Green, G. B 276 Green, S 276 Grether, J 283 Griest, C 628 Griest, S 628 Griffin, H. G 286 Griffin, S. B 286 Crinnell, \V 286 Gross, C 482 Grote, F 288 Grundel, J 288 Grundel,W. T 288 Haas, A 769 Haas, J 768 Haines, J 854 Hale, A 289,291 Hale, CO 290 Hale, J 291 Hale, T 290 Hall, A. C 294 Hall, A. W 292 Hall, C. A 294 Hall, J 296 Hall, J. A 295 Hall, J. W 296,296 Hall, R 292 Hallock, A. H 451 Hallock, G 451 Hammel, C 296 Hammel, P 296 Hammond, C. R 304 Hammond, F. P 304 Hammond, J 304 Hansel, W. M 948 Harden, C 760 Harden, J 760 Harding, B 297 Harding, E. F., Mrs. 298 Harding, VV 298 Harper, R.J 305 Harr, J 794 Harr, \V. H 793 Harrintrtnn, F. I. . . . 631 Harris," S. W 629 Harris, V. (i 463 Harris, W. H 630 Hart, G. VV 306 Hart, H 449 Hart, H.J 307 Hart, J. C 306 Hart, R :i05 Hartzell, D. H 7.59 Hartzell, S 760 H ask ins, A. M 767 Haskins, M. E ... . 767 Hathaway, J. A 638 Hausnian, H. A 307 Hausman, P 307 Hawk, M 639 Hawk, P 308 Hawkins, E. A 309 Hawkins, G.W 309 Hayes, E 793 Hayes, G 792 Hayes, \V. T 791 Haymaker, A. 0.-278,773 Haymaker, F 783 Havmaker, J. D..277,784 Haymaker, M.R., Mrs 780 Haynes, J 8.54 Hazen, C.J 310 Heath, T. E 311 Heath, T. F 311 Heighton, J 312 Heimbaugh, G 640 Heimbaugh, P 640 Heifer, G. H 313 Heifer, W. A 313 Heller, C. P 641 Heller, E 283 Heller, L 641 Hemlmg, K 314 Hentz, H 769 Hentz, P 769 Hershey, A 316 Hershey, B 316 Hershey, E. A 316 Hershey, G 317 Hershev, J 315,318 Hershev, O. R 317 Hiddleson, C. S 790 Hinman, J. B 779 Hinman, L 458 Hoffman, J. H 800 Hnlcomb, E 321 Holcomb, H 892 Holcomb, VV 324 H.ilcomb, VV. A.... 321 Holcomb, VV. B 891 Holloway.A ;^41 Hollowav, J.T 323 Holloway, W. F. ... *23 Holt, M , 277 Holzhauer, L 642 Hopkins, 1 450 Hopkins, R 450 Hopkins, T 799 Hopkins, T. T 799 Horner, J 950 Hough, VV. S 742 Houser, D 326 Houser, H. M 1326 Housley, J. L ;«8 Housley, I .328 Hottenstein, E. K... *25 Hottenstein, \V. J. . . 326 Howard, A. B. L . . . . 303 Howard, C. L 327 Howe, H.VV 329 Howe, R. K., Mrs... :i30 Howe, S :^30 Howe, VV. S 74^ Hubbard, E 839 Hudson, H. F 331 Hudson, J :331 Huffman, A 796 Huffman, VV 795 Hugill, E 332 HugiU,] 332 Hulett, A : 332 Hulett, G. VV 332 H umphrey, 1 801 Humphrey, VV 801 Huntley, G. A 333 Hurd, J 463 Hurd. VV. E 463 Isande, J.H SW, 336 lacobs, T. K 340 Jacobs, VV :J39 Jacobs, VV. C .339 Jagger, C. X 462 Jagger, E 462 Johnson, A 648 Johnson, A. H 803 Johnson, E. A 335 Jolinson, J 341 Johnson, J. H 642 Johnson, M 336 Johnson, N. A :i36 Johnson, R. B Ml Johnson, P. VV 648 Johnson, VV 643, Jones, D. D 802 Jones, R. R 811 Jones, J. D 802 Jones, L 813 lones, E. R 811 Jordan, G 342 Jordan, J 342 Kelley, I. M 34:^ Kemery, J 336 Kent Courier 373 Kent, M 360 Kent, VV. S 373 Kent,/ 354 Kibler, H 762,769 Killefer, C 459 KiUefer, H 459 Kimball, VV. H 461 INDEX. King.G.T 344 King, -M 344 Kinney, 13 345 Kinsey, S 341! Kirn, O. C 347 Kissel, 1 80o Kline, G. A 453 Kline, H. P 462 Kline, J T49 Kline, P 347,453 Koehler, C 809 Kohler, A 348 Kohler, A. A 348 Kohler, J. A 885 Krake, W. S 318 Kreider, D 460 Kreider, J 460 Kreighbaum, A 205 Kreighbaum, G 349 Kreighbaum, J. W.. 349 Kunkal, F 350 Laudenslager, J., Jr.. 649 Laudenslager, L . . . . 649 Leach, G 895 Lee, J.S 643 Leisure, J 810,811 Leonard, E 351 Leonard, S 351 Lepper, J. A 387 Lepper, P 380 Lewis, D 813 Lewis, E. G 373 Lewis, 1 812 Lewis, T 812 Lewis, W.T 811 Limber, 1 650 Limber, R 650 Ling, J 813 Linton, W. H 951 Lockert, J 652 Lockert, L. H 651 Lodge, G.H 362 Lodge, R. H 352 Long,] 375, 821 Long, L. M 375 Long, P 821 Love, W 374 Love, W. H 374 Loveland,A 815 Loveland, S 815 Low, H. R 436 I,ow, I. R 436 Low, M. C 436 Lusk, C. M 652 Lusk, M.A 653 Lyons, J 822 Lyons, J. B 822 McCaslin, A 376 McCaslin, G. B 376 McCaslin, M. G:.... 376 McConnell. J 377 McConnell, W. H.... 377 McCrum, J.H 654 McFarland, A 378 McGirr, H. C 823 McGirr, 1 823 McGowan, R.H 824 .McKenzie, J 656 McKenzie, R. A 655 Madlem, 1 379 Manderbach, B. F... 387 Marquitt, J. E 658 Marquitt, M. H 659 Marquitt,/ 660 Marshall, J.U 389 Marshall, R. G 952 Marshall, S. S 389 Martin, B 656 Martin, W. D 658 Martin, W. M 657 Marvin, D. L 391 Marvin, J 390 Marvin,]. C 390 Marvin, ].S 390 Marvin, U 391 Marvin, U. L 391 Mason, T. R 893 Maxson,E. W 392 Maxson,] 392 Maxson, W 393 Mead, A. R 825 Mead. C. C 825 Mendenhall, S 834 Mendenhall, W. T.. 834 Merkel, E. C 396 Merkel, ]. E 394 Merkel, .S 394 Merrill, E. H 396 Merrill, H.E 397 Merts,C 400 Merts, F 400 Merwin, J 826 Merwin, L. A 826 Messenger, C 869 Meyer, C 398 Micle, VV. B 835 Miles, L. C 399^ Miller, A. 399 Miller, E 666, 834 Miller, H 406 Miller, H. A 406 Miller, H. M 403 Miller, J 403, 667 Miller, M 466 Miller, M. L 667 Miller, N 399 Miller, P.... 406, "666, 834 Mills, G 836 Mills, G. H 836 Minich, H. G 404 Minich, ] 404 Minich, N. J. A 404 Mishler, 1 962 Moeck, ]. B 838 Monegan, D 464 Moore, J. F 418 Moore, S 407 Moore, S. R 847 Morgan,] 889 Morgan, I. A. . ..889 Morris, H 408 Morris, J. A 408 Morriss, A 762 Montenyohl, E. A... 388 Motz, C 409 Motz, J 409 Mowen, U 839 Mowen, W. E 839 Murphy, T. L 849 .Murphy, U 848 Musser, H 409 Musser, P. T 409 Myers, A 412 Myers, F" 464 Myers, 1 849 Myers. "S 849 Myers, VV 849 Myers, VV. H 412 Napp, H.L 467 Nash, E. K 465 Nash, S 412 Neeb, C 467 Needham, V 241 Nesbit, ] 472 Nettleton, N 255 Newman,] 298 Newton, C. B 410 Newton, J. B 411 Newton,] 662 Newton, L 662 Newton, M. L 661 Newton, R. P 411 Nicola, M. ] 413 Niman, A 860 Niman, F 850 North, J 432 North, T 432 North, S 433 Northrop, C. E 855 Northrop, C.T 856 Northrop, R. S 855 Norton, ] 774 Norton, J. E 778 Norton, S. D MS Norton, S. H 852 Norton, T 774 Notman, G 853 Notman, ] 853 Notman, W 853 Odekirk, 1) 738 Ogle, R 651 Olin, A 278, 781 Olin, E 780 Otis, E. P 414 Otis, ] 414 Otis & Otis 414 Oviatt, E 416 Oviatt, H 415 Oviatt, M 416 Palmer, H. A 417 Palmer, H. H 612 Palmer, J. B 475 Palmer, W 475 Parker, J 853 Parkhill, D 421 Parkhill, W. H. C... 421 Parks, C. T 422 Parsons, E 422 Parsons, E. A 422 Parsons, T. G 424 Patton, ] 426 Patton, W. W 426 Paulus, A 172 Payne, S 668 Peck, A 669 Peck, H. A 669 Peckham, A. E 425 Peckham, B 425 Pell, H.S 427 Pell, W. M 427 Perkins, S 428 Perry, ].W 429 Perry, S 429 Perry, S. W 670 Pettingell, H 671 Pettingell, W 671 Phillips, C 430 Phillips, ] 859 Phillips, L. ] 858 Phillips, T. G 429 Pickens, S 823 Pierce, L. B 678 Pierce, N 679 Pierce, R 907 Pierce, S 430 Plum, B 432 Plum, H .352, 431 Plum, ] 431 Porter, A 433 Porter, C 680 Porter, H. T 679 Porter, ]. L iSS Porter, S 4:^3 Powers, A 469 Powers, A. M 469 Powers, ] 470 Pressler. W 434 Randall, H. S 856 Randall, W 856 Randolph, T .575 Ravenna Republican 890 Redding, W 471 Reed, A 476 Reed, C. A 476 Reed, L 477 Reed, O : 869 Reed, O. F 868 Reeves, S. C 823 Reid, I. N 478 Reid. J. C 478 Reid, ]. L ,526 Reis, F 479 Reis,\' 479 Rettig, A 453 Rhodes, F 481 Rhodes, G 481 Rhodes, L. H 481 Rice, C 870 Rice, C, Miss 767 Rice, G. O 482 Rice, H. H 869 Riedinger, P. ] 480 Rineharl, A. B 483 Riley, E 870 Riley, L., Mrs 870 Risk. G 486 Risk, R, M 486 INDEX. Rittersbach, U 876 Robinson, J 875 Robinson, R 874 Rockwell, D. L 484 Rockwell. O. S 485 Rodenbaiiijh, J 487 Rodenbaugh, L. E. . 487 Rodenbaugh, P 487 Rogers, J. M 489 Rogers, S. G 489 Roppel, J 890 Rotherniel, P 498 • Rothtrock, S. S 498 Rowland, E 880 Rowland, W 880 Rowley, A. j 495 Rowley, E 495 Rowley,W 495 Royer, j 880 Rubbins, A tj80 Rubbins, J 185 Rubbins, J. H 681 Rugg, C. E 496 Rugg, E 496 Ruple, A. C 681 Ruple, S.. 682 Rush, C. F 683 Rush, I. W 684 Russell, S. E., Miss.. 877 Russell, F. P 497 Russell, J 877 Russell, L 878 Russell, N 498 Russell, W 877 Sackett, A 500 Sackett, G 499 .Sackett, H 499 Sanford, H. C 498 Sanford, J 498 Sargent. A. H 501 Sargent, G. A 501 Sargent, J 501 Sauder, B 502 Sauder, H. K .502 .Sawyer, U .504 Sawyer, V. P .508 Sawyer, W. T .504 •Schnee, F 506 Schnee, J. K 506 Schoch, C 894 Schultz, H 507 Schumacher, F. W . . 511 .Schweitzer, F 512 Schweitzer, L. G , . . . 512 Scott, W^ 953 Season, E. A 892 -Seiberling, G 514 Seymour, G 549 Seymour, G. I) .5.50 Seymour, J .5.50 SeynuHir, J. H 518 Seymour, R 518 .Shall, E. 1 515 Shall, K 51tl Sharp, I 625 Sharp, j. E 625 Shaw, F. J 517 Shaw, G. A 517 Shaw, J. F 516 Shaw, M .516 Sherman, .A. M .518 Sherman, H 519 .Shoemaker, J 896 Shoemaker, J. P 895 Shuman, A. P 898 Shumway, D 518 Silver, A 898 Silver, D 898 -Silver, J. B 898 Sisler, A .522 Sisler, J .520 Sisler, I .520 Sisler, L. E .528 Skinner, C 896 Skinner, W 896 Smallev, D 900 Smalley, H. D 900 Smith, E 866 Smith, E. C 901 Smith, G. D 902 Smith, J .524 Smith, W. G .524 Snook, G .525 Snook, G. J .525 Snyder, I ,525 Snyder, P. 1 525 Sorrick, P 204 Sothniayd, W 758 Spangler, A. G 529 Spangler, I. H 530 Spangler, J .529 Sperry, A 828 Sperry, I. P 903 Sperry, L 828, 903 Sperrv, X 828 Spicer, M 307, .586 Spires, F. H 907 Sprenkel, C. O .581 Stamm, J .532 Stamm, VV. H 532 Stanford, C. J 638 Stanford, 954 .Stark, B 886 •Stautfer, J. B 905 Steele, H .587 Steele, I .536 Steele, St. C 535 Steele, T. A 638 Stein, H .539 .Stein, U 581 Stem, J 532 .Stein, VV. H .5:38 Stetler, J. A 540 Stillman, E 727 .Stine, H 387 .Stocker, A. W .542 Stocking O. C 906 Stone, N. B 542 Stow, A. C 908 .Stow, W 908 Straight, H. P 910 Striker, C 912 Striker, G. G 912 .Stump, E 543 .Stump. J 643 Stutzman, A. B 664 Stutzman, H .564 Sweeney, J. S 965 Swigart, H 552 Swigart, J .552 Swmehart, 15 .544 Swinehart, S .544 Switzer, C 632 Switzer, D. S 638 Switzer, J.B 632 Taylor, C 914 Taylor, E. R 554 Taylor, G 914 Tavlur, H 914 Taylor, L.K -554 Taylor, -S. A 552 Taylor, \V. B 552 Thein.J 656 Thein, P 556 Thomas, J 915 Thomas, 915 Thomas, \V 916 Thompson, H. C 919 Thompson, 1 918 Thompson, M, .566 Thompson, R. W.... 918 Thompson, V. M.,Mrs 556 Thorp, J. M 921 Thorp, M.B 921 Tibbals, N. D .569 Tilden, D. C 445 Tifft.C 789 Tifft, J. D .560 Tifft, S. U 560 Tinker, A. B 667 Townsend, E 924 Townsend, C. P 922 Townsend. W. R... 924 Traster. C. E .562 Traster, D .563 Treat. S 600 TruesdallC. M 926 Truesdall, C. T 926 Tucker, A 926 Tucker, 926 Turner, C. A 921 Twitchell.A 661 Twitchell, L 661 Udall, F. M 927 Udall, G 928 Underwood, E 570 Underwood, L .570 Upson, J. A 568 Upson, A 930 Upson. R 568 Upson, R.P 928 \ail, C 931 \ an Nostran, J 932 Van Nostran, S. R... 931 \iall, A. A 677 \-iall. K. D 677 \V adsworlh, E. D. Wadsworth, S. E . Wagoner, .A Waggoner, J .. 933 572 .570 Waggoner, W 573 Waite, J ,576 Waldo, E. A 676 Walker, A 984 Walker, H. D 934 Wanamaker, R. M.. 935 Warner, A 937 Warner, A. E 937 Warner, j 936 Warner, W. A 936 Waterman, G. L 846 Waterman, L., Mrs... 845 Watkins, J 248 Weary, S 938 Weary, S. B 938 Weaver, D. E 200 Webb, C. B 939 Webb, J 941 Webb, R. S 941 Weir, E. W 940 Weir, W. H 940 Wenkler, A 942 Werstler, J 944 Weston, C. J., Mr.s... 948 Weston, F. S 943 Wetmore, E. B., Mrs. 957 Wetniore, H 957 Weyrick, D 640 Weyrick, J. W 959 Weyrick, N. M 959 Wheeler, F. H 961 Whipple, C.H 960 Whipple, J 960 White, C 414 Whitestine, A 796 Whittelsey, E 961 Whittelsey, J. H 962 Wightman, C. A. . . . 665 Wilcox, A. H 963 Wilco.\, F. A 965 Wilcox, G. A 963 Wilcox, 964 Wilcox, W 963 Wilcox, W. L 962 Wild. F 966 Wild. S. C 966 Wilhelm. A. 1 966 Williams, J. T 969 Williams, T. J 966 Williams, T. R 968 Williams, W. L 967 Willard, C. A 790 Willard, J. 784 Willard, R. L 784 Willsey, H. T 816 Willscy, W. J 816 Wilmot, W. A 971 Wilson, A 970 Wilson. C. G 972 Wilson. C. L 974 Wilson, D 758 Wilson, F. C 972 Winchel, J 882 Wingerter, J 974 Wingerter, L 974 Wise, j 644 Wise, J. E 975 Wise, J. K 973 Wise, S.N 201 10 INDEX. Wise, W. 644 Wolcott, A 976 Wolcott, S. P 976 Wolfcomer, H 806 Wolfcomer, J 806 Woods, A. T 979 Woods, J. B 979 Woodbridge, D 684 Woodbridge, F. W.. 684 Woodbridge, M. A., Mrs 690 Wright, A 592 Wright, E 977 Wright, F. H 977 Wuchter, J 978 Wuchter, J. H 978 Wyckoff, J. V 979 Wyckoff, T 980 Young, A. B 98'2 Young, C 984 Young, H. D 980 Young, S 981 Young, W. E 983 Youtz, W. H 985 Zook, J 987 Zook, J. A 987 PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTY PORTRAITS AND VIEWS. Allen, A 583 Allen, J 176 Allen, I., Mrs 177 Allman, J 698 Allman, J., Mrs 699 Auhman, H 188 Aultman, H., Mrs.... 189 Arbogast, J. A 172 Baldwin, H.. Sr 715 Baldwin, H., Jr 710 Baldwin, H., Mrs.... 711 Barnard, J. B 693 Barnes, C. E 723 Bishop, Geo. L 580 Blackburn, T 602 Blackburn, T., Mrs.. 603 Bliss, A. W 613 Brewster, J. G 509 Brewster, J. H 207 Carter, J. B... Clark, B. F... Crouse, G. W.. 753 225 164 Davies, D 491 Dell, J 733 Deisman, W. H 608 Ebright, L. S.. 244 Feederle, H.0 262 Fenn, R 862 Fenn, T 863 Griffin, H.G 285 Hayes, W. T 791 Hough, W. S 743 Howard, A. B. L... 300 Kent, M 364 Kent, M., Mrs 365 Kent, Z 356 Kent, Z., Mrs 357 Krake, W. S 319 Lepper, P 382 Lepper, P., Mrs 383 Low, H. R . . Lusk, C. M 437 652 McCrum 654 Merts, C 401 Moore, J. F 419 Morriss, A 764 Morriss, S., Mrs 765 Musser, H 409 Myers, F 455 Nesbit J Norton, 1 Parsons, E. A. .. 473 .. 775 . . 423 Reid, J. L.... Reid, J., Mrs 526 527 .Seymour, G 546 Seymour, G., \Irs 547 Sharp, I. E 624 Sperrv.N 830 Sperry, X., Mrs 831 Stutzman, A. B 565 Switzer, J. B 634 Switzer, J. B., Mrs... 635 Tibbals, N. D.. 559 Viall, A. A 674,677 Viall, A. A., Mrs ... 675 Waterman, L 842 Waterman, G. L 843 Whitestine, A 797 Wightman, C. .\ 664 WiUard, R. L 786 Willard, R.L.,Mrs... 787 Willsey, W.J 818 Willsey,W.J., Mrs.. 819 Wise, O. W 645 Wolfcomer, H 807 Woodbridge, F. W.. 686 Woodbridge, F. W., Mrs 687 Young, W. E. 983 Fair Oaks . 301 Marvin Kent Residence 371 f' PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. his name. It was an exciting campaign. Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson received ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. Craw- ford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty-seven. As there was no choice by the people, the question went to the house of representatives. Mr. Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and he was elected. Mr, Adams was, to a very remarkable de- gree, abstemious and temperate in his habits; always rising early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his own fire and applying himself to work in his library often long before dawn. On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired from the presidency, and was suceeded by Andrew Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected vice president. The slavery question now began to assume portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to Quincy. and to his studies, which he pursued with unabated zeal. But he was not long permitted to remain in retirement. In November, 1830, he was elected representative to congress. For sev- enteen years, until his death, he occupied the post as representative, ever ready to do brave battle for freedom, and winning the title of "the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in the house, he announced that he should hold himself bound to no party. He was usually the first in his place in the morning, and the last to leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The battle which Mr. Adams fought almost singly, against the proslavery party in the government, was sub- lime in its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in presenting petitions for the aboli- tion of slavery, he was threatened with i Jict- ment by the grand jury, with expulsioi from the house, and also with assassination, but no threats could intimidate him and his final triumph was complete. On the 2 1st of February, 1848, he rose on the floor of congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paralysis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and said: "This is the end of earth;" then, after a moment's pause, he added, "I am content. " These were the last words of the sixth president. HNDREW JACKSON, the seventh president of the United States, was born in Waxhaw settlement, N. C. , March 15, 1767, a few days after his father's death. His parents were from Ireland, and took up their abode in Waxhaw settle- ment, where they lived in deepest poverty. Andrew, or Andy, as he was universally called, grew up a very rough, rude, turbulent boy. His features were coarse, his form un- gainly; and there was but very little in his char- acter, made visible, which was attractive. When only thirteen years old he joined the volunteers of Carolina against the British in- vasion. In 1 78 1, he and his brother Robert were captured and imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of the dauntless boy. The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate blow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. Andrew raised his hand, and thus recived two fearful gashes — one on the hand and the other upon the head. The officer then turned to his 50 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. brother Robert with the same demand. He also refused, and received a blow from the keen-edged saber, which quite disabled him, and which probably soon after caused his death. They suffered much other ill-treat- ment, and were finally stricken with the small- pox. Their mother was successful in obtain- ing their e.xchange, and took her sick boys home. After a long illness Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon left him en- tirely friendless. Andrew supported himself in various ways, such as working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he entered a law office at Salis- bury, N. C. In 1788, he was appointed solicit- or for the western district of North Carolina, of which Tennessee was then apart. This in- volved many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear. In 1 79 1, Jackson was married to a woman who supposed herself divorced from her former husband. Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, to find that the con- ditions of the divorce had just been definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage ceremony was performed a second time, but the occurrence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. Jackson into disfavor. During these years he worked hard at his profession, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, one of which, when he killed Dickinson, was especially disgraceful. In January, 1796, the territory of Tennes- see then containing nearly 80,000 inhabitants, the people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a constitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. The new state was en- titled to but one member in the national house of representatives. Andrew Jackson was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he rode to Philadelphia, where congress then held its sessions — a distance of about 800 miles. Jackson was an earnest advocate of the democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired . Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Jackson took his seat. Gen. Washington, whose second term of office was then expiring, delivered his last speech to congress. A committee drew up a compli- mentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson did not approve of the address, and was one of the twelve who voted against it. He was not willing to say that Gen. Washington's administration had been "wise, firm and patriotic. " Jackson was elected to the United States senate in 1797, but soon resigned. Soon after he was chosen judge of the supreme court of his state, which position he held for six years. When the war of 1812 with Great Britain commenced, Madison occupied the presidential chair. Aaron Burr sent word to the president that there was an unknown man in the west, Andrew Jackson, who would do credit to a commission if one were conferred upon him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson offered his services and those of 2,500 volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops were assem- bled at Nashville. As the British were hourly expected to make an attack upon New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was in command, he was ordered to descend the river with 1,500 troops to aid Wilkinson. The expedition reached Natchez, and after a delay of several weeks there, the men were ordered back to their homes. But the energy Gen. Jack.son had displayed, and his entire devotion to the comfort of his soldiers, won him golden opinions; and he became the most popular man in the state. It was in this expedition that his toughness gave him the rickname of ''Old Hickory." MARTIN VAN BUREN. PRESIDENTS OV THE IMTED vSTATES. 53 Soon after this, while attempting to horse- whip Col. Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was lingering upon a bed of suffering news came that the Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from Florida to the lakes, to exterminate the white settlers, were committing the most awful ravages. Decisive action became neces- sary. Gen. Jackson, with his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assistance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an army to rendevous at Fayettesville, Ala. The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on one of the bends of the Tallapoosa river, near the center of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. With an army of 2,000 men. Gen. Jackson traversed the path- less wilderness in a march of eleven days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or Horse- shoe, on the 27th of March, 18 14. The bend of the river inclosed 100 acres of tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breastwork of logs and brush. Here 900 war- riors, with an ample supply of arms, were as- sembled. The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly desperate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When bleeding and dying, they would fight those who endeavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morning until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as they swam. Nearly every one of the 900 warriors was killed. This closing of the Creek war enabled us to concentrate all our militia upon the British, who were the allies of the Indians. No man of less resolute will than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian campaign to so successful an issue. Immedi- ately he was appointed major-general. Late in August, with an army of 2,000 men, on a rushing march. Gen. Jackson went to Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensa- cola, landed a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, and from both ship and shore commenced a furious assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. Garrisoning Mobile, Jackson moved his troops to New Orleans, and the battle of New Orleans, which soon ensued, was in reality a very arduous campaign. Here his troops, which numbered about 4,000 men, won a signal victory over the British army of about 9,000. His loss was but thirteen, while the loss of the British was 2,600. The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be mentioned in connection with the presi- dency, but, in 1824, he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected for a second term in 1832. In 1829, he met with the most terrible affliction of his life m the death of his wife. At the expiration of his two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Jackson's life were that of a devoted chris- tian man. QARTIN VAN BUREN, the eighth president of the United States, was born at Kinderhook, N. Y., Decem- ber 5, 1782. He died at the same place, July 24, 1862, and his body rests in the cemetery at Kinderhook. Above it is a plain granite shaft fifteen feet high, bearing a sim- ple inscription about half way up on the face. The lot is unfenced, unbordered or unbounded by shrub or flower. His ancestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, and u PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. were among the earliest emigrants from Hol- land to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intelligence and exemplary piety. At the age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies in his na- tive village, and commenced the study of law. As he had not a collegiate education seven years of study in a law office were required of him before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pursued his studies with in- defatigable industry. After spending six years in an office in his native village, he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his studies for the seventh year. In 1803, Van Buren, then twenty-one years of age, commenced the practice of law in his native village. The great conflict be- tween the federal and republican parties was then at its height. Van Buren was in cordial sympathy with Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the cause of state rights; though at that time the federal party held the supremacy both in his town and state. His success and increasing reputation led him after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, the county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years, constantly gaining strength by contending in the courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned the bar of his state. Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mr.VanBuren married a lady alike distinguished for beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short years she sank into the grave, the victim of consumption, leaving her hus- band and four sons to weep over her loss. In 181 2, when thirty years of age, he was chosen \ to the state senate, and gave his strenuous support to Mr. Madison's administration. In 181 5, he was appointed attorney general, and the next year moved to Albany, the capital of the state. While he was acknowledged as one of the most prominent leaders of the democratic party, he had the moral courage to avow that true democracy did not require that "univer- sal suffrage" which admits the vile, the de- graded, the ignorant, to the right of governing the state. In true consistency with his demo- cratic principles, he contended that, while the path leading to the privilege of voting should be open to every man without distinc- tion, no one should be invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue and some property interests in the welfare of the state. In 1 82 1 he was elected a member of the United States senate, and in the same year he took a seat in the convention to revise the constitution of his native state. His course in this convention secured the approval of men of all parties. In the senate of the United States, he rose at once to a conspicuous posi- tion as an active and useful legislator. In 1S27, John Quincy Adams being then in the presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re- elected to the senate. He had been, from the beginning, a determined opposer to the ad- ministration, adopting the state rights view in opposition to what was deemed the federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen governor of the state of New York, and ac- cordingly resigned his seat in the senate. Probably no one in the United States con- tributed so much towards ejecting John Q. Adams from the presidential chair, and placing in it Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was regarded throughout the United States as one of the most skillful, sagacious and cunning politicians. It was sup- WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 57 posed that no one knew so well as he how to touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to organize a political army which would, secretly and stealthily, accomplish the most gigantic results. By these powers it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams, Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which few thought then could be accomplished. When Andrew Jackson was elected presi- dent, he appointed Mr. Van Buren secretary of state. This position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately appointed minister to England, where he went the same autumn. The senate, however, when it met, refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned home, apparently untroubled; .was nominated vice president in the place of Calhoun, at the re- election of President Jackson; and with smiles for all and frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that senate which had refused to confirm his nomination as ambassador. His rejection by the senate aroused all the zeal of President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favorite; and this, probably more than any other cause, secured his elevation to the chair of the chief executive. On the 20th of May, 1836, Van Buren received the democratic nom- ination to succeed Gen. Jackson as president of the United States. He was elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the retir- ing president. His administration was filled with exciting events. The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to involve this country in war with England, the agitation of the slavery question, and finally the great commercial panic which spread over the country, all were trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was attributed to the management of the democratic party, and brought the president into such disfavor that he failed of re-election. With the ex- ception of being nominated for the presidency by the free soil democrats, in 1848, Mr. V^n Buren lived quietly upon his estate until his death. He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, and, living within his income, had now fortunately a competency for his declining years. It was on the 4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald, he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics of the country. From this time until his death, on the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old age, probably far more happi- ness than he had before experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. *ILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, the ninth president of the United \\J\ States; was born at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. His father, Benja- min Harrison, was in comparatively opulent circumstances, and was one of the most dis- tinguished men of his day. He was an inti- mate friend of George Washington, was early- elected a member of the continental congress, and was conspicuous among the patriots of Virginia in resisting the encroachments of the British crown. In the celebrated congress of 1775, Benjamin Harrison and John Hancock were both candidates for the office of speaker. Mr. Harrison was subsequently chosen governor of Virginia, and was twice re-elected. Having received a thorough common- school education, William Henry Harrison entered Hampden Sidney college, where he graduated with honor soon after the death of his father. He then repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of Robert 58 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Morris, both of whom were, with his father, signers of the Declaration of Independence. Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and notwithstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, having obtained a commis- sion of ensign from President Washington. He was then but nineteen j'ears old. From that time he passed gradually upward in rank until he became aid to Gen. Wayne, after whose death he resigned his commission. He was then appointed secretary of the Northwestern territory. This territory was then entitled to but one member in congress, and Capt. Harri- son was chosen to fill that position. In the spring of 1800 the Northwestern territory was divided by congress into two portions. The eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced in the state of Ohio, was called "The Territory northwest of the Ohio." The western portion, which included what is now called Indiana, Illinois, and Wis- consin, was called the "Indiana territory." William Henry Harrison, then twenty-seven years of age, was appointed, by John Adams, governor of the Indiana territory, and imme- diately after, also governor of upper Louisi- ana. He was thus ruler over almost as extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He was superintendent of Indian af- fairs, and was invested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now rapidly increasing white population. The ability and fidelity with which he discharged these responsible duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four times appointed to this office — first by John Adams, twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterward by President Madison. When he began his administration there were but three white settlements in that al- most boundless region, now crowded with cities and resounding with all the tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French settlement. The vast wilderness over which Gov. Har- rison reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About the year 1806, two extraordi- nary men, twin brothers, of the Shawnee tribe, rose among them. One of these was called Tecumseh, or "The Crouching Pan- ther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or "The Pro- phet." Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man of great sagacity, far- reaching foresight and indomitable persever- ance in any enterprise in which he might en- gage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, and had long regarded with dread and with hatred the encroachments of the whites upon the hunting grounds of his fath- ers. His brother, the Prophet, was an orator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which they dwelt. Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippecanoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. October 28, 1 81 2, his army began its march. When near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made their appearance and inquired why Gov. Har- rison was approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a short conference, arrange- ments were made for a meeting the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. But Gov. Har- rison was too well acquainted with the Indian character to be deceived by such protestations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- campment, he took every precaution against surprise. His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept upon their arms. The troops threw themselves upon the ground for rest; but every man had his accoutrements on, his loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The wakeful governor, between PRESIDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 59 three and four o'clock in the morning, had risen and was sitting in conversation with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possible, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed with all the desperation which supersti- tion and passion most highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the little army. The savages had been amply provided with guns and ammunition by the English. Their war-whoop was accompanied by a shower of bullets. The camp-fires were instantly extin- guished, as the light aided the Indians in their aim. With hideous yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a speedy and entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them until day dawned; they then made a simultaneous charge with the bayonet, and swept everything before them, and completely routed the foe. Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked to the utmost. The Pritish, descending from the Can- adas, were of themselves a very formidable force; but with their savage allies, rushing like wolves from the forest, searching out every remote farm house, burning, plundering, scalp- ing, torturing, the wide frontier was plunged into a state of consternation which even the most vivid imagination can but faintly con- ceive. Gen. Hull had made the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. Under these despairing circumstances. Gov. Harrison was appointed by President Madison comman- der-in-chief of the Northwestern army, with orders to retake Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. Harrison won the love of his soldiers by always sharing with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a valise; and his bed- ding consisted of a single blanket lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers, his prisoners of war, supped with him after the bat- tle. The only fare he could give them was beef roasted before the fire, without bread or salt. In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a mem- ber of the national house of representatives to represent the district of Ohio. In congress he proved an active member, and, whenever he spoke, it was with force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested the attention of all the members. In 1 8 19, Harrison was elected to the sen- ate of Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presi- dential electors of that state, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The same year he was chosen to the United States senate. In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him forward as a candidate for the presidency against Van Buren, but he was de- feated. At the close of Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his party, and Harri- son was unanimously nominated b}' the whigs, with John Tyler for the vice presidency. The contest was very animated. Gen. Jackson gave all his influence to prevent Harrison's election; but his triumph was signal. The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster at its head as secretary of state, was one of the most brilliant with which any presi- dent had ever been surrounded. In the midst of these bright and joyous prospects. Gen. Harrison was seized by a pleurisy-fever, and, after a few days of violent sickness, died on the 4th of April; just one month after his inau- guration as president of the United States. With the exception, perhaps, of the death of George Washington, the demise of no presi- dent of the United States, down to this time, had created a deeper thrill of sympathy through- out the country than that of President Harri- son. North and south, his obsequies were ob- served with unaffected sorrow, and men of all parties seemed to forget differences of opinion in doing honor to the memor)' of the dead. 60 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Vt*OHN TYLER, the tenth president of m the United States, was born in Charles nj City county, Va. , March 29, 1790. At the early age of twelve, John entered William and Mary college and graduated with much honor when but seventeen years old. He devoted himself with great assiduity to the study of law, partly with his father and partly with Edmund Randolph, one of the most dis- tinguished lawyers of Virginia. At nineteen years of age, he commenced the practice of law. His success was rapid and astonishing. It is said that three months had not elapsed ere there was scarcely a case on the docket of the court in which he was not retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the state legislature. He connected himself with the democratic party, and warmly ad- vocated the measures of Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he was elected to the legislature, receiving nearly the unanimous vote of his county. When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected a member of congress. Here he acted earnestly and ably with the democratic party, opposing a national bank, internal improve- ments by the general government, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict construction of the constitution, and the most careful vigilance over state rights. His labors in congress were so arduous that before the close of his second term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his estate in Charles City county, to recruit his health. He, however, soon after consented to take his seat in the state legislature, where his influence was powerful in promoting public works of great utility. He was then chosen by a very large majority of votes, governor of his native state. His administration was sisr- nally a successful one, and his popularity secured his re-election. John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half- crazed man, then represented Virginia in the senate of the United States. A portion of the democratic party was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, and Tyler was the victor. In accordance with his professions, upon taking his seat in the senate, he joined the ranks of the opposition. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and voted against the bank as unconstitutional; he stren- uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resisting all projects of internal improvements by the general government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. Calhoun's view of nullifica- tion; he declared that Gen. Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had abandoned the principles of the democratic party. Such was Mr. Tyler's record in congress — a record in perfect accordance with the principles which he had always avowed. Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of his profession. There was a split in the democratic party. His friends still re- garded him as a true Jeffersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compliments upon him. He had now attained the age of forty-si.x. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg, for the better education of his children; and he again took his seat in the legislature of Vir- ginia. By the southern whigs, he was sent to the national convention at Harrisburg to nominate a president in 1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Harrison, a genuine whig, much to the disappointment of the south, who wished for Henry Clay. To conciliate the southern whigs and to secure their vote, the convention then nominated John Tyler for vice president. Thus it happened that a whig president and, in reality, a democratic vice president were chosen. In 1 841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated vice president of the United States. In one short JOHN TYLER. PRESIDENTS OF THE UMTEI) STATES. 63 month from that time Pres. Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler thus found himself, to his own sur- prise and that of the whole nation, an occu- pant of the presidential chair. This was a new test of the stability of our institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our country that such an event had occurred. Mr. Tyler was at home in Williamsburg when he received the unexpected tidings of the death of Pres. Harrison. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of April was inaugurated to the high and responsible office. Gen. Harrison had selected a whig cabinet. Should he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- selors whose views were antagonistic to his own.' or, on the other hand, should he turn against the party which had elected him and select a cabinet in harmony with himself, and which would oppose all those views which the whigs deemed essential to the public wel- fare.' This was his fearful dilemma, and so he invited the cabinet which Pres. Harrison had selected to retain their scats. The whigs carried through congress a bill for the incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. The president, after ten days' delay, returned it with his veto. He suggested, however, that he would approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back with his veto. Here com- menced the open rupture. It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this measure by a pub- lished letter from the Hon. John M. Botts, a distmguished Virginia whig, who severely touched the pride of the president. The opposition now exultingly received the president into their arms. The party which elected him denounced him bitterly. All the members of his cabinet, excepting Mr. Web- ster, resigned. The whigs of congress, both the senate and the house, held a meeting and issued an address to the people of the United States, proclaiming that all political alliances between the whigs and Pres. Tyler were at an end. Still the president attempted to conciliate. He appointed a new cabinet of distinguished whigs and conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, forced out by the pressure of his whig friends. Thus the fpur years of Mr. Tylor's unfortunate administra- tion passed sadly away. More and more, however, he brought himself into sympathy with his old friends, the democrats, until, at the close of his term, he gave his whole influ- ence to the support of Mr. Polk, the demo- cratic candidate for his successor. On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from office, to the regret of neither party, and probably to his own unspeakable relief. His first wife. Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; and in June, 1844, Pres. Tyler was again married, at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of many personal and intellectual accomplishments. The lemainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly in retirement at his beautiful home — Sherwood Forest, Charles City county, Va. A polished gentleman in his manners, richly furnished with information from books and experience in the world, and possessing bril- liant powers of conversation, his family circle was the scene of unusual attractions. With sufficient means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few friends who gathered around him, were it not for the storms of civil war which his own principles and policy had helped to introduce. When the great rebellion rose, which the state rights and nullifying doctrines of John C. Calhoun had inaugurated, Pres. Tyler re- nounced his allegiance to the United States, 64 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. and joined the confederates. He was chosen a member of their congress; and while engaged in active measures to destroy, by force of arm.s, the government over which he had once pre- sided, he was taken sick and soon died. ">j'AMES KNOX POLK, the eleventh fl president of the United States, was A ¥ born in Mecklenburg county, N. C, November 2, 1795. His parents were Samuel and Jane (Knx) Polk, the former a son of Col. Thomas Polk, who located at the above place, as one of the first pioneers, in 1735- In the year 1 806, with his wife and chil- dren, and soon after followed by most of the members of the Polk family, Samuel Polk emi- grated some two or three hundred miles further west, to the rich valley of the Duck river, Tenn. Here, in the midst of the wilderness, in a region which was subsequently called Maury county, they reared their log huts, and estab- lished their homes. In the hard toil of a new farm in the wilderness, James K. Polk spent the early years of his childhood and youth. His father, adding the pursuit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, gradually increased in wealth until he became one of the leading men of the region. Very early in life, James developed a taste for reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain a liberal education. His mother's training had made him methodical in his habits, had taught him punctuality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty principles of morality. His health was frail; and his father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. He remained in this uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon after he sent him to Mur- freesboro academy. In the autumn of 1 8 1 5 he entered the sophomore class in the university of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill. He grad- uated in 1818, with the highest honors, being deemed the best scholar of his class, both in mathematics and classics. He was then twenty-three years of age. Mr. Polk's health was at this time much impaired by the assi- duity with which he had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of relaxation he went to Nashville, Tenn., and entered the office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jack- son, who resided on his plantation, the Her- mitage, but a few miles from Nashville. James K. Polk was a popular public speaker, and was constantly called upon to address the meetings-of his party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump. He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic na- ture in the joys and griefs of others which ever gave him troops of friends. In 1S23, Mr. Polk was elected to the legislature of Tennes- see. Here he gave his strong influence toward the election of his friend, Mr. Jackson, to the presidency of the United States. In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah Childress, of Rutherford county, Tenn. His bride was altogether worthy of him -a lady of beauty and culture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a member of congress. The satisfaction which he gave to his constit- uents may be inferred from the fact, that for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was continued in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, only that he might accept the gubernatorial chair of Tennessee. In congress he was a laborious member, a frequent and popular speaker. He was always in his seat,. JAMES K. POLK. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 67 always courteous; and whenever he spoke it was always to the point, and without any am- bitious rhetorical display. During five sessions of congress, Mr. Polk v/3iS speaker of the house. Strong passions were aroused, and stormy scenes were witness- ed; but Mr. Polk performed his arduous duties to a very general satisfaction, and a unani- mous vote of thanks to him was passed by the house as he withdrew on the 4th of March, 1839. On the 14th of October, 1839, he took the oath of office as governor of Tennessee at Nashville. In 1841, his term of office ex- pired, and he was again the candidate of the democratic party, but was defeated. On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugurated president of the United States. The verdict of the country in favor of the annexation of Texas exerted its influence upon congress; and the last act of the administration of President Tyler was to affix his signature to a joint reso- lution of congress, passed on the 3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and left the country, declaring the act of annexation to be an act hostile to Mexico. In his message. President Polk urged that Texas should immediately, by act of congress, be received into the Union on the same foot- ing with the other states. In the meantime. Gen. Taylor was sent with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, where he erected batteries which commanded the Mexican city of Matamo- ras, which was situated on the western banks. The anticipated collision soon took place, and war was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first called one of "observation," then of "occupation," then of "invasion," was sent forward to Monte- rey. The feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly and awfully slaughtered. It was by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administra- tion that the war was brought on. "To the victors belong the spoils." Mex- ico was prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. We now consented to peace upon the condition that Mexico should sur- render to us, in addition to Texas, all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Califor- nia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of Texas, 800,000 square miles. This was an extent of territory equal to nine states of the size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen majestic states to be added to the Union. In the prosecution of this war we ex- pended 20,000 lives and more than $100,000,- 000. Of this more than $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico. On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk re- tired from office, having served one term. The next day was Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the capitol in the same carrriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same evening, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to Ten- nessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits and his health was good. With an ample fortune, a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the cholera — the awful scourge — was then sweep- ing up the valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. ^'-^ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth presi- J^r't ^^"*^ °^ *^^ United States, was born ^ ^ on the 24th of November, 1784, in Orange county, Va. His father. Colonel Taylor, was a Virginian of note, and a distinguished patriot and soldier of the Revo- lution. When Zachary was an infant, his father, with his wife and two children, emi- grated to Kentucky, where he settled, a few miles from Louisville. In this frontier home young Zachary could enjoy but few social and educational advantages. When six years of age he attended a common school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- acter. He was strong, fearless and self-reli- ant, and manifested a strong desire to entfer the army to fight the Indians who were ravag- ing the frontiers. In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him the commission of lietenant in the United States army; and he joined the troops which were stationed at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady from one of the first families of Maryland. Immediately after the declaration of war with England, in 181 2, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort Harrison, on the Wa- bash, ' about fifty miles above Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilderness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe. It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, led by Tecumseh. Its garrison con- sisted of a broken company of infantry num- bering fifty men, many of whom were sick. Early in the autumn of 181 2, the Indians, stealthily, and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their approach was first indicated by the murder of two soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor made every possi- ble preparation to meet the anticipated as- sault. On the 4th of September, a band of forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that in the morning their chief would come to have a talk with him. It was evident that their object was merely to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept them at a distance. The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before midnight the war-whoop burst from a thousand lips in the forest around, followed by the discharge of musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that defeat was not merely death, but in case of capture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged torture. The savages succeeded in setting fire to one of the block- houses. Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. Taylor, for this gal- lant defense, was promoted to the rank of major by brevet. Until the close of the war. Major Taylor was placed in such situations that he saw but little more of active service. He was sent far away into the depths of the wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox river, which empties into Green bay. Gradually he rose to the rank of colonel. In the Black Hawk war, which resulted in the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col. Taylor took a' subordinate but a brave and efficient part. For twenty-four years Col. Taylor was engaged in the defense of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in employments so obscure, that his name was unknown beyond the limits of his own imme- diate acquaintance. In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and retire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs, by treaty, had ZACHARV TAYLOR PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 71 promised they should do. The services ren- dered here secured Col. Taylor the high ap- preciation of the government; and as a reward, he was elevated to the rank of brigadier-gen- eral by brevet; and soon after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief command of the United States troops in Florida. After two years of such wearisome employment, Gen. Taylor obtained, at his own request, a change of command, and was stationed over the de- partment of the southwest. This field em- braced Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters at Fort Jesup, in Louisiana, he removed his fam- ily to a plantation which he purchased near Baton Rouge. Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty imposed upon him. In 1846 Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the Mex- icans. The rank of major-general by brevet was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in the nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista, in which he won signal victories over forces much larger than he commanded. His careless habits of dress and his unaffected simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops the sobriquet of "Old Rough and Ready." The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The whig party decided to take ad- vantage of this wonderful popularity in bring- ing forward the unpolished, uncultured, honest soldier as their candidate for the presidency. Gen, Taylor was astonished at the announce- ment, and for a time would not listen to it; declaring that he was not at all qualified for such an office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, for forty years, he had not cast a vote. Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine writer. His friends took possession of him, and prepared such few communica- tions as it was needful should be presented to the public. The popularity of the successful warrior swept the land. He was triumph- antly elected over two opposing candidates — Gen. Cass and ex-Pres. Martin Van Buren. Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good old man found, himself in a very uncon- genial position, and was, at times, sorely per- plexed and harassed. His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably tended to has- ten his death. The proslavery party was pushing its claims with tireless energy; expedi- tions were fitting out to capture Cuba; Cali- fornia was pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found the political con- flicts in Washington to be far more trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or Indians. In the midst of all these troubles. Gen. Taylor, after he had occupied the presidential chair but little over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness, of but litttle over five days, died on the 9th of July, 1850. His last words were; " I am not afraid to die. I am ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died universally respected and beloved. Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful description of his character: " With a good store of common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been enlarged and re- freshed by reading, or much converse with thp world. Rigidity of ideas was the consequence The frontiers and small military post:; had n PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his rank, and quite bigoted in his igno- rance. His simplicity was child-like and with innumerable prejudices, amusing and in- corrigible, well suited to the tender age. Thus, if a man, however, respectable, chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an outside pocket — in any such case, this critic held the offender to be a coxcomb (per- haps something worse), whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phase, "touch with a pair of tongs." m ILLARD FILLMORE, thirteenth president of the United States, wag born at Summer Hill, Cayuga county, N. Y. , on the 7th of Janu- ary, 1800. His father was a farmer, and, owing to misfortune, in humble circumstances. Of his mother, the daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard, of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been said that she possessed an intellect of very high order, united with much personal loveliness, sweetness of disposition, graceful manners and exquisite sensibilities. She died in 1831; having lived to see her son a young man of distinguished promise, though she was not per- mitted to witness the high dignity which he finally attained. In consequence of the secluded home and limited means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender advantages for education in his early years. The sacred influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, and had laid the foundations of an upright character. When fourteen years of age his father sent him some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of Livingston county, to learn the trade of a clothier. Near the mill there was a small village, where some enterprising man had commenced the collection of a village library. This proved an inestimable blessing to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in reading. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate, and the selections which he made were continually more elevating and instructive. He read history, biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- kindled in his heart a desire to be something more than a mere worker with his hands; and he was becoming, almost unknown to himself, a well informed,, educated man. The young clothier had now attained the age of nineteen years, and was of fine per- sonal appearance and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample pecuniary means and of benevolence — Judge Walter Wood — who was struck with the prepossessing appear- ance of young Fillmore. He made his ac- quaintance, and was so much impressed with his ability and attainments that he ad- vised him to abandon his trade and devote himself to the study of law. The young man replied that he had no means of his own, no friends to help him, and that his previous edu- cation had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to take him into his own office, and to loan him such money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous offer was ac- cepted. In 1823, when twenty-three years of age. he was admitted to the court of common pleas. He then went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, his practice, of course, was limited, and there was no oppor- tunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of gr. at moral worth, and one capable of adorn- MILLARD FILLMORE- PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 75 ing any station she might be called to fill — Miss Abigail Powers. His elevation of character, his untiring in- dustry, his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, gradually attracted attention; and he was invited to enter into partnership, under highly advantageous circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, he took his seat in the house of assembly, of the state of New York, as a representative from Erie county. Though he had never taken a very active part in politics, his vote and his sympa- thies were with the whig party. The state was then democratic, and he found him- self in a helpless minority in the legislature, still the testimony comes from all parties, that his courtesy, ability, and integrity, won, to a very unusual degree, the respect of his asso- ciates. In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in the United States congress. He en- tered that troubled arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our national history. The great conflict respecting the national bank and the removal of the deposits was then raging. His term of two years closed, and he re- turned to his profession, which he pursued with increasing reputation and success. After a lapse of two years he again became a candi- date for congress; was re-elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past experience as a repre- sentative gave him strength and confidence. The first term of service in congress to any man can be but little more than an introduc- tion. He was now prepared for active duty. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and his popularity filled the state, and in the year 1847 he was elected comptroller of the state. Fillmore had attained the age of forty- seven years. His labors at the bar, in the legislature, in congress, and as comptroller. had given him very considerable fame. The whigs were casting about to find suitable can- didates for president and vice president at the approaching election. Far away, on the waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old soldier, who had fought successful battles with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be proclaimed in trumpet-tones all over the land. But it was necessary to asso- ciate with him, on the same ticket, some man of reputation as a statesman. Under the influence of these considerations, the names of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became the rallying cry of the whigs, as their candi- dates for president and vice president. The whig ticket was signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, Gen. Taylor was inaugu- rated president, and Millard Fillmore vice president, of the United States. On the 9th of July, 1850, Pres. Taylor, but one year and four months after his inaugura- tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the constitution. Vice Pres. Fillmore thus be- came president. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which the illustrious Daniel Web- ster was secretary of state. Fillmore had very serious difficulties to contend with, since the opposition had a ma- jorty in both house. He did everything in his power to conciliate the south; but the pro- slavery party in the south felt the inadequacy of all measures of transient conciliation. The population of the free states was so rapidly in- creasing over that of the slave states that it was inevitable that the power of the govern- ment should soon pass into the hands of the free states. The famous compromise meas- ures were adopted under Fillmore's administra- tion, and the Japan expedition was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Fillmore, having served one term, retired. In 1856, Fillmore was nominated for the presidency by the "know nothing" party, but 76 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. was beaten by Mr. Buchanan. After that Fillmore lived in retirement. During the ter- rible conflict of civil war he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that his sympathies were rather with those who were endeavoring to overthrow our institutions. He lived to a ripe old age, and died in Buffalo, N. Y. , March 8, 1874. BRANKLIN PIERCE, the fourteenth president of the United States, was born in Hillsborough, N. H., November 2 3, 1804. Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, generous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the love of old and young. The boys on the play ground loved him. His teachers loved him. The neigh- bors looked upon him with pride and affection. He was by instinct a gentleman; always speak- ing kind words, doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact which taught him what was agreeable. Without developing any pre- cocity of genius, or any unnatural devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in bod}', in mind, in affections, a finely developed boy. When sixteen .years of age, in the year 1820, he entered Bowdoin college at Bruns- wick, Maine. He was one of the most popu- lar young men in the college. The purity of his moral character, the unvarying courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. There was something very peculiarly winning in his address, and it was evidently not in the slightest degree studied; it was the simple out- gushing of his own magnanimous and loving nature. Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Frank- lin Pierce commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of the state, and a man of great private worth. The eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his father's promince as a public man, and the brilliant political career into which Judge Woodbury was entering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the fascinating, yet perilous, path of po- litical life. With all the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. Jackson for the presidency. He commenced the practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected to represent the town in the state legislature. Here he served for four years. The last two years he was chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected a member of congress. Without tak- ing an active part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom he was associ- ated. In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, he was elected to the senate of the United States, taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced his administration. He was the youngest member in the senate. In the year 1834 he married Miss Jane Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every station with which her husband was honored. Of the three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with their parents in the grave. In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed Mr. Pierce at- torney-general of the United States; but the offer was declined in consequence of numerous professional engagements at home and the precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also about the same time declined the nomina- tion for governor by the democratic jiarty. The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce to the army. Receiving the appointment of briga- FRANKLIN PIERCE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 79 dier-general, he embarked with a portion of his troops at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847. He took an important part in this war, proving himself a brave and true soldier. When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native state he was received enthusiastically by the advocates of the Mexican war, and coldly by its opponents. He resumed the practice of his profession, very frequently tak- ing an active part in political questions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery wing of the democratic party. The compromise meas- ures met cordially with his approval; and he strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infamous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious sensibilities of the north. He thus became distinguished as a "northern man with southern principles." The strong partisans of slavery in the south consequently regarded him as a man whom they could safely trust in office to carry out their plans. On the I2th of June, 1852, the democratic convention met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the presidency. For four days they continued in session, and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delega- tion brought forward his name. There were fourteen more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he received 282 votes, and all other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was the whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with great unanimity. Only four states — Vermont, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their electoral votes against him. Gen. Franklin Pierce was there- fore inaugurated president of the United States on the 4th of March, 1853. His administration proved one of the most stormy our country had ever experienced. The controversy between slavery and freedom was then approaching its culminating point. It became evident that there was an "irrepress- ible conflict" between them, and that the nation could not long exist "half slave and half free." President Pierce, during the whole of his administration, did everything he could to conciliate the south; but it was all in vain. The conflict every year grew more and more violent, and threats of the dissolution of the Union were borne to the north on every southern breeze. On the 4th of March, 1S57, President Pierce retired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two had died, and his only sur- viving child had been killed before his eyes by a railroad accident; and his wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left aloiie in the world without wife or child. Such was the condition of affairs when Pres. Pierce approached the close of his four years' term of office. The north had become thoroughly alienated from him. The anti- slavery sentiment, goaded by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all the intellectual ability and social worth of Pres. Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his adminis- trative acts. The slaveholders of the south, also, unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advocated those measures of government which they approved, and perhaps, also, feel- ing that he had rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped him, and nomi- nated James Buchanan to succeed him. When the terrible rebellion broke forth, which divided our country into two parties, Mr. Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he had always cherished and gave his sympathies to that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been allied. He declined 80 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. to do anjthing, either by voice or pen, to strengthen the hand of the national govern- ment. He continued to reside in Concord until the time of his death, which occurred in October, 1869. He was one of the most genial and social of men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal church, and one of the kind- est of neighbors. Generous to a fault, he con- tributed liberally for the alleviation of suffer- ing and want, and many of his townspeople were often gladdened by his material bounty. >T^ AMES BUCHANAN, the fifteenth presi- M dent of the United States, was born in A J Franklin county. Pa., on the 23d of April, 1 79 1. His father was a native of the north of Ireland; a poor man, who had emigrated in 1783, with little property save his own strong arms. Five years afterward he married Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilderness, staked his claim, reared his log hut, opened a clearing with his ax, and settled down to perform his obscure part in the drama of life. In this secluded home, where James was born, he remained for eight years, enjoying but few social or intel- lectual advantages. When James was eight years of age his father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where his son was placed at school, and commenced a course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen he entered Dickenson college at Carlisle. Here he de- veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among the first scholars of the institution. His application to study was intense, and yet his native powers enabled him to master the most abstruse subjects with facility. In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, and was admitted to the bar in 18 12, when he was but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose in his pro- fession, and at once took undisputed stand with the ablest lawyers of the state. When but twenty-six years of age, unaided by coun- sel, he successfully defended before the state senate one of the judges of the state, who was tried upon articles of impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally admitted that he stood at the head of the bar. In 1820 he reluctantly consented to run as a candidate for congress. He was elected, and for ten years he remained a member 01 the lower house. During the vacations o! congress, he occasionally tried some important case. In 183 1 he retire" altogether from the toils of his profession, having acquired an ample fortune. Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the presidency, appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The duties of his mission he per- formed with ability which gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return,- in' 1833', he was elected to a seat in the United States senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the measures proposed by Pres. Jackson, of making reprisals against France, to enforce the payment of our claims against that country; and defended the course of the president in his unprecedented and wholesale removal from office of those who were not supporters of his administration. Upon this question he v/as brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. He also, with voice and vote, advocated ex- punging from the journal of the senate the vote of censure against Gen. Jackson for re- moving the deposits. Earnestly he opposed JAMES BUCHANAN PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 83 the abolition of slavery in the District of Co- lumbia, and urged the prohibition of the circu- lation of anti-slavery documents by the United States mail. Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the presi- dency, Mr. Buchanan became secretary of state, and as such took his share of the respon- sibility in the conduct of the Me.xican war. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed territory was not wrong, but for the Me.xicans to cross the Rio Grande into that territory was a declara- tion of war. Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with the party devoted to the per- petuation and extension of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his approval of the compromise measures of 1850, which in- cluded the fugitive slave law. Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with the mission to England. In the year 1856, a national democratic convention nominated Mr. Buchanan for the presidency. The political conflict was one of the most severe in which our country has ever engaged. All the friends of slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its restriction and final abolition on the other. Mr. Fre- mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, received 1 14 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 1,341,264 for Fremont, 1,838,160 for Buchanan. On March 4, 1857, Mr. Bu- chanan was inaugurated. Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four years were wanting to fill up his three score years and ten. His own friends — those with whom he had been allied in political principles and action for years — were seeking the destruction of the government, that they might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a nation whose corner stone should be human slavery. In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hope- lessly bewildered. He could not, with his long avowed principles, consistently oppose the state-rights party in their assumptions. As president of the United States, bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the republic. He therefore did nothing. Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery party was such, that he had been willing to offer them far more than they had ventured to claim. All the south had professed to ask of the north was non-interference with the sub- ject of slavery. Mr. Buchanan had been ready to offer them the active co-operation of the government to defend and extend the in- stitution. As the storm increased in violence, the slave holders claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avowing that congress had no power to prevent it, one of the most piti- able exhibitions of governmental imbecility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He declared that congress had no power to enforce its laws in any state which had withdrawn,* or which was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with his hand upon his sword hilt, he e.xclaimed: "The Union m.ust and shall be preserved." South Carolina seceded in December, 1S60, nearly three months before the inauguration of Pres. Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. The rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Fort Sumter was besieged; our forts, navy yards and arsenals were seized; our depots of military stores were plundered; and our custom houses and post offices were appropriated by the rebels. The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our executive, were alike marvelous. The nation looked on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glidf away and close the administration, so ternbio in its weakness. At length the long looked 84 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. for hour of deliverance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the scepter. The administration of President Buchanan was certainly the most calamitous our country has experienced. His best friends cannot re- call it with pleasure. And still more deplor- able it is for his fame, that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion. He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. HBRAHAM LINCOLN, the sixteeeth president of the United' States, was born in Hardin county, Ky. , Febru- ary 12, 1809. About the year 1780, a man by the name of Abraham Lincoln left Virginia with his family and moved into the then wilds of Kentucky. Only two years after this emigration, still a young man, while work- ing one day in a field, he was stealthily ap- proached by an Indian and shot dead. His widow was left in extreme poverty with five little children, three boys and two girls, Thomas, the youngest of the boys, was four years of age at his father's death. This Thomas was the father of Abraham Lincoln, the president of the United States, whose name must henceforth forever be enrolled with the most prominent in the annals of our world. When twenty-eight years of age Thomas Lincoln built a log cabin of his own, and mar- ried Nancy Hanks, the daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emigrants, who had also come from Virginia. Their second child was Abraham Lincoln. The mother of Abra- ham was a noble woman, gentle, loving, pen- sive; created to adorn a palace, doomed to toil p.nd pine, and die in a hovel. "All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grateful son, "I owe to my angel mother." When Abraham was eight years of age, his ' father sold his cabin and farm, and moved to Harrison county, Ind, where two years later his mother died. Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated community around him. He could not have had a better school than this to teach him to put thoughts mto words. He also bscame an eager reader. The books he could obtain were few; but these he read and re-read until they were almost com- mitted to memory. As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and griefs, wed- dings and funerals. Abraham's sister, Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, and emigrated to Macon county. 111. Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing another log cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their small lot of inclosed prairie planted with corn, when he announced to his father his intention to leave home, and to go out into the world and seek his fortune. Little did he or his friends imagine how brilliant tha^ fortune was to be. He saw the value of educa- tion and was intensely earnest to improve his mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin which ardent spirits were causing, and became strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxicating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain;" and a profane expression he was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a single vice. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 97 Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down the Sanga- mon to the Illinois, and thence by the Missis- sippi to New Orleans. In this adventure his employers were so well pleased, that upon his return they placed a store and mill under his care. In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He returned to Sangamon county, and although only twenty-three years of age, was a candidate for the legislature, but was defeated. He soon afterward received from Andrew Jackson the appointment of post- master of New Salem. His only postoffice was his hat. All the letters he received he carried there ready to deliver to those he chanced to meet. He studied surveying and soon made this his business. In 1834 he again became a candidate for the legislature, and was elected. Mr. Stuart, of Springfield, ad- vised him to study law. He walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and began his legal studies. When the legislature assem- bled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 100 miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 1836 he was re-elected to the legislature. Here it was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he removed to Springfield and began the practice of law. His success with the jury was so great that he was soon engaged in al- most every noted case in the circuit. In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. In the organization of the republi- can party in Illinois, in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's speeches in opposi- tion to Senator Douglas in the contest in 1858 for a seat in the senate, form a most notable part of his history. The issue was en the slavery question, and he took the broad ground of the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal. Mr. Lincoln was de- feated in this contest, but won a far higher prize — the presidency. The great republican convention met at Chicago on the i6th of June, i860. The del- egates and strangers who crowded the city amounted to 25,000. An immense building, called "The Wigwam," was reared to accom- modate the convention. There were eleven candidates for whom votes were cast. William H. Seward, a man whose fame as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most prom- inent. It was generally supposed he would be the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him; and as little did he dream that he was to render services to his country which would fix upon him the eyes of the whole civilized world, and which would give him a place in the affections of his coun- trymen, second only, if second, to that of Washington. Election day came and Mr. Lincoln re- ceived 180 electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, constitutionally elected presi- dent of the United States. The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was greater than upon any other man ever elected to this high position. In February, 1 86 1, Mr. Lincoln started for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his way, making speeches. The whole journey was fraught with much danger. Many of the southern states had already seceded, and sev- eral attempts at assassination were afterward brought to light. A gang in Baltimore had arranged, upon his arrival, to " get up a row," 98 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. and in the confusion to make sure of his death with revolvers and hand grenades. A detect- ive unraveled the plot. A secret and special train was provided to take him from Harris- burg, through Baltimore, at an unexpected hour of the night. The train started at half- past ten; and to prevent any possible com- munication on the part of the secessionists with their confederate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had started the telegraph wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln reached Wash- ington in safety and was inaugurated, although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave to Mr. Seward the department of state, and to other prominent opponents before the convention he gave important positions. During no other administration have the duties devolving upon the president been so manifold, and the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in his own strength to cope with the difficulties, he early learned to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in deter- mining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his trials, both personal and national. Contrary to his own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the most courageous of men. He went directly into the rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with General Grant, was urgently invited to attend Ford's theater. It was announced that they would be present. Gen. Grant, however, left the city. Pres. Lincoln, feeling, with his characteristic kindliness of heart, that it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth entered. the box where the president and family were seated, and fired a bullet into .his brains. He died the next morn- ing at seven o'clock, and now, if never before, the nation was plunged into the deepest mourning, and truly mourned the "country's loss." HNDREW JOHNSON, the seventeenth president of the United States, was born December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, N. C. When Andrew was five years of age, his father accidentally lost his life while heroically endeavoring to save a friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, An- drew was a ragged boy about the streets, sup- ported by the labor of his mother, who ob- tained her living with her own hands. He then, having never attended a school one day, and being unable either to read or write, was apprenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasionally and reading to the boys at work there. He often read from the speeches of distinguished British statesmen. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more than ordinary native ability, became much interested in these speeches; his ambi- tion was roused, and he was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. He according- ly applied himself to the alphabet, and, with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, learned his letters. He then called upon the gentleman to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book, but assisted him in learn- ing to combine the letters into words. Under such difficulties he pressed onward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest and recreation to devote such time as he could to reading. ANDREW JOHNSON. L.ofC. P-R4ESIDENTS QF THE -UNITED STATES. -101 He went to Tennessee in 1826 and located at Greenville, where he married a young lady who possessed some education. Under her instructions he learned to write and cipher. He became prominent in the village debating society, and a favorite with the students of Greenville college. In 1828 he organized a workingman's party, which elected him alder- man, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which position he held three years. He now began to take a lively interest in political affai'^s, identifying himself with the working classes to which he belonged. In 1835 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of Tennessee. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. He became a very active ^mem- ber of the legislature, gave his adhesion to the democratic party, and in 1840 "stumped the state, " advocating Martin Van Buren's claims to the presidency in opposition to those of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he ac- quired much readiness as a speaker, and ex- tended and increased his reputation. In 1 84 1 he was elected state senator; in 1843 he was elected a member of congress, and by successive elections held that important post for ten years. In 1S53 he was elected governor of Tennessee, and was re-elected in 1855. In all these responsible positions he discharged his duties with distinguished ability and proved himself the friend of the working classes. In 1857 Mr. Johnson was elected a United States senator. Years before, in 1845, he had warmly ad- vocated the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his reason, that he thought this annexation would probably prove "to be the gateway out of which the sable sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, and be- come merged in a population congenial to themselves." In 1850 he also supported the compromise measures, the two essential fea- tures of which were, that the white peopie of the territories should be permitted to de- cide for themselves whether they would en- slave the colored people or not, and that the free states of the north should return to the south persons who attempted to escape from slavery. Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin; on the contrary he often took pride in avowing that he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," said he on the floor of the senate, "I do not forget that I am a mechanic; neither do I forget that Adam was a tailor and sewed fig leaves, and that our Savior was the son of a carpenter." In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of i860, he was the choice of the Tennessee democrats for the presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the southern democracy became apparent, he took a decided stand in favor of the Union, and held "slavery must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever cost. " He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly im- periled his own life to protect the Unionists of Tennessee. Tennessee having seceded from the Union, President Lincoln, on March 4, 1862, appointed him military governor of the state, and he established the most stringent military rule. His numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 1864 he was elected vice president of the United States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 1865, became president. In a speech two days later he said: "The American people must be taught, if they do not already feel, that trea- son is a crime and must be punished; that the government will not always bear with its ene- mies; that it is strong not only to protect, but to punish. * * The people must under- stand that it (treason) is the blackest of crime.= and will surely be punished." Yet his whole administration, the history of which is so well 102 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. known, was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech. In his loose policy of reconstruction and general amnesty he was opposed by congress; and he characterized congress as a new rebel- hon, and lawlessly defied it in everything pos- sible to the utmost. In the beginning of iS68, on account of "high crimes and misdemean- ors," the principal of which was the removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- ure of Office act, articles of impeachment were preferred against him, and the trial began March 23. It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three months. A test article of the impeach- ment was at length submitted to the court for its action. It was certain that as the court voted upon that article, so would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced the presi- dent guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced acquitted, notwithstanding the great majority against him. The change of one vote from the not guilty side would have sustained the impeachment. The president for the remainder of his term was but little regarded. He continued, though impotently, his conflict with congress. His own party did not think it expedient to renominate him (or the presidency. The bul- let of the assassin introduced him to the presi- dent's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was there presented to a man a better oppor- tunity to immortalize his name and win the gratitude of a nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home in Greenville, Tenn., tak- ing no very active part in politics until 1875. On January 26, after' an exciting struggle, he was chosed by the legislature of Tennessee United States senator in the forty-fourth con- gress; and took his seat in that body at the special session convened by President Grant on the 5th of March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-president made a visit to Ins daughter's home, near Carter Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey he was appar- ently in his usual vigorous health, but on reaching the residence ol his child the follow- ing day was stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 2 a. m. , July 31, aged sixty-seven years. He was buried at Green- ville, on the 3d of August, 1875. LYSSES S. GRANT, the eighteenth president of the United States, was born on the 29th of April, 1822, of christian parents, in a humble home, at Point P'easant,Va.,on the banks of the Ohio. Shortly afier his father moved to Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio. In this remote frontier hamlet, Ulysses received a common school education. At the age of seventeen, in the year 1839, he entered the Military academy at West Point. Here he was regarded as a solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of sturdy, honest character. He took respect- able rank as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of infantry to one of the distant military posts in the Missouri terri- tory. Two years he passed in these dreary solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasper- ating Indians. The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that he per- formed a signal service of daring and skillful horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its ammunition. A messenger must be sent for ULYSSES S GRANT. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 105 more, along a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one side of the animal, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. From Monterey he was sent, with the Fourth infantry, to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he was appointed quarter- master of his regiment. At the battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Chapultepec. At the close of the Mexican war, Capt. Grant returned with his regiment to New York, and was again sent to one of the mili- tary posts on the frontier. The discovery of gold in California causing an immense tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. Grant was sent, with a battalion, to Fort Dallas, in Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the emigrants. Life was weari- some in those wilds. Capt. Grant resigned his commission and returned to the states; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not remunerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into the leather business, with a younger brother at Galena, 111. This was in the year i860. As the tidings of the rebels firing on Fort Sumter reached the ears of Capt. Grant in his counting room, he said — "Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though I have served him through one war, I do not feel that I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword and see Uncle Sam through this war, too." He went into the streets, raised a company of volunteers, and led them, as their captain, to Springfield, the capital of the state, where their services were offered to Gov. Yates. The governor, impressed by the zeal and straight- forward executive ability of Capt. Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the volun- teer organization that was being formed in the state in behalf of the government. On the 15th of June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as colonel of the Twenty-first regiment of Illinois volunteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who had served for fifteen years in the regular army, were such that he was soon promoted to the rank of brigadier general and was placed in command at Cairo. The rebels raised their flag at Pa- ducah, near the mouth of the Tennessee river. Scarcely had its folds appeared ere Gen. Grant was there. The rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the stars and stripes were unfurled in its stead. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was immediately made a major general, and the military district of Tennessee was assigned to him. Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how to secure the results of a victory. He immediately pushed on to the enemy's lines. Then came the terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an unconditional surrender of the city with over 30,000 men and 172 cannon. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, and opened up the Mississippi from Carlo to the gulf. Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and proceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from his horse and received severe in- juries, from which he was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid of Gens. Rosecrans 106 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. and Thomas at Chattanooga, and by a won- derful series of strategtic and technical measures put the Union army in fighting condition. Then followed the bloody battles of Chatta- nooga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels weie routed with great loss. This won ' for him unbounded praise in the north. On the 4th of February, 1864, congress revived the grade of lieutenant general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant. He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials and enter upon the duties of his new office. Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of the army to concentrate the widely dispersed national troops for an attack on Richmond, the nominal capital of the rebel- lion, and endeavor there to destroy the rebel armies which would be promptly assembled from all quarters for its defense. The whole continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these majestic armies, rushing to the deci- sive battle-field. Steamers were crowded with troops; railway trains were burdened with closely packed thousands. His plans were comprehensive and involved a series of cam- paigns, which were executed with remarkable energy and ability, and were consummated at the surrender of Lee, April 9, 1865. The war was ended. The Union was saved. The almost unanimous voice of the nation de- clared Gen. Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its salvation. The eminent services he had thus rendered the country brought him conspicuously forward as the re- publican candidate for the presidential chair. At the republican convention held at Chicago, May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the presidency, and at .the autumn elec- tion received a majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 electoral votes. The national convention of the republican party which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term by a unanimous vote. The selec- tion was emphatically endorsed by the people five months later, 292 electoral votes being cast for him. Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant started upon his famous trip around the world. He visited almost every country of the civilized world, and was every- where received with such ovations and demon- strations of respect and honor, private, as well as public and official, as were never before bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. He was the most prominent candidate before the republican national convention in 1 880 for a renomination for president. But he went to New York and embarked in the brokerage business under the firm name of Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to the penitentiary. The general was attacked with cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like manner, never complaining. He was re-instated general of the army and retired by congress. The cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of the illus- trious general. ^>^ UTHERFORD B. HAYES, the nine- I /^T teenth president of the United States, I^P was born in Delaware, Ohio, October 4. 1852, almost three months after the death of his father, Rutherford Hayes. His ancestry, an both the paternal and mater- nal sides, was of the most honorable character. It can be traced, it is said, as far back as 1280, when Hayes and Rutherford were two Scottish chieftains, fighting side by side with Baliol, William Wallace and Robert Bruce. Both families belonged to the nobility, owned e.xtensive estates, and had a large following. RUTH ERFORD B HAYES. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 109 Misfortune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scotland in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son George was born in Windsor, and remained there during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his marriage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufacturer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, where he established a hotel. Here his son, Rutherford Hayes, the father of President Hayes, was born. He was married, in September, 181 3, to Sophia Bir- chard, of Wilmington, Yt-, whose ancestors emigrated thither from Connecticut, they hav- ing been among the wealthiest and best fami- lies of Norwich. Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 1635, to John Bir- chard, one of the principal founders of Nor- wich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The father of President Hayes was an in- dustrious, frugal and open-hearted man. He was of a mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stocking, or do almost any- thing else that he chose to undertake. He was a member of the church, active in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- ducted his business on christian principles. After the close of the war of 181 2, for reasons inexplicable to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day, when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes determined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived in 18 17. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial fever, less than three months .before the birth of the son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore bereavement, found the support she so much needed in her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the house- hold from the day of its departure from Ver- mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted some time before as an act of charity. Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he was not expected to live beyond a month or two at most. As the months went by he grew weaker and weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of inquiring from time to time "if Mrs. Hayes' baby died last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the boy's big head, and the moth- er's assiduous care of him, said in a bantering way, "That's right! Stick to him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't wonder if he would really come to something yet. " "You need not laugh, " said Mrs. Hayes. "You wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him president of the United States yet." The boy lived in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was drowned, he be- camfe, if possible, still dearer to his mother. The boy was seven years old before he went to school. His education, however, was not neglected. He probably learned as much from his mother and sister as he would have done at school. His sports were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being his sister and her associates. His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest in his education; and as the boy's health had improved, and he was making good progress in his studies, he pro- posed to send him to college. His preparation commenced with a tutor at home; but he was afterward sent for one year to a professor in no PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. the WeSleyan university, in Middletown, Conn. He entered Kenyon college in 1838, at the age of sixteen, and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. Immediately after his graduation he began the study of iaw in the office of Thomas Spar- row, Esq., in Columbus. Finding his oppor- tunities for study in Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter the law school at Cambridge, Mass., where he remained two years. In 1845, after graduating at the law school, he was admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law with Ralph P. Buck- land, of Fremont. Here he remained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, and apparently unambitious of distinction in his profession. In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambition found a new stimulus. Two events, occurring at this period, had a powerful influ- ence upon his subsequent life. One of these was his marriage with Miss Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of Chillicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cincin- nati Literary club, a body embracing among its members such men as Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many others hardly less distin- guished in after life. The marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our presi- dents was more universally admired, rever- enced and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did more than she to reflect honor upon American womanhood. The Literary club brought Mr. Hayes into constant associa- tion with young men of high character and noble aims, and lured hina to display the qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and extreme modesty. In 1856 he v/as nominated to the office of judge of the court of common pleas; but he declined to accept the nomination. Two years later, the office of city solicitor becoming vacant, the city council elected him for the un- expired term. In 1 86 1, when the rebellion broke out, he was at the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the bar was among the first. But the news of the attack on Fort Sumter found him eager to take up arms for the defense of his beloved country. His military record was bright and illus- trious. In October, 1861, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and August, 1862, promoted colonel of the Seventy-ninth Ohio regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he was made colonel of his old regiment. At the battle of South Mountain he received a wound, and while faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude that won admiration from all. Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after his recovery, to act as brigadier-general, and placed in command of the celebrated Kana- wha division, and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was promoted briga- dier-general. He was also brevetted major- general "for gallant and distinguished services during the campaigns of 1864 in West Vir- ginia." In the course of his arduous services four horses were shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to con- gress, from the Second Ohio district, which had long been democratic. He was not pres- ent during the campaign, and after his election was importuned to resign his commission in the army; but he finally declared: " I shall never come to Washington until I can come by the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. In 1867, Gen. Hayes was elected governor JAMES A. GARFIELD PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 113 of Ohio over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popu- lar democrat. In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. He was elected gov- ernor for the third term in 1875. In 1876 he was the standard-bearer of the republican party in the presidential contest, and, after a hard, long contest, was chosen president, and was inaugurated Monday, March 5. 1875. He served one full term of four years, then retired to his peaceful home, where he expired January 17, 1893. >^AMES A. GARFIELD, twentieth pres- M ident of the United States, was born A ■ November 19, 1831, in the woods of Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. His parents were Abram and Eliza (Ballou) Gar- field, both of New England ancestry, and from families well known in the early history of that section of our country, but had moved to the Western Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- ment. The house in which James A. was born was about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces between the logs filled with clay. His father was a hard-working farmer, and he soon had his fields cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. The household comprised the father and mother and their four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold contracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At this time James was about eighteen months old, and Thomas about ten years old. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sisters live in Solon, Ohio, near their birth-place. The early educational advantages young Garfield enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of them. He labored at farm work for others, did carpenter work, chopped wood, or did anything that would bring in a few dollars. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his origin, and he never forgot the friends of his struggling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they ever forget hmi. When in the highest seats of honor, the humblest friend of his boyhood was as kindly greeted as ever. The highest ambition of young Garfield until he was about sixteen years old- was to be a captain of a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She finally con- sented to his going to Cleveland, with the understanding, however, that he should try to obtain some other kind of employment. He walked all the way to Cleveland. After making many applications for work, and try- ing to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meet- ing with success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Penn- sylvania canal. He remained at this work but a short time when he went home, and attended the seminary at Chester for about three years, when he entered Hiram and the Eclectic institute, teaching a few terms of school in the meantime, and doing other work. This school was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of which church he was then a member. He became janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. He then be- came both teacher and pupil. In the fall of 1854, he entered Williams college, from which he graduated in 1856, taking one of the high- est honors of his class. He afterward re- turned to Hiram college as its president. Dr. Noah Porter, president of Yale college, says oi him in reference to his religion: "President Garfield was more than a man of strong moral and religious convictions. Hit whole history, from boyhood to the lasV shows that duty to man and to God, and de votion to Christ and life and faith and spiritua 114 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. commission were controlling springs of his being, and to a more than usual degree." Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Rudolph, November ii, 1858, who proved herself worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and mourned. To them were born seven children, five of whom axe still living, four boys and one girl. Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, in Hiram and the neighbor- ing villages, and three years later he began to speak at county mass meetings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he was. Dur- ing this year he was elected to the Ohio senate. He also began to study law at Cleve- land, and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had talked, and enlisted to de- fend the old flag. He received his commission as lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-second reg- iment of Ohio volunteer infantry, August 14, 1 861. He was immediately put into active service, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, was placed in command of four regiments of infantry and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the work of driving out of his native state the officer (Humphrey Mar- shall) reputed to be the ablest of those, not educated to war, whom Kentucky had given to the rebellion. This work was bravely and speedily accomplished, although against great odds. President Lincoln, on his success, com- missioned him brigadier general, January 10, 1 862 ; and as ' 'he had been the youngest man in the Ohio senate two years before, so now he was the youngest general in the army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, in its operations around Corinth and its march through Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of the general court-martial for the trial of Fitz-John Porter. He was then or- i dered to report to Gen. Rosecruns, and was I assigned to the chief of staff. The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with his brill- iant services at Chickamauga, where he won the stars of the major-general. Without an effort on his part Gen. Garfield was elected to congress in the fall of 1862 from the Nineteenth district of Ohio. This section of Ohio had been represented in con- gress for si.xty years mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he resigned his place in the army. At the time he entered congress he was the youngest member in that body. Here he remained by successive re- elections until he was elected president in 1880. Of his labors in congress Senator Hoar says: "Since the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which has been debated in congress, or discussed before a tribunal of the American people, in regard to which you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argument on one side stated, in almost every instance, better than by anybod}' else, in some speech made in the house of representatives or on the hustings by Mr. Garfield." Upon January 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to the United States senate, and on the 8th of June, of the same year, was nom- inated as the candidate of his party for presi- dent at the great Chicago convention. He was elected in the following November, and on March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no administration ever opened its existence under brighter auspices than that of President Garfield, and every day it grew in favor with the people, and by the first of July he had completed all the initiatory and preliminary work of his administration and was preparing to leave the city to meet his friends at Will- iams college. While on his way and at the depot, in company with Secretary Blaine, a man stepped behind him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. The president CHESTER A. ARTHUR. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 117 tottered and fell, and as he did so the assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further injury. For eighty days all during the hot months of July and August, he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent bearing was teaching the country and the world the noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the very clutch of death. He passed serenely away September 19, 1881, at Elberon, N. J., on the seashore, where he had been taken shortly previous. The murderer was tried, found guilty and executed, in one year after he committed the foul deed. a HESTER A. ARTHUR, twenty-first president of the United States, was born in Franklin county, Vermont, on the fifth of October, 1830, and is the eldest of a family of two sons and five daughters. His father was the Rev. Dr. William Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, who emigrated to this country from the county Antrim, Ireland, in his eighteenth year, and died in 1875, in Newtonville, near Albany, N. Y. , after a long and successful ministry. Young Arthur was educated at Union col- lege, Schenectady, N. Y. , where he excelled in all his studies. After his graduation, he taught school in Vermont for two years, and at the expiration of that time went to New York, with $500 in his pocket, and entered the office of ex-Judge E. D. Culver, as student. After being admited to the bar he formed a partnership with his intimate friend and room- mate, Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing in the west, and for three months they roamed about in the western states in search of an eligible site, but in the end re- turned to New York, where they entered upon a successful career almost from the start. Gen. Arthur soon afterward married the daugh- ter of Lieut. Herndon, of the United States navy, who was lost at sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occasion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's nomi- nation to the vice presidency, leaving two children. Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had been declared free by Judge Paine, of the superior court of New York city. It was in 1852 that Jonathan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when they were discovered and freed. T'le judge decided that they could not be held by the owner under the Fugitive Slave law. A howl of rage went up from the south, and the Virginia legislature authorized the attorney general of that state to assist in an appeal. William M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed to represent the people, and they won their case, which then went to the supreme court of the United States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause of the slave- holders, but he too, was beaten by Messrs. Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward the emanicipation of the black race. Another great service was rendered by Gen. Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Liz- zie Jenning-, a respectable colored woman, was put oft a Focrth avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. Gen. Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a verdict of $500 damages. The next day the company issued an order to admit colored persons to ride on their cars, and the other car companies quickly followed their exarnple. Before that the Sixth avenue company ran a few special cars for col- ored persons and the other lines refused to lot them ride at all. 118 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Gen. Arthur was a delegate to the conven- tion at Saratoga that founded the republican party. Previous to the war he was judge-ad- vocate of the Second brigade of the state of New York, and Governor Morgan, of that state, appointed him engineer-in-chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made inspector gen- eral, and soon afterward became quartermas- ter general. In each of these offices he ren- dered great service to the government during the war. At the end of Gov. Morgan's term he resumed the practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the district attorney of New York, was added to the firm. The legal practice of this well known firm was very large and lucra- tive; each of the gentlemen composing it was an able lawyer, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if not indeed one of national extent. Arthur was appointed collector of the port of New York by President Grant, November 21, 1872, to succeed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July 20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. Mr. Arthur was nominated on the presidential ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous national republican convention held at Chicago in June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political convention that ever assem- bled on the continent. It was composed of the leading politicians of the republican party, all able men, and all stood firm and fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their respective candidates that were before the con- vention for the nomination. Fiaaliy Gen. Garfield received the nomination for president and Gen. Arthur for vice president. 1 he cam- paign which followed wai one of the most animated known in the history of our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of the democratic party, was a popular man, and his party made a valiant fight for his election. Finally the election came and the country's choice was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated March 4, 1 881, as president and vice-president. A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen president was the victim of the assassin's bullet. The remarka- ble patience that Garfield manifested during those hours and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suffering man has often been called upon to endure, was seemingly more than human. It was certainly God-like. During all this period of deepest an.xiety Mr. Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his credit, that his every action dis- played only an earnest desire that the suffer- ing Garfield might recover, to serve the re- mainder of the term he had so auspiciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested in deed or look of this man, even though the most honored position in the world was at any moment likely to fall to him. At last God in his mercy relieved President Garfield from further suffermg. Then it be- came the duty of the vice president to assume the responsibilities of the high office, and he took the oath in New York, September 20, 1 88 1. The position was an embarrassing one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, what pohcy he would pursue, and whom he would select as advisers. The duties of the office had been greatly neglected during the president's long illness, and many import- ant measures were to be immediately decided by him; and still farther to embarrass him he did not fail to realize under what circumstances he became president, and knevv the feelings oi many on this point. Under these trying cir- cumstances President Arthur took the reins of the government in his own hands; and as em- barrassing as was the condition of afiairs, he happily surprised the nation, actign so wisely that but few criticised his administration. Hu STEPHEN CROVER CLEVELAND. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 121 served until the close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was a popular candidate before his party for a second term. His name was ably presented before the convention at Chica^^o, ^:>^ was received with great favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity of one of the opposing candidates, he would have been selected as the standard-bearer of his party for another campaign. He retired to private life carrying with him the best wishes of the American people, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory to them and with credit to himself. Although not a man of the transcendent ability possessed by the lamented Garfield, Mr. Arthur was able for the emergency he was so unexpectedly called to fill, and was a worthy successor to his chief. ^">^TEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND, •^^^* the twenty-second and twenty-fourth ^ ^ J president of the United States, was born in 1837, in the town of Cald- well, Essex county, N. J., and in a little two- and-a-half story white house which is still standing, characteristically to mark the hum- ble birth-place of one of America's great men in striking contrast with the old world, where all men high in office must be high in origin, and born in the cradle of wealth. When three years of age, his father, who was a Presbyte- rian minister with a large family, and a small salary, moved by the way of the Hudson river and Erie canal to Fayetteville in search of an increased income and a larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most straggling of country villages, about five miles from Pompey Hill, where Gov. Seymour was born. At the last mentioned place young Grover commenced going to school in the "good old-fashioned way," and presumably distinguished himself after the manner of all village boys in doing the things he ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of all village geniuses and independent thinkers. When he arrived at the age of fourteen years he had outgrown the capacity of the village school and expressed a most emphatic desire to be sent to an acad- emy. To this his father decidedly objected. Academies in those days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to become self-support- ing by the quickest possible means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed to be a position in a country store, where his father, with the large family on his hands, had con- siderable influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to receive $100 the second year. Here the lad commenced his career as a salesman, and in two years he had earned so good a reputation for trustworthi- ness that his employers desired to retain him longer. But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayetteville, he went with the family in their removal to Clinton, where he had an oppor- tunity of attending a high school. Here he industriously pursued his studies until the family removed with him to a point on Black river known as the Holland Patent, a village of 500 or 600 people, fifteen miles north of Utica, N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, and Grover set out for New York city to accept, at a small salary, the position of "under-teacher" in an asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two years, and although he obtained a good repu- tation in this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his calling for life, and, re- versing the traditional order, he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going to a city. He first thought of going to Cleveland, Ohio, as there was some charm in that name for him; but before proceeding to that place he went to 122 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Buffalo to ask advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted stock breeder of that place. After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a place temporarily as assistant herdkeeper at $50 a year, while he could "look around." One day afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, Bowers & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told them what he wanted. A number of young men were already engaged in the office, but Grover's persistency won, and he was fin- ally permitted to come as an office boy and have the use of the law library for the nomi- nal sum of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for his board and washing. The walk to and from his uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although the first winter was a memorably severe one, yet he was neverthe- less prompt and regular. On the first day of his service there, his senior employer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him with a bang that made the dust fly, saying, "That's where they all begin." A titter ran around the little circle of clerks and students, as they thought that was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans; but in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland exhib- ited a talent for executiveness rather than for chasing principles through all their metaphys- ical possibilities. "Let us quit talking and go and do it," was practically his motto. The first public office to which Mr. Cleve- land was elected was that of sheriff of Erie county, N. Y., in which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell to his duty to in- flict capital punishment upon two criminals. In 1 88 1 he ^vas elected mayor of the city of Buffalo on the democratic ticket, with especial reference to the bringing about certain reforms in the administration of the municipal affairs of that city. In this office, as well as that of sheriff, his performance of duty has generally been considered fair, with possibly a few ex- ceptions, which were ferreted out and magni- fied during his last presidential campaign. The editorial manager or the New York Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Ck ve land's administration as mayor of Buffalo, and thereupon recommended him for governor ol the Empire state. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, and his administration of the affairs of state was generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if any, were made very public throughout the nation after he was nom- inated for president of the United States. For this high office he was nominated July 11, 1S84, by the national democratic convention at Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc. ; and he was elected b^' the people by a majority of about a thousand over the brilliant and long-tried James G. Blaine. President Cleveland resigned his office as gov- erner of New York in January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as the chief executive of the United States, in which capacity his tcM-m commenced at noon on the 4th of March, 1885. In November, 1892, Mr. Cleveland was re- elected to the presidency by the democratic party, the candidate of the republican ]iarty being their ex-chief, Benjamin Harrison, a sketch of whom follows this. The popular vote on this occasion stood: Cleveland, 5, 556- 562; Harrison, 5,162,874; the electoral vote was 277 for Cleveland, and 145 for Harrison. During the early part of his first administra- tion, Mr. Cleveland was married to Miss Frances Folsom, of Buffalo, N. Y. , and in Oc- tober, 1 89 1, a daughter, Ruth, came to bless the union, and a second daughter, Esther, was born in July, 1893. The first act of Mr. Cleveland, on taking his seat for his second term, was to convene congress in extra session for the purpose of repealing the Sherman sil- ver bill, and accordingly that body met Sep- BENJAMIN HARRISON. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 125 teinber 4, 1893, ^"d both houses being demo- cratic, the bill, in accordance with the recom- mendation oi the president, was uncondition- ally repealed. The special feature, liowever, ot the second administration of Grover Cleve- land was the repeal of the McKinley tariff bill by congress and the substitution of the bill re- ported by William L. Wilson, of West Vir- ginia, as chairman ot the ways and means com- mittee of the house ot representatives, which bill, being concurred in, with sundry amend- ments, by the senate, was finally passed and went into effect in the latter part of 1894, materially reducing the duties on imports. tV^ ENJAMIN HARRISON, the twenty- [('^ third president, is the descendant of J^^M one of the historical families of this country. The head of the family was a Major General Harrison, one of Oliver Cromwell's trusted followers and fighters. In the zenith of Cromwell's power it became the duty of this Harrison to participate in the trial of Charles I, and afterward to sign the death warrant of the king. He subsequently paid for this with his life, being hung October 13, 1660. His descendants came to America, and the ne.xt of the family that appears in his- tory is Benjamin Harrison, of Virginia, great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and after whom he was named. Benjamin Har- rison was a member of the continental con- gress during the years 1774-5-6, and was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was three times elected governor of Virginia. Gen. William Henry Harrison, the son of the distinguished patriot of the Revolution, after a successsul career as a soldier during the war of 181 2, and with a clean record as gov- ernor of the Northwestern territory, was elected president of the United States in 1840. His career was cut short by death in one month after his inauguration. President Benjamin Harrison was born at North Bend, Hamilton county, Ohio, August 20, 1833. His life up to the time of his grad- uation by the Miami university, at O.xford, Ohio, was the uneventful one of a country lad of a family of small means. His father was able to give him a good education, and nothing more. He became engaged while at college to the daughter of Dr. Scott, principal of a female school at O.xford. After graduating, he determined to enter upon the study of the law. He went to Cincinnati and there read law for two years. At the e.xpiration of that time young Harrison received the only inher- itance of his life; his aunt, dying, left him a lot valued at $800. He regarded this legacy as a fortune, and decided to get married at once, take this money and go to some eastern town and begin the practice of law. He sold his lot, and with the money in his pocket, he started out with his young wife to fight for a place in the world. He decided to go to Indianapolis, which was even at that time a town of promise. He met with slight encour- agement at first, making scarcely anything the first year. He worked diligently, applying himself closely to his calling, built up an ex- tensive practice and took a leading rank in the legal profession. He is the father of two children. In i860 Mr. Harrison was nominated for the position of supreme court reporter, and then began his experience a? a stump speaker. He canvassed the state thoroughly, and was elected by a handsome majority. In 1862 he raised the Seventeenth Indiana infantry, and was chosen its colonel. His regiment was composed of the rawest of material, but Col. Harrison employed all his time at first master- ing military tactics and drilling his men; when he therefore came to move toward the east 126 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. with Sherman his regiment was one of the best drilled and organized in the army. At Resaca he especially distinguished himself, and for his bravery at Peachtree Creek he was made a brigadier general, Gen. Hooker speak- ing of him in the most complimentary terms. During the absence of Gen. Harrison in the field the supreme court declared the office of the supreme court reporter vacant, and another person was elected to the position. From the time of leaving Indiana with his regiment until the fall of 1864 he had taken no leave of absence, but having been nomi- nated that year for the same office, he got a thirty-day leave of absence, and during that time made a brilliant canvass of the state, and was elected for another term. He then started to rejoin Sherman, but on the way was stricken down with scarlet fever, and after a most trying siege made his way to the front in time to participate in the closing incidents of the war. In 1868 Gen. Harrison declined a re-elec- tion as reporter, and resumed the practice of law. In 1 876 he was a candidate for governor. Although defeated, the brilliant campaign he made won for him a national reputation, and he was much sought, especially in the east, to make speeches. In 1880, as usual, he took an active part in the campaign, and was elected to the United States senate. Here he served six years, and was known as one of the ablest men, best lawyers and strongest debaters in that body. With the expiration of his sena- torial term he returned to the practice of his profession, becoming the head of one of the strongest firms in the state of Indiana. The political campaign of 1888 was one of the most memorable in the history of our coun- try. The convention, which assembled in Chicago in June and named Mr. Harrison as the chief standard bearer of the republican party, was great in every particular, and on this account, and the attitude it assumed upon the vital questions of the day, chief among which was the tariff, awoke a deep interest in the campaign throughout the nation. Shortly after the nomination delegations began to visit Mr. Harrison at Indianapolis, his home. This movement became popular, and from all sec- tions of the country societies, clubs and dele- gations journeyed thither to pay their respects to the distinguished statesman. The popu- larity of these was greatly increased on ac- count of the remarkable speeches made by Mr. Harrison. He spoke daily all through the summer and autumn to these visiting delega- tions, and so varied, masterly and eloquent were his speeches that they at once placed him in the foremost rank of American orators and statesmen. On account of his eloquence as a speaker and his power as a debater, he was called upon at an uncommonly early age to take part in the discussion of the great questions that then began to agitate the coun- try. He was an uncompromising anti-slavery man, and was matched against some of the most eminent democratic speakers of his state. No man who felt the touch of his blade de- sired to be pitted with him again. With all his eloquence as an orator he never spoke for oratorical effect, but his words always went like bullets to the mark. He is purely Ameri- can in his ideas and is a splendid type of the American statesman. Gifted with quick per- ception, a logical mind and a ready tongue, he is one of the most distinguished impromptu speakers in the nation. Original in thought, precise in logic, terse in statement, yet withal faultless in eloquence, he is recognized as the sound statesman and brilliant orator of the day. His term of office as president of the United States expired on March 4, 1893, when he surrendered the high position to Stephen Grover Cleveland, allusion to which fact is made on a preceding page. WILLIAM Mckinley PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 127 •ILLIAM Mckinley, the twenty- fourth president, and twice governor of Ohio, is one of the most distin- guished poUticians of his state and nation. His ancestry lived in western Penn- sylvania, his father, William Mclvinley, who died recently at the age of eighty-five years, having been born on a farm in Pine township, Mercer county, that state — a farm which was recently and may be to-day in the possession of the Rose family, which is related to Mr. Mc- Kinley, and of which ex-Mayor W. G. Rose, of Cleveland, Ohio, is a member. William Mc- Kinley, Sr. , was in the iron business all his life, as was also his father before him. William McKinley, Jr., was born at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 29, 1843. ^^ was educated in the common schools, in the academy at Poland, Ohio, and in the fall of i860 he entered Allegheny college at Mead- ville. Pa., with the view of taking a full college course; but o\^'ing to sickness he was obliged to return home before the winter came on. During the winter of 1860-61 he taught a dis- trict school, and intended to return to Alle- gheny college, but in April, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon by the rebels, and the spirit of patriotism in young McKinley's heart was so strong that he enlisted in company E, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he marched and fought in the ranks for fourteen months. His regiment was with Rosecrans and McClellan in Virginia and West Virginia. His first battle was that of Carnifax Ferry. After this he joined the army of the Potomac and fought with McClellan. Subsequently Private McKinley was promoted, first to second lieutenant, September, 24, 1862; then to first lieutenant, February 7, 1863, and then to captain, July 25, 1864. Then he served on the staff of Gen. R. B. Hayes and was afterward detailed to act as assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Gen. George Crook. He was with Sheridan in the Shenan- doah valley, in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill, Opequan, Kerns- town, Cloyd Mountain and Berryville. For meritorious conduct he was brevetted major by President Lincoln, and after Gen. Crook's capture, in Maryland, he served on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Hancock, and later on that of Gen. S. S. Carroll, commander of the veteran reserve corps at Washington, D. C. He was present at the surrender of Gen. Lee, April 9, 1865, was with his regiment all through its campaigns and battles, and was mustered out of service July 26, 1865, having been in the army four years and one month. Returning to Ohio, Maj. McKinley studied law with Hon. Charles S. Glidden and David Wilson, of Mahoning county, and then at- tended the law school at Albany, N. Y. In 1S67 he was admitted to the bar, and in May of that year located in Canton, Ohio, where he formed a law partnership with Judge Belden, practicing in that relationship for two years. In 1869 he was elected on the republican ticket prosecuting attorney of Stark county, notwithstanding that county was democratic usually by a reliable majority, but in 1871 he was defeated for re-election by an ad- verse majority of forty-five. In 1876 he ran for congress, and, to the surprise of the older politicians, was elected and was then continuously in congress from his district (not- withstanding several gerrymanders made for the sake of defeating him) for fourteen con- secutive years, with the exception of a part of his fourth term, when he was unseated by a democratic majorify in congress and his place given to his competitor. He was a candidate for re-election to congress in 1890, but on account of fictitious alarm awakened by his political en- emies as to the result, or the probable result, of the ' ' McKinley tariff bill, " which went into ef- fect about October i, 1890, a little more than 128 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. one month before the election, he was defeated, the majority against him and in favor of his competitor, Lieut. -Gov. Warwick, being 303 votes. The year before the counties compos- ing this district, which had been most out- rageously gerrymandered for the sake of ac- complishing his defeat, gave a majority to James E. Campbell for governor of 2,900. But while this defeat retired him from con- gress it at the same time made him governor in 1 89 1, when he was elected over his opponent by a plurality of 21,511. In 1893 he was again elected governor by the phenomenal plurality of 80,995, his opponent this time be- ing the Hon. Lawrence T. Neal. While in congress Maj. McKinley was a member of the committee on revision of laws, the judiciary committee, the committee on ex- penditures in the post office department, and the committee on rules. Upon the nomina- tion of Gen. Garfield for the presidency, Mr. McKinley took his place on the committee on ways and means, with which he served for the rest of his time in congress. It was while he was chairman of this committee that he framed the "McKinle}' Bill" which still bears its name, and provided for a high rate of duty on an im- mense number of articles imported from for- eign countries, but made sugar free. Its pur- pose was to reduce the national revenue and to increase protection. The work involved in the preparation of this bill is almost inconceivable. It contained thousands of items and covered nearly every interest in the country. For four weeks, while the house was in session, Mr. McKinley was almost constantly upon his feet answering num- berless questions, meeting objections and giving information. With the exception of two minor amendments the bill passed exactly as it came from the hands of the committee, and its pas- sage was the signal for a conflict which few Statesmen in the history of free government could have withstood. It was assaulted as no other law has ever been assaulted in this gen- eration and for a time even republican leaders had misgivings. The indomitable courage and unbounded faith of Mr. McKinley during this trying period alone seemed to hold the republican party to- gether. He never wavered for an instant. With a fervor born of conviction, he had thrown his ambitions, his hopes, almost his very life, into the cause he represented. Its defeat was his defeat; its triumph his triumph. From the apparent defeat of his cause in 1S90, and again in 1892, he arose courageous, steadfast, hopeful. Others might change, others might doubt, others might modifj' their views, but he stood firm for a protective tariff — for the Ameri- can producer against the foreign producer. He accepted with true American spirit the popular verdict and challenged the interpreta- tion put upon it by political opponents. He took an appeal to the people and in two years from the crushing defeat of 1892 he led the republican hosts to the greatest victory and the most stupendous change in the popular vote of a country ever recorded. The tide turned; the result of the free trade policy was apparent, the object lesson was received, noted and the decision reversed. In 18S4 Maj. McKinley was a delegate at large to the republican national convention which nominated Hon. James G. Blaine. In 1888 he was again a delegate at large to the republican national convention, and this time was in favor of the Hon. John Sherman for the party's candidate, but the complications then were numerous and difficult of solution, because of Mr. Blaine's refusal to be again the nominee. Many thought the nomination of Maj. McKinley would solve all problems and harmonize all factions, but in spite of all argu- ments and all persuasions he remained true to his state and to himself by steadfastly refusing PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 129 to permit his name to be used as a presidential candidate. Again, in 1892, Maj. McKinley was a delegate at large to the Minneapolis con- vention which renominated President Harrison, and in this convention, in spite of all remon- strances that he could make, he received within a fraction of as many votes as were given to the idol of the republican party, James G. Blaine, the latter receiving 182 5-6 votes, while McKinley received 182 1-6 votes. Pres- dent Harrison was, however, renominated, only to be defeated by Grover Cleveland. In his political campaigns he has mani- fested brilliant qualities as an orator. It is probably true that more people have heard him discuss political questions than have ever listened to any other campaign speaker in the United States. Thousands of people assemble to hear him ; he alwa}S commands the rapt attention of his hearers, and he frequently elicits at least hearty applause. His great tour in the fall of 1S94 is prob- ably without a parallel in the history of the United States. Everywhere thousands greeted him. For more than eight weeks he averaged seven speeches a day, and it is estimated that during that time 2,000,000 people listened to him. It is altogether likely that the secret of his power over an audience lies in his sincerity, as he employs no adventitious methods and is not amusing, his simple and single aim being apparently to convince by argument fairly and squarely. The preliminary canvass or campaign of 1896, which resulted in the nomination of Mr. McKinley for the presidency, was remarkable in many ways, but in no respect more so than in the unanimity of public sentiment which made it possible to predict with almost abso- lute certainty weeks before the convention the selection of the champion of protection and a sound financial policy as the candidate. His choice as the representative of the party best fitted to be entrusted with the administration of national affairs was a natural sequence — the re- suit of sentiment that had been engendered during the four years previous, and yet it had every characteristic of spontaneity. The increas- ing favor with which he was regarded by the voters of the country was, until a few months before the convention, a steady, rapid, but withal a natural growth, and the almost uni- versal endorsement of his candidacy, which came a short time before the St. Louis con- vention, must be attributed in a great measure to the desire of the American people to return to an idea and a policy which a majority of the citizens of the United States came to regard as absolutely indispensable to individual and na- tional prosperity of which the distinguished Ohioan stood as the recognized exponent. The national republican convention convened in the city of St. Louis, Mo., June 16, 1896, and upon the first ballot Mr. McKinley was nomi- nated with the greatest enthusiasm, receiving 66 1 1 of the 700 ballots cast. In many respects the campaign of 1 896 was one of the most remarkable presidential contests in the history of the nation, but the outcome, as foreshadowed for weeks before the election, resulted in the triumph of Mr. Mc- Kinley over the brilliant and popular young Nebraskian, William J. Bryan, a man of dis- tinguished ability, whose uncompromising ad- vocacy of the free and unlimited coinage of sil- ver and hostility to the American idea of protection made him a formidable opponent. Mr. McKinley entered upon the discharge of his high official functions on the 4th day of March, 1897, with the unbounded confidence of his political party and the American people, and thus far he has steadily and courageously followed the lines mapped out by the platform upon which he was nominated. And his ad- ministration in ability and wisdom gives every promise of comparing favorably with those of 130 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. the distinguished men who have preceded him in tile high office of the presidency-. President McKinley was married January 25, iS/i, to Miss Ida Saxton.who is an ac- comphshed lady and daughter of James A. Sax- ton, of Canton, Ohio. They have had born to them two children, both of whom died in infancy. In religion President McKinley and his wife are Methodists, as were his father and mother. His grandfather, however, was a Presbyterian, and was a member of the Lis- bon Presbyterian church from 1822 to 1836, during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Vallan- digham, father of Clement L. Vallandigham. As already stated President McKinley's father died recently at the age of eighty-five, but his mother is still living. "There is probably not a more stalwart and sturdy figure to-day before the American people than William McKinley. The story of his Tife is not only instructive but interesting; it is the history of an American for Americans; its activity is so interwoven in the life of the republic during his career of the past thirty years that political friends and foes may read it with profit and learn an important lesson." %^ GOVERNORS OF OHIO GOVERNORS OF OHIO. HRTHUR ST. CLAIR, one of the most noted characters of our early colonial days, was a native of Scotland, being born at Edinburg in 1735. Becom- ing a surgeon in the British army, he subse- quently crossed the Atlantic with his regiment and thenceforward was identified with the history of this country until the day of his death. Serving as a lieutenant with Wolfe in the memorable campaign against Quebec, St. Clair won sufficient reputation to obtain ap- pomtment as commander of Fort Ligonier, Pa., where a large tract of land was granted to him. During the Revolutionary war he espoused the colonial cause, and before its close had risen to the rank of major-general. In 1875 he was elected a delegate to the Continental congress and afterward became its president. After the passage of the ordinance of 1787, St. Clair was appointed first military governor of the Northwest territory, which then embraced the territory now comprised within the boundaries of the present state of Ohio, with headquarters at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati. In 1791 he undertook an expedition against the north- western Indians, which resulted in the great disaster known in western history^ as "St Clair's defeat. " On November 4 the Indians surprised and routed his whole force of about 1,400 regulars and militia, in what is now Darke county, Ohio, killing over 900 men and capturing his artillery and camp equipage. Gen. St. Clair held the office of territorial governor until 1802, when he was removed by President Jefferson. He returned to Ligonier, Pa., poor, aged and infirm. The state granted him an annuity which enabled him to pass the last years of his life in comfort. He died near Greensburgh, Pa., August 31, 18 18, leaving a family of one son and three daughters. a HARLES WILLING BYRD, who was secretary of the Northwest territory, and who succeeded Gov. St. Clair as governor, on the removal of the latter from office, was born in Virginia, received a liberal education and settled in Ohio. While it is not practicable to find fully authentic material for a full biography of Gov. Byrd, it may be of interest to recite briefly the rea- sons for the removal of Gov. St. Clair, which are of course the reasons for Mr. Byrd becom- ing governor of the territory. St. Clair's gov- ernment was very unpopular, and when the people became desirous of forming a state gov- ernment in 1 80 1, and found themselves unable to secure a majority of the legislature, they sent Thomas Worthington to congress to ob- tain if possible a law under which a conven- 132 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. tion could be called to consider the expediency of forming a state, and framing a constitution therefor. This convention met in Chillicothe in November, 1802, voted to form a state gov- ernment and adopted a constitution, all this notwithstanding the fact that the territory did not then contain the 60,000 inhabitants re- quired at that time. But this was a small difficulty compared with the prohibition m the ordinance of 1787 against slavery in the territory of the north- west. This clause tended to prevent immigra- tion to Ohio from Virginia and other southern states; and the attempt was made to so frame a constitution for the new state that slavery in a somewhat modified form could be established. When this clause was proposed it was discov- ered by the opponents of slavery that on the morrow there would be a majority of one in its favor, and thus, if it were adopted, the curse of slavery would be fixed upon the state. Judge Ephraim Cutler, of Washington county, a delegate to the convention, and a son of one of the principal framers of the ordinance of 1787, was lying sick in bed, when this situ- ation was revealed, and Gen. Putnam, hasten- ing to his bedside, urged him to reach the con- vention hall at the earliest practicable moment the next morning. Judge Cutler having next day reached the hall, made an impassioned appeal to the delegates in opposition to the proposed action of the convention, and won over the one delegate necessary to save the state from the blighting curse of slavery. Gov. St. Clair and his friends looked upon the convention as little short of revolutionary, the governor taking strong grounds against the formation of a state government, before the convention began the labors of the day. Their utter disregard of this advice filled him with irritation, and in the bitterness of his heart he declared, in the hearing of unfriendly listeners, that he no longer had confidence in republican institutions, and that in his opinion, without some stronger form of government, anarchy seemed inevitable. These remarks were quickly reported to President Thomas Jefferson, who immediately removed St. Clair from his office, and the secretary of the territory, Charles W. Byrd, became acting governor, serving until the state government was formed under the constitution, which, as framed by the conven- tion, was declared by that convention, without having been submitted to the people for their ratification, to be the fundamental law of the land. After the expiration of his brief term as governor of the Northwest territory. Gov. Byrd was appointed by President Jefferson United States judge for the district of Ohio. eDWARD TIFFIN, first governor of Ohio upon the organization of the state, in 1803, was a native of Eng- land, born in the city of Carlisle on the 19th day of June, 1766. After coming to the United States he studied medicine, located at Charlestown, W. Va., in 1784, and in 1789 received his degree from the university of Penn- sylvania. In the year last named he was united in marriage with Mary Worthington, sister of Gov. Thomas Worthington, and in 1790 united with the Methodist church, of which he soon afterward became a local preacher. In 1796 Mr. Tiffin settled at Chilli- cothe, Ohio, where he preached and practiced medicine, and was instrumental in organizing a number'of local congregations in that part of the state. The same year he was elected to the legislature of the Northwest territory', became speaker of that body, and in 1 802 was chosen president of the convention that formed the state constitution. He proved to be a potential factor in political affairs, and in 1803 was elected first governor of the state under the constitution. He was re-elected in 1805, and GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 133 proved a most capable chief executive, but re- sig;ned in 1807 to become United States sena- tor, having been elected to the latter body as successor to his brother-in-law, Hon. Thomas Worthington. Gov. Tiffin's senatorial career was cut short on account of the death of his wife, by reason of which he resigned in March, 1809, and for a time lived a retired life. Sub- sequently he married again, and afterward was elected to the lower house of the state legis- lature, in which he served two terms as speaker. At the expiration of his legislative experi- ence. Gov. Tiffin resumed the practice of medi- cine at Chillicothe, and in 18 12 was appointed by President Madison commissioner of the general land office, having been the first person to fill that position. On assuming his official functions he removed to the national capital and organized the system that has obtained in the land office until the present time; in 18 14 he was instrumental in having the papers of his office removed to Virginia, thus saving them from destruction when the public build- ings in Washington were burned by the British. Becoming dissatisfied with residing in Wash- ington and wishing to return west. Gov. Tiffin succeeded in exchanging his position for that of surveyor of public lands northwest of the Ohio river, held by Josiah Meigs, the change being sanctioned by the president and senate, and he discharged the duties of the latter position until July, 1829, receiving while on his death- bed an order from President Jackson to deliver the office to a successor. During his long period of public service. Gov. Tiffin maintained most scrupulously his ministerial relations, and preached the gospel whenever occasion would admit. He was on familiar terms with Gen. Washington, who always spoke of him in terms of praise, and he will always be remembered as one of the leading spirits in the formative period of Ohio's history. His death occurred at Chillicothe on the 9th day of August, i 829. HO MAS KIRKER, who succeeded Edward Tiffin as governor of Ohio, is one of the few governors of the state of whom but little can be learned. In 1807 there was a remarkable contest for the governorship of the state. The two oppos- ing candidates were Return Jonathan Meigs and Nathaniel Massie. The former received a majority of the votes, and therefore, so far as the people were concerned, was elected gov- ernor of the state. The general assembly, how- ever, declared him to be ineligible to the office, on the ground that he was not a resi- dent of the state, and as Mr. Massie had not received a sufficient number of votes, he had not been elected governor, and the election was therefore entirely void. Hon. Thomas Kirker bing then speaker of the state senate, became acting governor by virtue of his office as speaker, when Gov. Edward Tiffin resigned his office in order to take his seat in the United States senate. Gov. Kirker remained in the office of governor until after the election, in 1 80S, of Samuel Huntington, who had been elected by the people. At the time of serving as governor he was a resident of Adams county, and he served in the general assembly of the state for twenty-five years. ^"V'AMUEL HUNTINGTON, the second •^^^h? governor elected by the people of h\,^y Ohio, was born at Norwich, Conn., in 1765, and graduated at Yale col- lege in 1785. He adopted the profession of law, in 1795 married a lady of his own name, and attended strictly to the duties of his pro-' fession in the town of his birth until the year 1800, when he resolved to visit that western country which was then attracting to it so many residents of the New England states. First stopping at Youngstown, Ohio, he from there went to Marietta, where he spent the 134 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. summer, and in the fall of that year returned to Norwich. The following spring, taking his wife and children in an Ohio wagon (then so called), they arrived, after weeks of toilsome travel, at Cleveland, then a settlement of doubtful name as a healthy abode, as they found that many who had preceded them had vacated the cabins they had first built and had removed to the higher ground back of the town to escape the sickness so prevalent near the lake. He erected a strongly-built house, as attacks by drunken and riotous Indians were not uncommon. Mr. Huntington soon entered upon public life. Gen. Saint Clair appointed him second in command of a regiment of Trumbull county militia, and he was shortly afterward elevated to the position of presiding judge in the first court in that part of the ter- ritory. In 1 802 he was a member of the con- stitutional convention, and by that body ap- pointed state senator from Trumbull county, the name then borne by the territory now known as the northeastern portion of the state and which at present is divided into six coun- ties. For some time he was speaker or presi- dent of the state senate, and by the legislature elected to a seat on the supreme bench. When Michigan was organized as a territory Judge Huntington was offered the position of judge of the district court of that territory, but this he declined, as well as other important offices which were pressed upon him. The prevailing unhealthiness of Cleveland finally induced him to remove his residence to Newburg, where he erected a grist-milU, then a very important construction and advantageous to the settlers. In 1809 he purchased a mill, located on the eastern shore of Grand river, between Paines- ville and the lake, and erected a mansion — commodious, and, for those days, rather im- posing in its style of architecture. This house remains to attest by its position the good taste of him who built it. A conflict of authority arose between the legislative and judicial de- partments of the state while Judge Huntington was on the supreme bench. The legislature passed a law conferring certain rights upon justices of the peace which the judges of the supreme court declared to be unconstitutional. Thereupon the whole house filed articles of impeachment against the judges, but in the midst of this confusion the people of Ohio had elected Judge Huntington governor of the state. He, having resigned, was therefore not brought to trial, and it being impossible to obtain two- thirds of the legislative vote against the other two judges, they consequently escaped convic- tion. Nothing of particular moment occurred the term he held office, but his prominence prevented his retiring to private life. In iSi3 he was, during the second war with Great Britain, a member of the Ohio legislature. The destruction of life and property by the Indians during that year was such that Gov. Huntington, having with Gen. Cass visited Washington to represent to the authorities there the condition of affairs in Ohio, was ap- • pointed district paymaster, with the rank of colonel, and returned to the camp of Gen. Harrison with a supply of funds in the shape of government drafts. He remained for man}' months in the arm}' and until peace was de- clared, when he returned to his home, where he subsequently lived peacefully until 18 17, during which year he died a comparatively young man, being but fifty -two years old. His character for strict integrity, great executive ability and accomplished scholarship was sec- ond to that of no other governor. ETURN JONATHAN MEIGS, who succeeded Samuel Huntington in the I P gubernatorial chair, was born in Mid- dletown. Conn., in March, 1765, the son of Return J. Meigs, a distinguished Ameri- GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 135 can soldier, whose name is inseparably con- nected with the war of American independence. Gov. Meigs was graduated from Yale college in 1785, after which he studied law and began the practice of the same at Marietta, Ohio, at which place his father had previously settled. He entered the army at the breaking out of the Indian war, and was sent on a commission to the British commander at Detroit, by Gen. St. Clair, in 1790, and later took part in a number of battles with the savages. He rose rapidly in his profession . and in 1 803-4 was chief justice of the Ohio supreme court; later he had charge of the Saint Charles circuit in Louisiana until 1806, with the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel in the United States army, being also judge of the supreme court of said district during the years of 1805 and 1806. Mr. Meigs was further honored, in 1807, by being appointed judge of the United States district court of Michigan, in which capacity he continued until 1808, when he was elected to the United States senate from Ohio. The honorable distinction acquired by Mr. Meigs as a jurist was not dimmed by his senatorial experience, and his record in the national legis- lature is replete with duty ably and conscien- tiously performed. He served in the senate from January, 1809, till May, 1810. In October, 1807, Mr. Meigs was the dem- ocratic candidate for governor of Ohio, and after the election, which went in his fa\'or by a decided majority, his competitor, Nathaniel Massie, contested the same on the ground that Meigs had not been a resident of the state for the four years next preceding the election, as provided by the constitution. The general assembly, in joint convention, decided that Meigs was not entitled to the office, but it does not appear that his competitor was allowed to assume the same; Thomas Kirker, acting gov- ernor, continued to discharge the duties of the office until December, 1808, when Samuel Huntington was inaugurated as his immediate successor. In 1 8 10 Mr. Meigs was again a candidate for governor, and at the ensuing election was victorious, defeating his competitor by a large majority. He was triumphantly re- elected in 18 1 2 and filled the office with dis- tinguished ability during the tr\'ing years of the last war with England, his services in be- half of the national government throughout' that struggle being far greater than those of any other governor, and of such a patriotic character as to elicit the warmest praise from the president and others high in authority. He assisted in the organization of the state militia, garrisoned the forts on the border, thus securing safety to the exposed settlements, and did much toward strengthening the army under Gen. Harrison. Near the expiration of his gubernatorial term, in 18 14, Gov. Meigs resigned to accept the appointment of post- master-general in the cabinet of President Madison, to fill the place made vacant bv the death of Gideon Granger; he continued in office under President Monroe until 1S23, in December of which year he retired from active life and spent the remainder of his days at his home in Marietta, dying March 29, 1825. OTHNIEL LOOKER, the fourth gov- ernor of Ohio, was born in the state of New York in 1757. He was a private soldier in the Revolutionary war, go- ing into the army from his native state, and serv- ing through the war. He was a man of humble origin and a farmer most of his life. In 1784, having received a land warrant for his services during the war of the Revolution, he crossed the Alleghany mountains, and located his land in what was then the wilderness of the territory northwest of the Ohio river, within the limits of t!ie future state of the same name. Upon this 136 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. grant he erected his cabin and began the labor of clearing his farm, as did other pioneers of his day. Upon the organization of the state he was elected a member of the lower house of the general assembly, and by increasing his knowledge and acquaintanceship with the peo- ple of the new state, he so rose in popular favor and esteem as to be elected to the senate. Of this body he eventually became president, and by virtue of holding this office, when Gov. Return J. Meigs resigned, in 1814, to accept the position of postmaster-general in the cabi- net of President Madison, became governor of Ohio. He served eight months, and afterward was a candidate before the people for election to the office of govenor, but was defeated by his opponent, Thomas Worthington. Mr. Looker afterward returned to his farm, where he lived respected by all for his unusual intelli- gence, his clear logical mind, and his pleasing disposition. But little else is known of Gov. Looker, except that he died unmarried. IHOMAS WORTHINGTON, fourth elected governor of Ohio, was born near Charlestown, \'a., July 16, 1773. He received a liberal education, but when a young man went to sea and continued before the mast for three years — from 1790 to 1793. In 1797 he became a resident of Ross count}', Ohio, served as a member of the ter- ritorial legislature in 1 799-1 801, and was chosen delegate to the state constitutional convention in the year 1802. He was elected to the United States senate as a democrat immediately after the adoption of the state constitution and served in that body from October 17, 1803, till March 7, 1807; was again chosen to fill the unexpired term caused by the resignation of Return J. Meigs, Jr., and served from January 8, 181 1, until his resigna- tion in 1 814. Mr. Worthington was elected governor of Ohio in 18 14 and served till 18 18 — having been chosen his own successor in 1 8 16. After the expiration of his second gubernatorial term Gov. Worthington became canal commissioner, which position he held till his death. He was a public -spirited man and to him is the great commonwealth not a little indebted for much of its development and prosperity. To Gov. Worthington belongs the unique distinction of being the only Ohio governor ever arrested and started to jail for debt. In 181 5 or 1 8 16, Gov. Worthington contracted with Judge Jarvis Pike to grub and chop the timber off the present state-house square. The governor was a non-resident of Franklin county, residing at Chillicothe. Some mis- understanding arose as to the payment of Judge Pike for his labors, whereupon he sued a capias from the court of Squire King, and had the governor arrested and marched off to jail. He was not locked up, however, the matter having been amicably adjusted. Gov. Worthington departed this life in the city of New York, June 20, 1827. eTHAN ALLEN BROWN, seventh governor and the fifth elected by the people of Ohio, was born on the shores of Long Island Sound in Fair- field county, Conn., July 4, 1766, and died at Indianapolis, Ind., February 24, 1852. His father, Roger Brown, was an intelligent farmer of wealth, who, to secure the advan- tages of a liberal education for his children, employed a teacher of good ability to instruct them at home. Under such tuition Ethan's quickness of apprehension and extraordinary memory enabled him to acquire a knowledge of the Latin, Greek and French languages not inferior to that of most college graduates of the present day. Having determined to adopt GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 137 the profession of a lawyer, he then procured the necessary books and began the study of law at home, at the same time assisting in the labors of his father's farm. After thus ac- quiring some legal knowledge he went to New York city and entered the law office of Alex- ander Hamilton, who, as a lawyer and states- man, had achieved at that time a national reputation. Here he soon won the esteem and friendship of Mr. Hamilton, while also he was brought into contact with others of the ablest men of the day, and, mingling with the most refined and cultivated society of the city, his mind was developed and stimulated and he acquired the elegance and polish of manners for which he was remarkable in after-life. Diverted from the study of law at this time, he engaged in business, by which he obtained very considerable property, but subsequently he again entered upon his neglected study, and in 1 802 he was admitted to practice. Then, urged by love of adventure and a desire to see the principal portion of that state which, in that year, had qualified for admission into the Union, he, with a cousin, Capt. John Brown, started on horseback and followed the Indian trails from east to west through middle and western Pennsylvania until they reached Brownsville on the Monongahela river. Hav- ing brought a considerable sum of money with them they here purchased two flat-bottomed boats, loaded them with flour, and placing crews upon them started for New Orleans, which city they reached in safety, but not be- ing able to sell their cargoes to advantage they shipped the flour to Liverpool, England, and took passage themselves in the same vessel. Having disposed of their flour at good prices, they returned to America, landing at Baltimore the same year. Then his father, wishing to secure a large tract of western land, eventually to make it his home, he empowered his son to select and purchase the same, which he pro- ceeded to do, locating it near the present town of Rising Sun, Ind., that locality having attracted his attention on his flat-boat trip to New Orleans. Hither his father removed from Connecticut, in 18 14, when that part of the Northwest territory which subsequently became Indiana was canvassing delegates to hold a territorial convention. Ten years subsequently, however, and aiter securing the land mentioned, Ethan Allen Brown began the practice of law in Cincinnati, where he soon took a prominent position in the profession and secured a large income for his professional services. In 18 10 he was chosen by the Ohio legislature a judge of the supreme court of the state, a position he held with dis- tinguished ability during the eight following years, and in 1818 was elected governor of the state. His administration is marked for the prosecution and completion of important inter- nal improvements, among the chief of which may be mentioned that important work, the "Ohio canal," and which was nicknamed "Brown's Folly." In 1820 he was re-elected, and in 1821 elected to the United States senate and served one term with distinction. In 1830 he was appointed minister to Brazil, remaining in that country four years and giving general satisfaction, when he resigned and came home. A few months later, at the urgent request of President Andrew Jackson, he accepted the position of commissioner of public lands, held the office two years, and then retired finally from public life. Gov. Brown never married, and the close of his life was spent among his relatives at Rising Sun. After reaching the age of eighty -two years, with not more than a week's sickness during all the years of his long life, he died suddenly while attending a democratic convention at Indianapolis, and was buried at Rising Sun, near the grave of his venerated father, leaving an enduring record of a useful and well-spent life. 138 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. HLLEN TRIMBLE, who filled out the unexpired term of Ethan Allen Brown as governor of Ohio, and also served as governor by election from 1827 to 1830, was born in Augusta county, Va., March 24, 1783. He was the son of Capt. James Trimble, who removed in 178410 Lexington, Ky., and who died in that state about the year 1804. Later Allen Trimble came to Ohio, settling in the county of Highland, where he served in various official positions, including those of clerk of the courts and recording sec- retary, filling the last two offices for a period of about seven years. He took part in the war of 1 812 as commander of a regiment of mounted troops under Gen. William Henry Harrison, and in 18 16 was chosen a member of the state legislature. Subsequently, from 181 7 to 1826, he served as state senator, and was also speaker of the house for several terms. In 1 82 1 he was appointed governor, and, as already stated, was elected to the office in 1826, and discharged the duties of the position in an eminently satisfactory manner until 1830. In 1846, Gov. Trimble was chosen president of the state board of agriculture, being the first man honored with that office, and served as such until 1848. While governor he was untiring in promoting the cause of education in Ohio, and the present excellent public school system is indebted to him for much of its efficiency; he also encouraged manufactur- ing and did much toward improving the penal institutions of the state. Politically Gov. Trimble was a federalist; his death occurred at Hillsborough, Ohio, February 2, 1870. '^j'EREMIAH MORROW, sixth governor M elected under the state constitution, ft f was born in Gettysburg, Pa. , October 6, 1 77 1. In early manhood he removed to the Northwest territory and in 1802 was chosen delegate to the convention that framed the constitution of Ohio. Politically he was an ardent democrat, and in 1803 was elected a representative in the congress of the United States, in which body he served for a period of ten years. He did much toward promoting legislation in behalf of the western section of the United States, and for some time was chairman of the committee on public lands. In 1 8 14 he was commissioner to treat with the Indians west of the Miami river, and from 1813 till 1819 served with distinction in the United States senate. In 1822 Mr. Morrow was elected governor of Ohio and served as such until 1 826, having been re-elected in 1824. From 1826 to 1828 he was state senator, later became canal commissioner, and for some time served as president of the Little Miami Railroad com- pany. In 1 84 1 he was again elected to repre- sent his district in the national house of repre- sentatives, in which capacity he served a single term. Gov. Morrow left the impress of his character on the commonwealth and his is among the many illustrious names which have given Ohio so prominent a position among her sister states; his death occurred in the county of Warren, on the 22nd day of March, 1852. ^y^^ UNCAN McARTHUR, distinguished I ■ as a soldier and statesman, and gov- /^^^ ernor of Ohio from 1831 to 1832, was a native of the state of New York, born in the county of Dutchess, on the 14th day of June, 1772. When he was a mere lad his parents emigrated to the western part of Pennsylvania, and at the age of eighteen he volunteered in Gen. Harmar's expedition against the Miami Indians, in which he dis- tinguished himself by many acts of bravery. Subsequently he acted as scout in the warfare with the Indians in Ohio and Kentucky, and after the cessation of hostilities, in 1794, set- GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 139 tied near Chillicothe, Ohio, where he became the possessor of large tracts of real estate. For some years after settling in Ohio Gov. McArthur followed the profession of civil engi- neer, later he became interested in political matters and in 1805 was elected to the lower house of the Ohio legislature. In 1808 he was appointed major-general of the territorial mili- tia, and at the beginning of the war of 1 8 i 2 was commissioned colonel of the First Ohio volunteers. He was second in command at Detroit, when that ill-fated post was surren- dered to the British by Gen. Hull, and it is stated that so great was his chagrin and anger at the capitulation that he tore off his epau- lettes and broke his sword in a fit of indigna- tion. Gov. McArthur was commissioned brig- adier-general in 1S13, and upon the resigna- tion of Gen. William Henry Harrison the year following, he succeeded to the command of the western army. He planned the conquest of Canada, crossed the Saint Clair river in 1814 with a strong force, and after consider- able manuvering returned to Detroit by way of Saint Thomas, and discharged his force at Sandwich the latter part of the aforesaid year. In the meantime, 18 13, he had been elected by the democrats to a seat in the congress of the United States, but declined to leave the army, remaining with the command until hon- orably discharged June 15, 1815. On leaving the army Gov. McArthur was returned to the state legislature, and during the years 1 816-17 served as commissioner to negotiate treaties with the Indians, by which their lands in Ohio were ceded to the general government in 1818. F"rom 18 17 to 18 19 he was again a member of the lower house of the legislature, of which he was made speaker, and in 1822 was elected to congress on the democratic ticket and served as a member of that body from December i, 1823, till March, 1825. In 1830 he was elected governor of Ohio, which position he filled very acceptably for one term, and in 1832 was again a candidate for congress, but lost the election by a single ballot. The record of Gov. McArthur, both mili- tary and civil, is without a blemish, and he v.ill ever be remembered as one of the leading soldiers and officers of the great commonwealth of Ohio. While governor he suffered severe injuries from an accident, and never entirely recovered from the effects of the same. He died near Chillicothe, on the 28th day of April, 1839. OBERT LUCAS, the immediate suc- cessor of Duncan McArthur, was born in Shepherdstown, Va., April 1,1781, and was a direct descendant of Will- iam Penn, the founder of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His father bore a distin- guished part in the war of the Revolution, serving thoughout that struggle as captain in the American army, and was a trusted friend of Gen. Washington. Robert Lucas spent his youthful years in his native state, and about the beginning of the present century removed to Ohio, where in due time he became major- general of the state militia. Subsequently he was commissioned captain in the Ninteenth United States infantry, and in February, 181 3, became lieutenant-colonel of the same, serving as such until June of the same year, when he resigned. Immediately after leaving the gov- ernment service Mr. Lucas was made brigadier- general of Ohio militia, and as such served from July, 1 81 3, till the following September, in defense of the frontier. In 1 8 1 4 he was elected to the Ohio legislature, in the deliberations of which he took a prominent part, and in 1832 presided over the democratic national conven- tion which nominated Andrew Jackson for a second term. In 1832 General Lucas was elected governor of Ohio, was re-elected in 140 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 1834, and in 1838 was made first territorial governor of Iowa, at which time the now state of that name was erected into a territory, in- cluding Minnesota and the Dakotas, and De- cember 28, 1846, as a state. He was a man of marked ability, possessing great energy, and was noted as a man of strong impulses and strict integrity. He died February 7, 1853, in Iowa City, at the advanced age of nearly sev- enty-two years. Vt*OSEPH VANCE, governor of Ohio for M one term, 1837-38, was a native of A J Pennsylvania, born March 21, 1 781, in the county of Washington, of Scotch- Irish descent. While quite young he was taken by his parents to Kentucky, where he grew to manhood, after which he removed to Ohio, locating at Urbana, where he became a suc- cessful merchant and married Miss Mary Lemen, of that city. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming and stock raising, in which he also met with success and financial profit, in the meantime becoming conversant with public affairs. Gov. Vance, becoming quite popular, was elected to and served in the legislature in 1812-16, and in 1822 was elected to the congress of the United States, in which be served by successive re-elections until March, 1835. Originally Gov. Vance was a democrat, and as such was elected to the aforesaid offices, but later he became a whig, ■A-hich party sent him to congress in 1842. He served through two terms, during one of them as chairman of the committee on claims. In the meantime, 1836, he was elected governor, and as chief executive of the commonwealth his record will compare favorably with those of his illustrious predecessors and successors. He was a delegate to the whig national conven- tion of 1848, and while attending the consti- tutional convention of 1850 was stricken with paralysis, from which he suffered extreinely until his death, August 24, 1852, near the city of Urbana. at ILSON SHANNON, the eleventh governor of Ohio whom the people elected, was born February 24, 1 803, in Belmont county, and was the first white child born in Mount Olivet township, that county. He was also the first governor of Ohio who was a native of the state. His parents crossed the Alleghany mountains from Pennsylvania and settled in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1802. In January of the next year the father of the future governor, whose name was George Shannon, and who had settled on a farm, upon his arrival in that county went out hunting. Late in the da}', while returning home, he lost his way, became bewildered and wandered round and round, finally sitting down by a large maple tree and freezing to death. His tracks were plainly visible next morning in the deep snow that had fallen during the night. Upon the farm his father had selected young Wilson Shannon was reared. When fifteen years old he attended the Ohio univer- sity at Athens, remaining one year, and for two years afterward was a student at the Transylvania university at Lexington, Ky. Returning home, he began the study of law in the office of Charles Hammond and David Jennings, completing his studies with them in Saint Clairsville, which town became the county seat. There he practiced for eight years. In 1832 he was the democratic nomi- nee for congress, but was defeated by a small majority. In 1834 he was elected prosecuting attorney, and was so assiduous in the perform- ance of his duties that his party elected him governor of the state in 1838 by a majority of 3,600. At the close of his first term he was GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 141 again a candidate, but was defeated by his opponent, Thomas Corwin, the whig candi- date, who was opposed to slavery, while Gov. Shannon, together with the entire democratic party, favored it. The most remarkable thing about this election was that the democratic candidate for president carried the state by about 25,000 majority. Gov. Shannon then returned to Belmont county to the practice of the law. In 1842 he was again elected gov- ernor of the state over Gov. Corwin, both of whom during the campaign had thoroughly canvassed the entire state, as they had done in 1840. In the spring of 1843 President Tyler offered Gov. Shannon the appointment of minister to Mexico, which he accepted, resign- ing his governorship and going to the city of Mexico, where he remained two years, when he was compelled to return home, because Mexico, on account of difficulties between the two countries over the annexation of Texas to the Union, severed all diplomatic relations with the United States. After being then en- gaged for several years in the practice of the law. Gov. Shannon was elected to congress by a majority of 1,300. In congress, by the man- ner in which he performed his duties, he attracted the attention of President Pierce, and was appointed territorial governor of Kansas, the most difficult position he had tried to fill. The contest on the soil of Kansas was more bitter and persistent than anywhere in the country, both pro-slavery and anti-slavery partisans being determined to carry out their own views in that state. It was therefore impossible for any man to preserve peace within her borders, especially as the weight of the administration at Washington was in favor of the pro-slavery party. Shannon, therefore, after fourteen months as governor in Kansas, was superseded by John W. Geary, who gave but little better satisfaction than had Gov. Shannon. The following year Gov. Shannon removed his family to Lecompton, Kans., the capital, and began the practice of the law in that turbulent state. His reputation soon gained for him a very large and profitable practice, as there was much litigation under the pre-emption laws of the United States. When Kansas was admitted to the Union, Topeka became the capital, Lecompton rap- idly declined, and Gov. Shannon removed his office and residence to Lawrence, whce he resided until his death, highly regarded by all who knew him as having been a faithful public servant, and as a most conscientious man. His death occurred in September, 1877. HOMAS CORWIN, the twelfth gov- ernor of Ohio elected by the people, was born in Bourbon county, Ky., July 29, 1794. In 1798 his father, Matthias Corwin, who subsequently became a judge, removed to what afterward became Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and there, in a log school-house, taught by a school teacher named Dunlevy, }oung Corwin obtained what was then considered a thorough English edu- cation. When he was seventeen years old he drove a wagon-load of provisions for the army to the headquarters of Gen. Harrison, and this event had a potential influence upon his sub- sequent career. In 181 7, after having studied law one year, he was admitted to practice, and in March, 18 18, was elected prosecuting attor- ney of his county. In 1822 he was elected to the legislature, having become by this time a well-read lawyer and a fluent speaker. Re- turning to his law practice he was again elected prosecuting attorney. In 1829 he was again elected to the Ohio legislature, and the follow- ing year to congress on the whig ticket. By subsequent re-elections he was kept in congress for ten years. In 1840 he was elected gov- 142 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. ernor of Ohio, serving one term. In 1845 he was elected to the United States senate, and discharged his duties there with great abihty and faithfulness until 1850. It is on his attitude while in this body that his memory will be per- petuated to posterity, for he showed the great- est courage imaginable, and took the true ground in reference to the war with Mexico, which is now generally recognized as a wholly unnecessary and unwarranted war, begun with- out proper authority from congress, and solely for the purpose of conquest, in order that slavery might be extended into free territory. His speech against that war was bold, pa- triotic and high-toned, and it is probable that had he subsequently been consistent in the attitude he then assumed his party would have made him its candidate for the presidency in 1852, but he became an advocate of the Wil- mot proviso, which by many is believed to have sealed his political career, so far as national promotion is concerned. For his ac- tion, however, in connection with this proviso, he was appointed, by President Fillmore, sec- retary of the United States treasury, a position which he held until 1852, when he resigned, and returned to private life among the hills of Warren county. Not long afterward he opened a law office in Cincinnati, and was again elected to con- gress in 1858 and i860. By President Lincoln he was appointed minister to Mexico, and on April II, 1 86 1, he embarked for Vera Cruz, whence he went to the city of Mexico, where he served his country efficiently until the close of the war, returning to the United States in April, 1865, opening a lawoflice in Washington, D. C, but had no more than settled doun to practice there than he was stricken with apo- plexy, and died after an illness of three days. While he was in congress he never rose to speak unless he had something to say; hence he always commanded the attention of that branch in which he was serving. His great- ness in oratory is beyond question, his patriot- ism no one ever doubted, and in his private life, from boyhood until his death, every one recognized the integrity and purity of his char- acter, which, during his whole public career, took on the form of the highest sense of honor, and through which he always maintained his reputation among his countrymen. November 13, 1822, he married Miss Sarah Ross, a sister of Hon. Thomas R. Ross, who served three terms in congress. By his mar- riage he had no children, so that he left noth- ing to his country but his labor therefor and his great and his everlasting fame. HOMAS WELLES BARTLEY, who succeeded Gov. Wilson Shannon as governor of Ohio, upon that gentle- man's resignation, as mentioned in his life above inserted, was born February 11, 18 1 2, at the home of his parents, in Jefferson county, Ohio. His ancestry emigrated from Northumberland county, England, in 1724, and settled in Londoun county, Va., but sub- sequently removed to Fayette county. Pa., where his father, Mordecai Bartley, was born. His mother was Elizabeth Welles, and Gov. Bartley was named Thomas Welles, from her father, Thomas Welles, of Browns\ille, Pa. Having received a liberal education under his father's care and guidance, and having grad- uated with the degree of bachelor of arts from Washington & Jefferson college, a Pres- byterian institution of learning located at \\'ashington Pa., and founded in 1802, Mr. Bartley studied law in Washington, D. C, and was licensed to practice at Mansfield, Ohio, in 1834. The following year he had conferred upon him by his alma mater the he norary degree of master of arts. Ha\ing taken a high position at the bar he was elected GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 143 attorney-general of Ohio and served as such four years; being afterward appointed United States district attorney, he served in that po- sition also four years. Subsequently he was elected to the lower house of the general as- sembly of the state, served therein one term, and was then elected to the state senate, in which he served four years. While president of the senate of Ohio, in 1844, he became governor of the state, through the resignation of Gov. Shannon, who had been appointed, by President Tyler, minister to Mexico, and he administered the affairs of the office until he was succeeded therein by his father, Mor- decai Hartley, in December of that year. In 1 85 1 he was elected judge of the su- preme court of the state, served two terms in this high position, and then resumed the prac- tice of the law, in Cincinnati, continuing there, thus engaged, for several years, when, owing to the ill health of his family, he removed, m 1869, to Washington, D. C., where he followed his profession until his death. Gov. Hartley was a sound attorney, a faith- ful public official, a wise judge and a most courteous gentleman, and his removal to the capital of the nation placed him in a field where he enjoyed full scope for the exercise of his powers, untrammeled by local politics, for in that city, where the people have no vote, politics does not enter into their business and their profession as it does elsewhere in the United States. Gov. Hartley is well remem- bered by many of the leading men of the state. (D ORDECAI HARTLEY, who suc- ceeded his son Thomas W. Hartley as governor, was born in Fayette county. Pa., December 16, 1783. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm, attended school at intervals during his minority, and in 1 809 moved to Ohio. He tendered his services to the government in the war of 1 8 12, served as captain and adjutant under Gen. William Henry Harrison, and on leaving the army settled, in 18 14, in Richland county, where he remained until his removal to the city of Mansfield in 1834. For some years Mr. Hartley was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Mansfield, but previous to locating there, had served as a member of the Ohio state senate, to which he was elected in 1817. In 18 18 he was chosen, by the legislature, registrar of the land office of Virginia Mili- tary school-lands, which position he held until 1823, when he resigned in order to take his seat in the congress of the United States, to which he had been elected in the meantime. He served in congress until March, 1831, and in 1844 was elected, on the whig ticket, gov- ernor of the state, the functions of which office he discharged in a very creditable manner until" 1 846, declining a renomination and retir- ing to private life. After the nomination by the whigs for governor of Mordecai Hartley, the democrats m their convention, in the same year, came within one or two votes of placing his son Thomas once again in the field as his opponent. Gov. Hartley was very decided in his opposition to the Mexican war, but when the president issued a call for troops, he promptly responded and superintended the organization of the Ohio forces in person. Politically Gov. Hartley affiliated with the whigs until the disruption of that party, after which he espoused the cause of the republican party. He died in the city of Mansfield Oc- tober 10, 1770. ^■ ^ y ^ ILLIAM HEBB, lawyer and judge, MM I the fourteenth governor elected by mj^jl the people of Ohio, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1804, and died at his home in Rock River countv, 111., 144 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. October 23, 1873. His father emigrated from Wales, Great Britian, in 1795, and first located in the Keystone state. Traveling across the mountains to the valley of the Miami on foot, he purchased in the neighborhood of North Bend an extensive tract of land, returned to Pennsylvania and married Miss Robert, to whom he had been engaged in Wales, and, with his bride, riding in a suitable conveyance, again crossed the mountains and settled on his land in what was then but a wilderness. He was a man of sound judgment, and, in common with many of his countrymen, of a joyous and ever hopeful disposition. His wife was a lady of culture and refinement, and her home in the valley of the Miami, with few neighbors except the wild, unshorn, and half-naked savages, was a great change from her previous life. There were of course no schools there to send her children to, and this was a matter of grave concern to the parents of our subject, who. was in consequence taught to read at home. In those years the Western Spy, then published in Cincinnati, and distributed by a private post- rider, was taken by his father, and William read with avidity its contents, especially the achievements of Napolebn Bonaparte. His education advanced no further until a peripa- tetic schoolmaster, passing that way, stopped and opened a school in the neighborhood, and under him our subject studied English, Latin and mathematics, working in vacation on his father's farm When twenty years old he him- self opened a school at North Bend and resided in the home of Gen. Harrison. In this em- ployment he remained a year, during which he married Miss Shuck, the daughter of a wealthy German resident of the \illage. Soon after- ward he began the study of law while continu- ing his school, and as a teacher was eminently successful, and his school attracted pupils from the most distinguished families of Cincinnati. In 1 83 1 he rode to Columbus on horseback. where the supreme court judges examined him and placed him in the practice of the state. He then removed to Hamilton, Butler county, and opened a law office, where he continued quietly and in successful practice fourteen years. Dur- ing this period he took an active interest in political affairs, and advocated during his first (called the " Hard Cider ") campaign, the claims of Gen. Harrison, and no less distinguished himself during that ' ' Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, " campaign, in which the persons indicated were successful, and the whigs in 1840, for the first time, succeeded in electing their candi- dates. Six years afterward he was elected governor of the state, and the war with Mexico placed him, as the governor of Ohio, in a very tr3ing position. As a whig he did not person- ally favor that war, and this feeling was greatly entertained by the party who made him their leader in the state, but he felt that the ques- tion was not one of party but of cordial support of the general government, and his earnest recognition of this fact eventually overcame the danger that had followed President Polk's proclamation of war. His term of office (1846-48) was distinguished by good money, free schools, great activity in the construction of railroads and turnpikes; the arts and in- dustry generally were well revived, and high prosperity characterized the whole state. In 1844 Gov. Bebb purchased 5,000 acres of land in Rock River county. 111., of which the location was delightful and the soil rich; 500 acres were wooded and constituted a natural park, while the remainder was pasture of the best quality, with a stream of water fed by perpetual springs. No man of moderate ambition could desire the possession of a more magnificent portion of the earth's surface. Three years after making this purchase he re- moved to it, taking with him fine horses, and a number of the choicest breeds of cattle, and entered upon the cultivation of this fine prop- GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 145 erty. Five years afterward he visited Great Britain and the continent of Europe. In the birth-place of his father he found many de- sirous to immiorate to America, and encourag- ing the enterprise a company was formed and a tract of 100,000 acres purchased for them in east Tennessee, where he agreed to preside over their arrangements in the settlement of this land. In 1856 a party of the colonists arrived on the land and Gov. Bebb resided with them until the war of the Rebellion began, when he left the state with his family. The emigrants, discouraged by the strong pro- slavery sentiment, scattered and settled in va- rious parts of the northern states. On the inauguration of President Lincoln Gov. Bebb was appointed examiner in the pen- sion department at Washington, and held this position until 1 866, when he returned to his farm in Illinois and the peaceful pursuits of agriculture. His scale of farming was the cul- tivation of 2,000 acres in a season, while an- other 1,000 formed his cattle pasture. He took an active part in the election of Gen. Grant, and the first sickness of any conse- quence he ever experienced was an attack of pneumonia following an exposed ride to his home from Pecatonica, where he had addressed the electors. From this he never recovered, and although he spent the following winter in Washington, occupied mainly as a listener to the debates in the senate, he felt his vital forces declining. Returning home the next summer, and feeling that he was no longer able to su- perintend his farm operations, he resided at Rockford until his death. ^"V'EABURY FORD, the fifteenth gov- >^^^* ernor of Ohio elected by the people, K^T was born in Cheshire, Conn., in 1802. John Ford, his father, was a native of New England, but of Scotch descent, while his mother, Esther Cook, was of English Puritan ancestry. She was a sister of Nabbie Cook, the wife of Peter Hitchcock, the first chief justice of Ohio. In 1805, John Ford explored the Western Reserve in search of lands and a home in the west, purchasing 2,000 acres in what is now the township of Burton, Geauga county, Ohio, and removing to this land in the fall of 1807. Seabury was then but five years old, but even then gave in- dications of superior intelligence. He pre- pared for college at the academy in Burton, entering Yale college in 182 i, in company with another young Ohioan, named D. Witter, they two being the first young men from Ohio to enter Yale. Graduating from Yale in 1825, he then began the study of the law in the office of Simon W. Phelps, of Painesville, completing his course in the office of his uncle. Judge Peter Hitchcock, in 1827. Being ad- mitted to practice he opened an office in Bur- ton, and grew rapidly in popular favor. He was always interested in military affairs, in ag- ricultural pursuits and in politics, and was in 1835 elected by the whigs to the legislature from Geauga county. Being twice re-elected, he served three terms, during the latter term acting as speaker of the lower house. In 1841 he was elected to the state senate from Cuya- hoga and Geauga counties, and remained a member of that body until 1844, when he was again elected to the lower house. In 1846 he was again elected to the senate and was chosen speaker of that body. In 1S48 he was elected governor by a small majority, retiring at the close of his term to his home in Burton, much broken in health. On the Sunday after reach- ing his home he was stricken with paralysis, from which he never recovered. During twenty years of his life he was an honored member of the Congregational church, and was always a highly respected citizen. As a representative of the people he was faithful 146 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. to their interests, and was possessed of the most rigid integrity. A private letter, pub- lished in a Cleveland, Ohio, paper, said of him, in 1839, that he was one of the most useful men in the legislature and that in a few years he had saved the state millions of dollars. September 10, 1828, he married Miss Har- riet E. Cook, a daughter of John Cook, of Burton, by whom he had five children, three of whom reached mature age, as follows: Seabury C, George H., and Robert N. Gov. Ford died May 8. 1855. BEUBEN \VOOD, the successor of Seabury Ford, was born in Rutland county, Vt., in the year 1792. He was reared to manhood in his native state, served with distinction in the war of 1 8 1 2 as captain of a company of Vermont volun- teers, and afterward studied law and began the practice of his profession in Cleveland, Ohio. From 1825 till 1828 Mr. Wood served in the state senate; in 1830 was appointed president- judge of the Third district, and in 1833 was elected associate judge of the state supreme court, which office he held until 1S45. In 1848 Mr. Wood was the democratic nominee for the governorship, to which office he was elected by a handsome majority, and with such ability and satisfaction did he dis- charge his official functions that in 1850 he was chosen his own successor, being the first governor under the new constitution. Gov. Wood was prominently spoken of in 1852 as an available presidential candidate, but the party, while admitting his fitness for the high position, finally united upon Franklin Pierce. In addition to the honorable positions above mentioned. Gov. Wood served eighteen months as United States consul at Valpa- raiso, Chili, resigning at the end of that time and retiring to private life. The death of this eminent jurist and statesman occurred in Rock- port, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, October 2nd, 1 864, in his seventy-second year. m TLLIAM MEDILL, the seventeenth governor of Ohio elected by the people, was born in New Castle county, Del., in 1801. He gradu- ated from Delaware college in 1825, and stud- ied law with Judge Black, of New Castle city. Removing to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1830, he began there the practice of the law, being regu- larly admitted to the bar by the supreme court in 1832. In 1835 he was elected to the lower house of the general assembly from Fairfield county, and served several years with great ability. In 1S38 he was elected to congress from the counties of Fairfield, Perry, Morgan and Hocking, and was re-elected in 1840, serving to the satisfaction of his constituents. In 1841; he was appointed by President Polk second assistant postmaster-general, perform- ing his duties with marked ability. The same year he was appointed commissioner of Indian affairs, and as such commissioner introduced many needed reforms. Indeed, he was one of the few men holding office under the gov- ernment of the United States who have treated the unfortunate sons of the forest with any semblance of justice. Both these offices he held during President Polk's administration, at its close returning to Ohio and resuming the practice of the law. In 1 849 he was elected a member of the constitutional convention that gave us the present constitution of the state of Ohio, serving with impartial ability as presid- ing officer of that body. In 1851 he was elected lieutenant-governor, and in 1853 as the second governor under the new constitution. In 1857 he was appointed by President Bu- chanan first controller of the United States treasury, holding that office until March 4, 1861, GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 147 when he retired to private life in Lancaster, Ohio, holding no office afterward. Gov. Medill was a man of great ability, a true patriot, of spotless character, a faithful friend and an incorruptible public servant. He never married, and died at his residence in Lancaster, Ohio, September 2, 1865. £^^ALMON P. CHASE, the eighteenth r^^KT governor of Ohio elected by the peo- h^^^y pie, was born at Cornish, N. H., Jan- uary 13, 1808. His father, Ithaman Chase, was descended from English ancestry, while his mother was of Scotch e.xtraction. Ithaman Chase was a farmer, was a brother of the celebrated Bishop Philander Chase, and died when his son, Salmon P., was yet a lad. In 181 5 his father removed his family to Keene, Cheshire count}', N. H., where young Salmon received a good common-school edu- cation. Bishop Chase, having removed to Ohio, invited his young nephew to the state, and in \^'orthington, Franklin county, he pur- sued his studies preparatory to entering col- lege, becoming a student at Dartmouth in 1825, and graduating in 1826. He then went to Washington, D. C, where for some time he taught a classical school, which did not prove successful. For this reason he made applica- tion to an uncle of his, in the United States senate, to secure for him a position in one of the government offices, but was met with the reply from that uncle that he had alrcadv ruined two young men in that way, and did not intend to ruin another. Young Chase then secured the patronage of Henry Clay, Samuel L. Southard and William W'irt, who placed their sons under his tuition, and he in the meantime studied law with William Wirt. In 1830, having been admitted to the bar, he settled down in Cincinnati to the practice of the law, but meeting for some years with indifferent success, he spent his leisure time in revising the statutes of Ohio, and introduced his compilation with a brief historical sketch of the state. This work, known as Chase's Statutes, in three octavo volumes, proved of great service to the profession, and its sale was so great a success that his reputation as a lawyer of ability was at once established. In 1834 he became solicitor of the branch bank of the United States in the city of Cin- cinnati, and soon afterward of one of the city banks, and in 1837 he distinguished himself by defending a negro woman who had been brought by her master to Ohio, and who had escaped from his possession. This gave him considerable prominence as an abolitionist, and by some it was thought he had ruined his pros- pects, especially when he enhanced that repu- tation in the defense of James G. Birney, whose newspaper, the Philanthropist, had been de- stroyed by the friends of slavery. Mr. Chase had always looked upon things from the moral standpoint, believed ever in freedom, and that if Christ died for any man he died for all men, and hence Mr. Chase was always the fr.end of man. The position he took in the defense of slaves who had escaped to or were brought to free soil, was that by that act alone, even under the constitution of the United States, they obtained their freedom. In 1846 Mr. Chase, in the supreme court of the United States, defended Van Zandt (who was the original of John Van Trompe, in " Uncle Tom's Cabin "), wlio was prosecuted for harboring fugitive slaves, taking the ground, as before, that, even though the constitution contained a provision for the return of such fugitives, no legislative power on the subject had been granted to congress, and that there- fore the power to de\'ise legislation thereon was left to the states themselves. The bold statements and forcible arguments of Mr. Chase in his management of such cases. 148 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. alarmed the southern states, and ultimately led to the enactment of the fugitive slave law in 1850, as a portion of the compromise meas- ures of that period. In 1 84 1 Mr. Chase united with others op- posed to the further extension of slavery, in a convention for which he was the principal writer of the address to the people on that subject. He also wrote the platform for the liberty party when it nominated James G. Birney as its candidate for the presidency. In 1842 he projected a convention of the same party in Cincinnati, the result of which was the passage of a resolution declaring the ur- gent necessity for the organization of a party committed to the denationalization of slavery. In 1S48 Mr. Chase presided over the Buffalo free soil convention, which nominated Martin Van Buren and Charles Francis Adams for president and vice-president. On the 22d of February, 1849. Mr. Chase was elected to the United States senate by a coalition of democrats and free soilers, who had declared slavery to be an evil, but when the Baltimore convention in 1852 approved of the compro- mise measures of 1850 he withdrew from their ranks, and advocated the formation of an independent democratic party, which should oppose the extension of slavery. In 1855 Mr. Chase was elected governor of Ohio by the newly organized republican party by a ma- jority of 15,651 over Gov. Medill, and in 1857 he was elected governor, the second time, over Henry B. Payne. At the national republican convention in i860 Mr. Chase received on the first ballot forty-nine votes, in a total of 375, and im- mediately withdrew his name. By President Lincoln he was appointed secretary of the treasury of the United States, holding this position until July, 1864, when he resigned. His management of the nation's finance was marked with consummate ability, and con- tributed largely to the success of the govern- ment in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion. , In November, 1864, he was nominated by I President Lincoln as chief justice of the United States, to succeed Chief Justice Taney, ' who had then recently died, and he filled this great office until his death. In 1868 he permitted his name to go be- fore the democratic national convention as a candidate for the presidency, but received only four votes out of 663, Horatio Seymour of New York securing the nomination. The most valuabe public service rendered the nation by Mr. Chase, .as secretary of the treasury, was the origination by him of the bill under which, in 1863, state and private banks became na- tional banks, and under which the govern- ment of the United States became responsible for the circulation of national bank notes, the government being secured by a de- posit of bonds equal in amount to the pro- posed circulation, plus ten per cent, \\hile this law was at first opposed by many public men, yet in time it won its way into their judgment long before Mr. Chase's death, and he had the satisfaction of realizing that its ad- vantages were such that the people of the United States were more greatly benefited by this than by any previous monetary meas- ure, as under it the money of the banks was made equally valuble in all parts of the United States. Mr. Chase was married three times, and of six children born to him, two accomplished daughters survived him at his death, which occurred of paralysis. May 7, 1873. ^ILLIAM DENNISON, Jr., nine- teenth governor of Ohio, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, November 23, 1815. His father and mother emi- grated from New Jersey to Ohio, settled in the m. GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 149 Miami valley about 1805, gave their son a liberal education, and he graduated from Miami university in 1835 with high honors in political science, belles lettres and history. After his graduation he became a law student in the office of Nathaniel C. Pendleton, father of Hon. George H. Pendleton, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1840. The same year he married a daughter of William Neil, of Co- lumbus, to which city he removed and applied himself with energy and diligence to the prac- tice of the law. In 1848 he was elected to the Ohio senate as a whig for the district com- posed of Franklin and Delaware counties. At that time the slavery question was a promi- nent one in politics, men taking positive posi- tions on one side or the other, and a desperate struggle was made throughout the state for the control of the general assembly. After failing by a small adverse majority to be elected president of the senate he was appointed to a leading position on a committe having in charge the revisal of the statutes, which had become in the opinion of most of the people a disgrace to the state, especially those laws which pro- hibited black men and mulattoes from gaining a permanent residence within the state, and from testifying in courts against white persons. Mr. Dennison warmly advocated the repeal of these laws, and with complete success. He was equally opposed to the extension of slavery, with its blighting effects, into new territory. From 1850 to 1852 he was engaged in the practice of the law, and in the latter year, as a presidential elector, he cast his vote for Gen. Winfield Scott. From this time on for some years he took great interest in the sub- ject of railroads in the west, and was electiad president of the Columbus & Xenia RailiToad company, and was very active as a director of all railroads entering Columbus. In 1856 he was a delegate to the republican national con- vention at Pittsburg, and voted for Gen. John C. Fremont for president. In 1859 he was elected governor of Ohio by the republican party, and in his first message to the general assembly took the position that "The federal Union exists by solemn compact voluntarily entered into • by the people of each state and thus they became the United States of Amer- ica, e pluribus unuin, and this being so, no state can claim the right to secede from or violate that compact." When the war was begun he exerted all the authority of his office to aid the general govern- ment to suppress the Rebellion, and as the first war governor of Ohio his name will go down to posterity as one of the most patriotic of men. When Gov. Magoffin, of Kentucky, telegraphed to President Lincoln that Kentucky would fur- nish no troops for such a wicked purpose as the subduing of the sister southern states. Gov. Dennison telegraphed that if Kentucky would not fill her quota, Ohio would fill it for her, and in less than two weeks, under the in- fluence of her patriotic governor, Ohio raised enough soldiers to fill the quota of three states, and it was not long before the attention of the entire country was directed to Ohio as the leading state in the suppression of the Rebel- lion, a position which she proudly maintained all through the war. The people of West Virginia owe to Gov. Dennison the fact of their separate existence as a state, the story of which is well known and too long for publica- tion here. At first Gov. Dennison opposed Sec. Chase's national banking system, but as its beneficial effects became apparent he gave it his unquali- fied support, and it is well known that Ohio took the lead in the establishment of national banks, a system of banking which, among its other features, has done much to cement the union of the states since the war. After his term of office as governor had expired he be- came a favorite speaker in defense of the Union. 150 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. As a delegate to the national republican con- vention, in 1864, he did much to secure the renomination of Abraham Lincoln, and suc- ceeded Montgomery Blair as postmaster-gen- eral, but resigned his office when President Johnson had defined his ' ' polic}'. " For several years after this Gov. Dennison lived in retire- ment, but was called on by President Grant, in 1875, to act as one of the commissioners of the District of Columbia, a position which he filled until 1878. By his marriage to Miss Neil he became the father of three children, the first-born dying in infancy, and the others being named Neil and Elizabeth. He died June 15, 1882, respected by all people as an able, patriotic and good man. K.y^^ AVID TOD, Ohio's twentieth elect- ■ ■ ed governor, was born in Youngs- J^^^ town, Mahoning county, February 21, 1805, received a good literary educa- tion, and after studying for the legal profession was admitted to the bar in the year 1827. He practiced about fifteen years at Warren, where his talents soon won him recognition among the leading lawyers of the northeastern part of the state, and while a resident of Warren was elected, in 1838, a member of the state senate. Gov. Tod soon took high rank as a successful politician, made a brilliant canvass for Martin Van Buren in 1840, and in 1 844 was nominated for governor, but was defeated by a small ma- jority. One of the issues of the gubernatorial campaign of 1844 was "hard" and "soft" money, the democrats representing the former and the whigs the latter. In a speech David Tod, the democratic candidate, said that sooner than adopt "soft " or paper money, it would be better to go back to the Spartan idea of finance and coin money from pot-metal. His opponents seized upon this expression, dubbed him "pot-metal" Tod, and insisted that he was really in favor of coining pot-metal into currency. Medallions of Mr. Tod about the size of a silver dollar were struck off by his opponents by the thousands, being composed of pot-metal and circulated throughout the state. The "pot-metal" cry doubtless had much to do in bringing about his defeat by a slender margin, showing that small things are often effective in political campaigns, if the people happen to be in the humor to be influ- enced by them, which not infrequently hap- pens to be the case. In 1847 he was ap- pointed, by President Polk, minister to Brazil, and represented his government until 1852, when he returned to the United States and took an active part in the campaign which re- sulted in the election of Franklin Pierce to the presidency. In i860 he was chosen delegate to the Charleston convention, of which he was made vice-president, and after the withdrawal of the southern wing of the democratic party, presided over that body until its adjournment. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war. Gov. Tod was earnest in his advocacy of a compro- mise between the north and south, but with the commencement of hostilities he became a firm supporter of the Union and did much to arouse enthusiasm in the prosecution of the struggle. In 1861 he was the republican nom- inee for governor, and at the ensuing election defeated his competitor by an overwhelming majority of 55,000 votes. He proved a very popular and capable executive, and during his term of two years, greatly aided the national administration. >^OHN BROUGH, the twenty-first gov- m ernor of Ohio elected by the people OtJ of the state, was born at Marietta, Ohio, September 17, 181 1. His father, John Brough, was a companion and friend of Blennerhassett, both coming to the United GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 151 States in the same ship in 1 806. They re- mained in close friendship for many years, but Mr. Brough was not connected with the unfor- tunate complications between Blennerhassett and Aaron Burr. John Brough died in 1822, leaving his wife with five children, and with but small means of support. John Brough, who became governor of Ohio, was sent to learn the trade of printer in the office of the Athens Mirror before he was four- teen. After a few months he entered the Ohio university at Athens, reciting with his class in the day time, and setting type mornings and evenings to support himself. He was a good compositor and also a good student, and was distinguished for his skill in athletic games. Having completed his education at the univer- sity he began the study of law, but soon after- ward went to Petersburg, Va., to edit a news- paper. Returning to Marietta, Ohio, in 1831, he became proprietor of the Washington county Republican, a democratic paper, which he con- ducted until 1833, when he sold out, and in partnership with his brother, Charles H., pur- chased the Ohio Eagle, published at Lancas- ter, Ohio, and while he was a strong partisan, yet he had no patience for anj' kind of under- hand work in either party. In 1835 he was elected clerk of the Ohio senate, and retained this position until 1838. He was chosen rep- resentative from Fairfield and Hocking coun- ties in 1S38, and the next year he was chosen by the legislature to fill the office of auditor of state. To this latter office he was again elected and served si.x years. ' Many evils then existed in the finances of the state, but, not- withstanding much opposition and many em- barrassments, he succeeded in finding remedies therefor, and the pecuniary affairs of the state were placed on a solid foundation. The re ports he made upon the state's financial sys- tem are among the ablest and most valuable of our state papers. During his second term as auditor of state he purchased the Phoenix, a newspaper in Cin- cinnati, changed its name to the Enquirer and placed it in charge of his brother, Charles H., and at the close of that term removed to Cin- cinnati, opened a law office and wrote edi- torials for his paper. He also became a power- ful and effective public speaker, and while he was becoming a distinguished leader in the democratic party he was also becoming with equal rapidity thoroughly disgusted with party politics. In 1848 he retired from partisan strife, sold one-half interest in the Enquirer, and devoted his attention to railroads. Being elected president of the Madison & Indiana Railroad compan}', he removed to Madison, Ind., but later, at the invitation of one of his friends, Stillman Witt, of Cleveland, Ohio, he accepted the presidency of the Bellefon- taine Railroad company, which, under his man- agement, became one of the leading railroads of the country. In 1861 he removed to Cleve- land, and during the first two years of the war was untiring in his efforts to serve the govern- ment by the prompt transportation of troops to the front. In 1863, that portion of the democrats of Ohio that was opposed to the further prose- cution of the war nominated C. L. Vallandig- ham for governor of the state, and Stillman Witt, having urged Mr. Brough to take an ac- tive part in politics, generously offering to per- form the duties of the president of the railroad, and permit Mr. Brough to draw the salary, Mr. Brough was at length nominated by the republican party as its candidate in opposition to Vallandigham. The result of the election was that Mr. Brough was elected by a majority of 101,099, the total vote being 471,643. It was at the suggestion of Gov. Brough that an extra force of 100,000 men was raised to aid Gen. Grant in his arduous campaign of 1864, Ohio's quota of this 100,000 being 30,000. 152 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. Within ten days Ohio raised 38,000 men, the result being due largely to Gov. Brough's ener- getic action, which called out the warmest commendation from both President Lincoln and Gen. Grant. "While Gov. Brough lived to see the war brought to a successful close, yet he died be- fore the close of his term, on August 29, 1865. He was of the honest men in politics, just in all his motives and acts. Though not a member of any church, yet he took a deep in- terest in religion and died in the hope of an eternal life. Gov. Brough was twice married — first to Miss Acsah P. Pruden, of Athens, Ohio, who died in 1838 at the age of twenty- five years, and second, to Miss Caroline A. Nelson, of Columbus, Ohio, whom he married in 1843 at Lewiston, Pa. By this latter mar- riage he had two sons and two daughters. aHARLES ANDERSON was put in nomination as lieutenant-governor of Ohio on the ticket in 1863, with John Brough for governor and elected. The death of the latter transferred Col. Anderson to the office of governor in August of the same year. •.• 1 .( " Charles Anderson was born June i, 18 14, at the residence of his father, called Soldiers' Retreat, or Fort Nelson, near the falls of the Ohio, and which locality is about nine miles from the city of Louisville, Ivy. His father. Col. Richard Clough Anderson, a gentleman of high character, who was an aid-de-camp to Lafayette, removed to Soldiers' Retreat from Virginia in 1793, and there, in the capacity of surveyor-general of the Virginia military land grant, made his residence three years be- fore Kentucky was recognized as a territory. His mother was a relative of Chief-Justice Marshall, and his eldest brother, Richard Clough Anderson, represented his district in congress, \v^.s the first United States minister to the republic of Columbia and commissioner in congress at Panama. Robert Anderson, another brother of Gov. Anderson, was the Major Anderson commanding Fort Sumter in April, 1 86 1. Charles Anderson graduated from Miami university at Oxford, Ohio, in 1833, began the study of law in Louisville in his twentieth year in the office of Pirtle & Anderson, and in 1835 was admitted to practice. He then went to Dayton, Ohio, and September i6th married Miss Eliza J. Brown, a young lady of that place. He remained a resident of Dayton, Ohio, varying his professional engagement by working the farm during the following ten years, having in that time been elected prose- cuting attorney of the county, and in 1 844 was elected to the state senate. His vote in this body in favor of bills to give to the colored men the privilege of testifying in court caused him the enmity of all the pro-slavery element among his constituency, but of this he took no notice. He resolved that at the close of his term he would recuperate his health by a protracted sea voyage, and, descending to New Orleans, he took a vessel for Havana, and there took passage on a vessel bound for Europe, and with much advantage to his health returned by the way of Paris and Liverpool. Arriving in Cincinnati, he entered into a law partner- ship with Rufus King, Esq., and for eleven \'ears practiced his profession. Then his original love of farming still influencing his life, he went to Texas in 1859, and found the people greatly excited on account of the polit- ical condition of the country. Demagogues had advocated dissolution of the Union there as elsewhere, and the establishment of a new southern states' government of a monarchical form, its foundation-stone human slavery, and under the protectorate of Great Britain, to which people their cotton would be exchanged GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 153 for goods of British manufacture exclusively. He soon saw that this treasonable project had taken deep root among the ignorant masses of the south. There was no term that had been uttered that could be more opprobrious than abolitionist, and his well-known love of free- dom prompting him to boldly address the people, he did so at a great gathering at San Antonio November 20, i860, advocating, in the most stirring and patriotic language, the perpetuity of the national Union. Though the recipient subsequently of letters threatening his life, he continued to reside in San Antonio in spite of the fort\'-day resident act passed by the Confederate congress at Montgomery, Ala., and was therefore confined as a political pris- oner in the guard-tent of Madia's battery of artillery. By the assistance of two persons, who subsequently were maltreated for so assist- ing; him, he escaped to the north. It was not reasonable to suppose that Mr. Anderson, born in Kentucky, and from infancy surrounded by and breathing the atmosphere of slavery, could have regarded that institution as it was looked upon by the millions who had not been simi- larly situated. Hence the original idea of the war, restoring the Union as it was, caused him to offer his services to Gov. Tod, and he was appointed colonel of the Ninety-third Ohio regiment, in command of which brave body of men he was seriously wounded in the battle of Stone River. After his term of service as lieutenant-governor and governor of Ohio he removed to a large iron estate on the Cumber- land river, in Lyon count}', Ky., where he spent the remainder of his life. ACOB DOLSON COX, the twenty-sec- ond governor of Ohio elected by the people, was born in Montreal, Canada, October 27, 1828, to which city his parents, who were natives of the United States, and who were then resid>jnts of New York, had gone for a temporary purpo.se, Mr. Cox being a master builder, and having in charge in Mon- treal the erection ot t!ie frame work, roofing, etc., of the church of Notre Dame. The fol- lowing year they returned to New York, where were spent the childhood days of the subject of this sketch. In 1846 he entered Oberlin college, from which he graduated in 1S51, and in 1852 he removed to Warren, Ohio, where for three years he was superintendent of the high school. In the meantime he studied lavr and was admitted to the bar, and in 1859 he he was elected, from the Trumbull and Mahon- ing district, to the legislature, where throughout his term he was regarded as a "radical," not only on account of the section of the state from which he came, but also on account of his hav- ing married the daughter of President Finney of Oblerlin college. He took his seat in the sena"te on the first Monday in January, i860. After the enactment of the fugitive slave law of 1850 the state of Ohio passed a law providing penalties for carrying free blacks out of the state without first having recourse to judical proceedings. The democrats in the legislature earnestly desired to repeal this law, and Mr. Cox, as chairman of the judiciary com- mittee, made a minority report against its re- peal, to which report the support of the entire republican party was given. While Mr. Cox was not in favor of any unnecessarily harsh measures to grieve the southern states, yet he was always uncomprisingly in favor of support- ing the government in its efforts to suppress the Rebellion. Ten da3'S after President Lin- coln's first call for troops, Mr. Cox was com- missioned, by Gov. Dennison, a brigadier-gen- eral of Ohio volunteers for the three months' service, and placed in command of Camp Jackson, which was established for the re- ception of troops. A larger camp being nec- essary, President Lincoln commissioned hini 154 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. brigadier-general of volunteers, and with the assistance of Gen. Rosecrans he laid out Camp Dennison. On the 6th of July, 1861, he was ordered by Gen. McClellan to take a posi- tion at the south of the Great Kanawha, whence he drove the rebels under Gen. Wise out of the valley of that river, and took and repaired the bridge at Gauley, and other bridges; and it is owing to the success of these early military maneuvers that West Virginia became an inde- pendent state. In August, 1862, he was as- signed to the army of Virginia under Gen. Pope, and when Gen. Reno fell succeeded to his command, that of the Ninth corps, which he commanded at the battle of Antietam, in which battle his troops so distinguished them- selves that he was appointed to a full major- generalship. On April 16, 1863, Gen. Cox was in command of the district of Ohio, and also of a division of the Twenty-third army corps, with headquarters at Knoxville, Tenn. In the Atlanta campaign he led the Third di- vision of the Twenty-third army corps, and in the engagement at Columbus had entire com- mand, as he had also at Franklin, November 30, where he felt the full force of Hood's at- tack. On reaching Nashville Gen. Thomas assumed command of the army, Gen. Scho- field of the Twenty-third corps, and Gen. Cox of his division — his division in this battle cap- turing an important rebel position and eight pieces of cannon. In January, 1865, Gen. Cox, with his division, performed important service in North Carolina, aiding in the cap- ture of Kingston, and then he united his forces with Sherman's army. Gen. Cox had charge of the details connected with the surrender of Gen. Johnston's soldiers. In July, 1865, he was placed in command of the district of Ohio, and while in charge of the discharge of Ohio soldiers was elected governor of the state, and was inaugurated January I 5, 1S66. Through- out the war Gen. Cox was steadily pro- moted, and won golden opinions from all pa- triots, but after the close of the struggle he supported President Johnson's "policy," which gave great dissatisfaction to loyal people. In 1869 President Grant appointed him secretary of the interior, which position he resigned after a few months, and returned to Cincin- nati, where he was appointed receiver of the Toledo, Wabash & Western railroad, and re- sided temporarily at Toledo, where, in 1875, he was elected to congress from the Sixth dis- trict. He was appointed a member of the Potter committee, which investigated the man- ner in which the presidential election of 1876 had been conducted in the " disputed states," South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana. Sub- sequently he removed to Cincinnati, where he died. <>^ UTHERFORD B. HAYES.— For a jj/^ sketch of the life of Rutherford B. I P Hayes, the twenty-third governor of Ohio elected by the people and elec- ed to succeed himself, and also elected to succeed William Allen, the reader is referred to that portion of this work which is devoted to the lives of the presidents of the United States. eDWARD FOLLANSBEE NOYES, twenty-fourth governor of Ohio elect- ed by the people, was born in Hav- erhill, Mass., October 3, 1832. His parents, Theodore and Hannah Noyes, both died before he was three years old, and he was reared by his grandparents, Edward and Han- nah Stevens, who resided at East Kingston, Rockingham county, N. H. His grandfather Stevens having died, he was taken when twelve years of age by his guardian, Joseph Hoyt, of Newton, N. H. For two years he GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 155 worked on his guardian's farm in summer and attended schools in winter, and at fourteen he was apprenticed to the printer's trade in the office of the Morning Star at Do\er, N. H., the organ of the Free \\'ill Baptist church. In this office he remained four years. Though his apprenticeship required him to remain un- til he was twenty-one, yet his employer relea.^cd him at eighteen, in order that he might secure an education. He prepared himself for college at the academy at Kingston, N. H., and entered Dartmouth college in 1853, graduating at that institution in 1857. In the winter of his senior year he began to read law in the office of Stickney & Tuck at Exeter, N. H., and before leaving Dartmouth he had become really an abolitionist. Being a good speaker, he was appointed by the republican state executive committee of New Hampshire to traverse the state in the interest of Gen. John C. Fremont for the presidency. The next win- ter he entered the law office of Tilden, Raridan & Curwen, and attended lectures on law at the Cincinnati Law school during the winter of 1857-58, being admitted to the bar during the latter year, and not long afterward established himself in a profitable practice. Giving atten- tion to the political crises then impending, he became convinced that secession, if accom- plished, would finally disrupt the Union, and on the 8th of July, 1861, converted his law office into a recruiting station, and was com- missioned major of the Thirty-ninth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry. On August 20, 1861, the Twenty-seventh and the Thirty-ninth regi- ments were transferred from the eastern to the western army, the latter being officered as follows: John Groesbeck, colonel; A. W. Gilbert, lieut. -colonel, and, as stated above, Edward F. Noyes, major. Early in 1862 this latter regiment joined the army of the Mis- sissippi, then commanded by Gen. Pope, and took part in the capture of New Madrid and Island No. 10. From that time until Gen. Pope was assigned to the command of the Potomac, Maj. Noyes was on that general's staff, and when the colonel and lieutenant-col- onel of the Thirty-ninth, as named above, re- signed, Maj. Noyes was comuiissioned colonel, and took command uf his regiment in October, 1862. In 1864 his regiment was one of those composing the First division of the Seven- teenth army corps, and on July 4, of that year, took part in the assault on Ruff's Mill, in which he was shot in the leg, which had to be am- putated on the field of battle. The operation not proving successful, the colonel was taken to Cincinnati, and operated on by Dr. ^^^ H. Mussey, and in the following October he re- ported for duty to Gen. Hooker, who assigned him to the command of Camp Dennison. Upon the recommendation of Gen. Sherman he was promoted to the full rank of brigadier. He was soon afterward elected city solicitor of Cincinnati, and in 1871 was elected gov- ernor of Ohio by a majority of 20,000, while at the election of 1873, when he was again a can- didate, he was defeated by an adverse majority of 800. In the presidential campaign of 1876 he was an active participant, and was later appointed by his old friend. President Ha\es, minister to France. He remained in Paris four years, in the meantime, however, making an extensive tour through the countries along the Mediterranean sea for the purpose of inves- tigating the condition of the laboring classes, making an able report to the government. He resigned in 1881 and resumed his law practice in Cincinnati. He was very enthusiastic and cheerful in his disposition, and kindly in his manner. In February, 1863, on a leave of absence, he married Miss Margaret W. Proc- tor, at Kingston, N. H., with whom he be- came acquainted while in the academy in his youthful days. He died September 4, 1 890, nearly fifty-eight years of age. 156 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 'ILLIAM ALLEN, twenty-fifth gov- ernor of Ohio elected by the peo- ple, was born in Edenton, Chowan county, N. C, in 1807. His par- ents both died within a few months of each other before he was one year old, and he was cared for by an only sister, who soon afterward removed with her husband to Lynchburg, Va., taking young William with her. This sister was the wife of an itinerant Methodist minis- ter and the mother of Hon. Allen G. Thurman. She was a very superior woman, and was well fitted for the task of rearing two of Ohio's dis- tinguished statesmen, whose names are given above. About 1821 Mrs. Thurman, with her husband and family, removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, leaving her brother to attend an acad- emy at Lynchburg, Va., but he rejoined her two years later, and attended the academy in Chillicothe, and later read law in the office of Edward King, the most gifted son of Rufus King, of Revolutionary fame, and a popular statesman for many years. Having been ad- mitted to the bar in his twentieth year, he be- came a partner of his preceptor, and earl\- in his career manifested that forensic ability to which he was mainly indebted for his success. This, together with his tall, commanding fig- ure and powerful, penetrating voice, attracted people to him, the latter giving him the name of the "Ohio Gong," and all together secured his nomination to congress, he being elected by the democrats in 1832, in a whig district, by a majority of one vote. While he was the youngest man in the Twenty-third congress, yet he was recognized as a leading orator, tak- ing part in the most important discussions in that body. In January, 1837, on what was called "Saint Jackson's Day," at a supper given in Columbus, Ohio, he made a speech which un- expectedly led to his election to the United States senate, to succeed lion. Thomas Ewing. He remained in the senate twelve years, or until 1849, during which time he was at the full measure of his powers. In 1845 Senator Allen married Mrs. Effie (McArthurj Coons, a daughter of ex-Gov. Mc- Arthur, who had been, in 1S30, elected gov- ernor of Ohio. She inherited from her father the old homestead, "Fruit Hill" farm, upon which Gov. Allen resided with his only daugh- ter, Mrs. Scott, his wife ha\ing died in \\'ash- ington soon after the birth of her daughter. In August, 1873, Mr. Allen was elected governor of Ohio, being the only man on the demo- cratic ticket not defeated. As governor he recommended the reduction of taxation and economy in state affairs. He was the first demo- cratic governor of Ohio after the war, and though his administration gave general satisfaction, he was defeated with the rest of the democratic ticket in 1875. It has been said of him that he originated the political catch-word, "Fifty- four forty, or fight," in reference to the boundary question between* the United States and the British dominions, from which posi- tion the democratic party so ignominiously backed down. Gov. Allen died at Fruit Hill farm in 1879. He was a man of high charac- ter, cordial manners, and above all political chicanery of every kind, and his name will long be an honored one in American history. HOMAS L. YOUNG, ex-oflRcio gov- ernor of Ohio, succeeding to the office by the election of Gov. R. B. Hayes to the presidency of the United States, taking possession of the office in Feb- ruary, 1877, was born December 14, 1832, on the estate of Lord Dufferin in the north of Ireland. Of Lord Dufferin it may perhaps be permissible, parenthetically, to remark that as governor-general of Canada, in 1874, he made a remarkable report on the loyalty of the pec- GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 15/ pie of Canada to the British governinent, which appeared to him so "wholesome and satisfac- tory." This estate of Lord Dafferin was in Down county, Ireland. When Mr. Young was twelve years old his parents brought him to this countr}', and he was educated in the com- mon schools of Now York cit}'. When he was si.xteen years old he enlisted in the regular army, scr\ing in all ten _\-ears. At the expira- tion of his enhstment he visited the home of his parents, in the northern part of Pennsyl- vania, on one of the upper tributaries of the Susquehanna river, where he engaged in tlie business of country merchant until 1859, when he removed to Cincinnati, and took charge of the h.ouse of refuge, a j'ouths' reformatory in- stitution, which position he retained until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. Having, while in the regular army, spent sev- eral years among the people of the south, he knew that they had determined upon war, and in March, 1861, he wrote to Gen. Scott, whom he personally knew, offering to assist in organ- izing volunteers for the defense of the govern- ment. Gen. Scott thanked him for his loyalty, but expressed bis incredulity as to the southern people entertaining any such purpose. In August, 1 86 1, Mr. Young was commis- sioned a captain in Gen. Fremont's bodyguard, ser\'ing in that capacity until the following January, when that organization was disbanded by Gen. Halleck. For some months after- ward Capt. Young was engaged in editing a democratic paper in Sidney, Ohio, in which he severely condemned the indecision manifested in the conduct of the war. In August, 1862, he was appointed to raise a company for the One Hundred and Eighteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and became the first major of the regiment. In February, 1863, he was promoted to lientenant-colonel, and com- manded his regiment in the Tennessee cam- paign. In April, 1864, he was commissioned colonel of his regiment and served as such until the ^th of September following, when he was honorably discharged on account of phys- ical disability resulting from his services and exposures in the field. At the battle of Re- saca, Ga., Col. Young- led the first charge on the enem\-'s works, the severity of the contest being indicated by the fact that he lost i 16 men out of 270 engaged. For this and other acts of bravery the president brevetted him brigadier-general of volunteers, March, 13,1 S65. Upon leaving the service he engaged in the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1865, being in the same m.onth appointed assistant city auditor of .Cincinnati. In Oc- tober, 1865, he was elected to the Ohio house of representatives for Hamilton county, and in December, 1868, was appointed, by President Johnson, supervisor of internal revenue for the southern district of Ohio. This position he re- sigfied at the end of one year. For some time afterward he was engaged in the purchase and sale of real estate, and in 1871 was the only republican elected to the state senate from Hamilton county. In 1873 he formed a law partnership with Gen. H. B. Banning and Jacob McGarry, and in 1875 he was elected lieutenant-governor. Upon the resignation of Gov. Hayes he became governor, serving tht^ remainder of the term. In 1878 he was elected to congressby the republicans of the second dis- trict, and died July 19, 188S, thoroughly admired for his integrity of character and manliness. ICHARD M. BISHOP, the twenty- sixth governor of Ohio, was born No- vember 4, 18 12, in Fleming county, Ky. His parents, who were of Ger- man and English lineage, removed from Vir- ginia in 1 80c. They were members of the regular Baptist church, of which he also be- came a member in 1828. 158 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. At this lime the Baptist churches in Ken- tucky were greatly excited in consequence of the criticisms made by Mr. Campbell, and his co-laborers, upon the religious corruption of the age. This excitement continued to in- crease in the immediate neighborhood of the Bishop family until 1832, when they and others were excluded from the Baptist church on account of " Campbellite heresy." Since then Mr. Bishop has been associated with the church of the Disciples or Christians. Mr. Bishop began his business career in Flem- ing count}', Ky., at the age of seventeen, and before he was twenty-one he became a part- ner in the store which he had entered as a clerk. From 1838 to 1841 he was engaged with his brother in the pork business, which proved unfortunate in consequence of the sud- den depression in prices, and the failure of the Mississippi banks, in which state they sold largely. They were compelled to suspend, but this temporary embarrassment did not dis- courage him, for he soon resumed business in the same place, where he continued until 1847. He then removed to Mount Sterling, Kentucky, where he established a branch house, his brother remaining at the old stand. In 1848 he removed to Cincinnati and commenced the wholesale grocery business under the style of Bishop, Wells & Co. This firm continued until 1855, when the business was reorganized and conducted under the firm name of R. M. Bishop & Co. The firm was composed of him.self and three sons, and at one time did the largest business in the city, the sales amounting in some years to nearly $5,000,- 000. In April, 1857, he was nominated for council in the Second ward and was elected by a large majority. At the end of the second year he was elected presiding officer. In 1859 he was elected mayor of Cincinnati b}' a handsome majority, holding the same office until 1 86 1, when he declined the renomination tendered him by each of the political par- ties. In January, i860, when the Union was threatened by the leaders of the Rebellion, the legislatures of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee visited Cincinnati to encourage each other to stand by the old flag. At a grand reception given them at Pike's opera house. Mayor Bishop delivered an address of welcome amid a storm of applause. In the September ensuing his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, visited Cincinnati at the in- vitation of the mayor and received from him a cordial welcome. In February, 1 861, when President Lincoln was passing on his way to his inauguration through Cincinnati, he was received in a speech by the mayor. During his administration the laws were rigidl}- en- forced, of which the Sundaj- ordinance, and those against gambling houses, were notable examples. Liquor selling and various other forms of Sabbath desecration were in the main suppressed. He inaugurated, amid much op- position, most important reforms in the man- agement of the city prison, work-house and the police. Mr. Bishop has become widely known for his liberalit)' and devotion to the Christian church. From 1859 to 1867 he was president of the Ohio State Missionary society, and was the successor of the late Dr. Alexander Camp- bell in the presidency of the general Christian Missionary conference, which office he held until 1875. He was president of the board of curators of Kentucky university from its or- ganization until 1880, when he declined a re- election; he was also one of the curators 01 Bethan\- college; also for many j'ears trustee of the McMicken university. He was director of the First National bank for many years, and of several other business enterprises, as well as philanthropic institutions. He was a member of the Ohio state constitutional con- vention held in 1873 and 1874, and v.'as presi ■ GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 159 dent of the great national commercial conven- tion held in Baltimore in 1871. He was one of the prime movers in that great enterprise, the Southern railway, the building of which he so successfully managed, having been a trustee from the beginning, and the laborious work of obtaining charters for the road is largely his. In 1877 he was elected governor of Ohio by a majority of nearly 23,000 over the domi- nant party, and served two jears with entire satisfaction to all parties. His first annual message was well received and complimented by the press generally. Upon his return to Cincinnati he was given a cordial and enthu- siastic reception at Lytle hall, where a large number of ladies and gentlemen had assembled to welcome him home. Since the expiration of his term as governor he has been urged by his friends to accept the nomination for various important offices, but always declined. Few men in the state can point to so many substantial benefits conferred upon society as the results of their single labors. Prompt de- cision, constant industry, sound judgment, and a desire to benefit his fellow-men, are his chief characteristics. aHARLES FOSTER, twenty-seventh governor of Ohio elected by the peo- ple, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, April 12, 1828. His parents, Charles W. Foster and wife, the latter of whom was a daughter of John Crocker, were from Massa- chusetts, reaching Seneca county, Ohio, in 1827. Charles Foster received only a common- school education, and went to Rome, now Fostoria, Ohio, when he was fourteen years old, where he was compelled to take charge of his father's store, and thus failed to secure a liberal education, which his father intended he should receive, and for which he had prepared himself at the Norwalk seminary. His success in the management of the store was very marked, and he soon became sole manager. The town of Fostoria, named from the Foster family, was the result of the consolidation of Rome and Risdon, which lay but a mile or two apart. In 1870 Mr. Foster was induced to accept the nomination for congress at the hands of the republicans of his district, and he was elected by a majority of 776 over Hon. E. F. Dickinson. In 1872 he was again elected to congress by a majority of 726 over Rush R. Sloane. In 1874 he was elected by a majority of 159 over Hon. George E. Seney, and in 1876 he was elected by a majority of 271. In 1878, the democratic party having secured a majority of the state legislature, in order to defeat Mr. Foster most outrageously gerry- mandered his district, and he was defeated by a majority of 1,255. I" 1879 he was elected governor of Ohio over Hon. Thomas Ewing, by a plurality of 17,129, and in 1881 he was again elected, by a plurality of 24,309, over John W. Buchwalter. Upon the death of the secretary of the United States treasury, William Windom, Mr. Foster was appointed his successor by Presi- dent Harrison, February 27, 1891, and served until the close of the Harrison administration, March 4, 1893. The successful adjustment of the four and one-half per cent, loan was one of the notable events of his first year's admin- istration of the treasury department of the government. Of the $50.869, 200 of the four and one-half per cent, bonds, Julj' i, 1 891, $25,364, 500 were presented for continuance at two per cent., the rest being called in for re- demption. No other financial officer of the general government has ever negotiated a public loan at so low rate of interest. Since retiring from the national treasury, Mr. Foster has been engaged in arranging his own financial 160 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. affairs, which were thrown into confusion, while he was in pubhc office by those whom he had trusted. @EORGE HOADLY, who was the twenty-eighth governor of Ohio, was born in New Haven, Conn., July 31, 1826. He is the only son of George and Mary Ann (Woolsey) Hoadly. Mary Ann Woolsey was a daughter of William Walton and Elizabeth (Dwight) Woolsey of New York, and she was a great-granddaughter of Jonathan Edvvanls, the famous New England theologian. She was a niece of President Dwight of Yale college, and the eldest daughter in a family containing among its members President Wool- sey of Yale college. Theodore Winthrop was her nephew and Sarah Woolsey, known in literature as "Susan Coolidge," her niece. George Hoadly, Sr. , was at one time mayor of New Haven, Conn., removed in 1830 to Cleveland, Ohio, and resided there the re- mainder of his life, serving as mayor of that city five terms, from 1832 to 1837, and again one term, 1846-47. George Hoadly, the subject of this sketch, received his preliminary education in Cleve- land, and when fourteen years old was sent to the Western Reserve college at Hudson, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1844. He then spent one year in the Harvard law school under the tuition of Judge Story and Prof. Simon Greenleaf, and after studied a year with Charles C. Convers, of Zanesville, Ohio, then removed to Cincinnati and entered the office of Chase & Ball as a student. He was admitted to practice in 1847 and in 1849 be- came a member of the firm of Chase, Ball & Hoadly, the senior member of which was Sal- mon P. Chase. In 185 i he was elected judge of the supreme court of Cincinnati, and in 1853 formed a co-partnership with Edward Mills. In 1855-56 he was city solicitor of Cincinnati, and in 1859 succeeded Judge W. Y. Gholson as judge of the new superior court, holding this office uutil 1866, when he resigned, in order to form the firm of Hoadly, Jackson & Johnson. He was a member of the constitu- tional convention of 1873-74, and served as chairman of the committee on municipal cor- porations. For eighteen years he was profes- sor in the law school at Cincinnati, trustee of the university, and of the Cincinnati mu- seum. He was one of the counsel in behalf of the board of education in its famous case of resistance to the attempt to compel Bible reading in the public schools, in which the victory was with the board. Originall}' a democrat, he left that party and became a republican on the question of slavery, but during the campaign of 1876 sup- ported Tilden as against Hayes. In 1877 he appeared as counsel before the electoral com- mission and argued in favor of the democratic electors from Florida and Oregon. In 1880 he was temporary chairman of the democratic national convention which nominated W. S. Hancock for president. In 1883 he was elected governor of Ohio, and in March, 1S87, he removed to New York city, became the head of a law firm there, and has resided there ever since. In 185 1 he married Mary Burnet Perry, third daughter of Capt. Samuel Perry, one of the earliest settlers of Cincinnati. He and his wife have had three children, viz: George, Laura and Edward Mills. >-T*OSEPH BENSON FORAKER, ex-gov- M ernor of Ohio and United States senator, A 1 elect, was born near Rainsborough, Highland county, Ohio, July 5, 1846. His parents, who are still living, represent the GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 161 agricultural class of the population of this countrj', and upon their farm he spent his earlier 3'ears. When the war of the Rebellion broke out 3oung Foraker enlisted in company A, Eighty- ninth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, being then but sixteen years of age. With this regi- ment he served until after the fall of Atlanta, at which time, by successive promotions, he had risen to the rank of first lieutenant. Im- mediately after the fall of Atlanta he was detailed for service in the signal corps as a sig- nal officer on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Slocum, commanding the left wing of the army of Georgia. After the marches through Georgia and the Carolinas he was promoted brevet captain of United States volunteers, and as- signed to duty as aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Slocum, holding this position until he was mustered out of service at the close of the war. Returning home and resuming his studies, he graduated from Cornell university, Ithaca, N. Y. , in 1S69. To gain time lost while in the service of his country in the army he read law while attending the university, and was admitted to the bar in Cincinnati, October 14, 1869, and he at once began in that city the practice of his profession. He was married October 4, 1S70, to Miss Bulla Bundy, a daughter of Hon. H. S. Bundy, of Wellston, Ohio, and they have five children, two sons and three daughters. In April, 1S79, he was elected judge of the superior court of Cincinnati, Ohio, and held this position until May i, 1882, when he re- signed on account of ill health. Recovering his health he resumed the practice of the law in Cincinnati, and in 1883 was nominated for governor of Ohio, but was defeated by his opponent. Judge George Hoadly. In 1S84 he w;is a delegate to the national convention of the republicans which met in Chicago, and as cliairman of the Ohio delegation, placed Hon. John Sherman in nomination before the con- vention for the presidency. In 1885 he was again a candidate for governor of Ohio, and this time was elected, defeating his former opponent, Judge Hoadly, and in 1887 he was re-elected governor of the state. In 1888 he was again a delegate to the republican national convention and was again chairman of the Ohio delegation, placing Hon. John Sherman again in nomination before the convention for the presidency of the United States. In 1889 he was again nominated for governor of Ohio, but through the persistent cry of " third term- ism " he was defeated by James E. Campbell. In January, 1892, he was a candidate for United States senator, receiving thirty-eight votes, but was defeated by Senator John Sher- man. That year he was a delegate at large to the national republican convention, which met at Mjnneapolis, serving in that body as chair- man of the committee on resolutions. The state convention held at Zanesville, May 28, 1895, unanimously endorsed him as the repub- lican candidate for United States senator to succeed Hon. Calvin S. Brice, whose term of office expired March 4, 1897, ^"^ s-* the November election, 1895, a republican legisla- ture was chosen by a majority of nearly lOO,- 000, which was practically instructed by the people to elect Mr. Foraker to the position named above. In obedience to these instruc- tions the legislature of the state on January 14, 1896, elected Mr. Foraker United States senator from Ohio, for six years from March 4, 1897, by a majority, on joint ballot, of eighty-five, the majority in the senate being twenty-three, and in the house of representa- tives being sixty-two, the entire legislative ma- jority being, as stated, eighty-five. Mr. For- aker is, therefore, the people's choice for this high position, in which it is confidently pre- dicted he will confer honor on his native state, even as he has had honor conferred upon him. 162 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. In his speech accepting the office Mr. Foraker used the following language : " I go there (to the United States senate) as a republican. I belong to that party. I believe in that partj-. I believe in its past ; I believe in its present; I believe in its future. I believe it the most acceptable agency we can pommand in the administration of national affairs. I believe it is better calculated than any other political organisation to contribute to the strength, power, dignity, happiness and glory of the American people." After speak- ing in favor of American marine interests and of the construction of the Nicaragua ca- nal he then referred to financial questions as follows : "I believe in bi-metallism. I be- lieve the world made a mistake when it de- monetized silver. I sincerely hope some safe way may be found for the restoration of silver to its rightful place alongside of gold as a money of ultimate redemption. I shall favor every measure calculated in my judgment to bring about that result, subject always, how- ever, to the condition that it provides for the maintenance of the parity of the two metals. " >^AMES EDWIN CAMPBELL, e.x-gov- M ernor ot Ohio, was born in Middletown, mj Ohio, July 7, 1843. He is a son of Dr. Andrew and Laura P. (Reynolds) Campbell, the former of Scotch and the latter of English descent. John P. Reynolds, the father of Mrs. Laura P. Campbell, was at one time a publisher of the state of New York, but later a resident of Madi.son, Ohio. The Rey- nolds family came originally from Devonshire, England. Jonathan Reynolds emigrated from Plympton Earl, in that country, in 1645, to America, taking up his residence near Plymp- ton, in the colony of Massachusetts bay, and from Jonathan Reynolds Mr. Campbell is of the sixth generation. Bj' another branc!i of his family on his mother's side he is a descend- ant of John Parker, who commanded the American troops at the battle of Lexington, the first battle of the American Revolution. Both his grandfathers were in the war of 1812. Upon reaching his maturitj' Mr. Campbell began reading law. In the summer of 1 863 he became a master's mate on the gunboats Elk and Naiad, and took part in several engage- ments, but on account of ill health he was dis- charged at the end of one 3'ear's services. During the winter of 1864-65 he was a law student in the office of Doty & Gunckel at Middletown, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. Beginning practice in 1867, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Butler county in 1875 and again in 1877. In 1879 he was defeated for the state senate by twelve votes. Up to 1872 he was a republican, but then voted for Greeley, and has since acted with the demo- crats. He was elected to the Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth and Fiftieth congresses, and in 1889 was elected governor of Ohio. In 1891 he was again a candidate, but was defeated by Maj. McKinley. In 1895 he was the third time a candidate, but was defeated by the present incumbent of the office, Hon. Asa S. Bushnell, by a plurality of 92,622 votes. On January 4, 1870, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Libbie Owens, a daughter of Job E. and Mary A. (Price) Owens, the former of whom was a native of Wales, and the latter of Welsh descent. m. ■'ILLIAM McKINLEY, who succeed- ed James E. Campbell in the guber- natorial chair, and who served out a well-administered term of office, on retiring filled a higher position in the esteem of the people of Ohio than he had ever before enjoyed, and this measure of esteem was also supplemented by that of the people of the na- GOVERNORS OF OHIO. 1G3 tion ai large, who, in November, 1896, elected him chief magistrate of the United States. In tliat portion of this volume devoted to the bi- ographies of our presidents, that of Mr. Mc- Kinley is given in full, and to it the attention of the reader is respectfully invited. 'SA S. BUSHNELL, governor of Ohio at the present time, is, without doubt and without qualification, one of the ablest men in the state. In many respects his career has been an exceptional one. His education and training have been those of a practical man of affairs, and to-day, at the age of si.\ty-two, having been born at Rome, Oneida county, N. Y. , in 1834, he is one of tlie most clear-headed business men in the counlrj'. At the age of eleven he left his home in the Empire state, to begin his career in the Buckeye state, reaching Cincinnati in 1845, where he spent si.x years in the public schools, paying his own expenses by working out of school hours and in vacation seasons. At the end of the six years spent in Cincinnati he re- moved, in 1 85 I, to Springfield, Ohio, in which city he has since lived and in which city he has acquired a princely fortune. His first three years in the "Champion City" were spent as a dry-goods clerk, during which time he be- came a thoroughly practical bookkeeper, and at their expiration he was given a position as bookkeeper with the old and well-known water-wheel firm of Leffel, Cook & Blakeney, which was even then doing an extensive busi- ness. This position he retained until 1S57, when he formed a partnership with Dr. John Ludlow in the drug business, a partnership which lasted ten years, or until 1S67. The only break in the continuity 01 his labors here was while he was engaged as captain of com- pany E, One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, in 1864, in the Shenandoah valley. Here his bravery and his kindly man- ner won for him the admiration of and made him very popular among his fellow-soldiers of the entire regiment. While he was in the army he was somewhat slight in build and light in weight, and he was not much given to physi- cal exercise, while at the present time he is unusually active and weighs fully 200 pounds. In 1867 Capt. Bushnell purchased an in- terest in the large manufacturing firm of what is now known as the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Co. , of which the late Benjamin F. Warder was then the head, and of which the junior member was J. J. Glessner, now a prominent capitalist of Chicago. And it is in connection with this concern, which Mr. Bush- nell has so long and so successfully managed, that he has made the fortune which he to-day possesses. Hon. Asa S. Bushnell has long been closely identified with the republican party in Ohio, though his attempt to become governor of the state was the first he ever made to secure pub- lic office. He became chairman of the repub- lican state executive committee in 1SS5, and from 1886 to 1890 he served the state as quartermaster-general, having been appointed by Gov. Foraker, who was largely instru- mental in securing for him the nomination for governor in i895,at Zanesville. In the fall of 1888 he was assaulted in the streets of Spring- field by political enemies, and through that as- sault came near losing his life. This assault still remains a mystery, and no one has been brought to punishment. He was chosen as a delegate at large to the republican national convention which met at Minneapolis in 1892, and which nominated President Harrison for re-election, and on November 2, 1895, he was elected governor of Ohio by a plurality of 92,622, over Hon. James E. Campbell, the 164 GOVERNORS OF OHIO. democratic candidate, this plurality being the largest ever given to a governor with the ex- ception of that given Gov. John Brough, dur- ing the progress of the Civil war, when the soldiers at the front voted almost unanimously for Brough as against Vallandigham. He was inaugurated governor on January 13, 1896. In the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic, Gov. Bushnell has long been a prom- inent participant, being a member of Mitchell post, of Springfield, Ohio. He is also an ar- dent Free Mason. Among othei- of Gov. Bushnell's benefactions may be mentioned the Ohio Masonic Home, which was in all proba- bility preserved to Springfield by his unsolicited . contribution of $10,000, at a time, too, when he was not a Mason. Dr. John Ludlow, with whom Mr. Bushnell, as a young man, found employment, had at that time a pretty daughter named Ellen, and these two young people were eventually mar- ried. Several children blessed the union, three of whom survive, as follows: Mrs. J. F. Mc- Grew, Mrs. H. C. Dimond, and John Ludlow Bushnell, the latter of whom graduated with honors from Princeton in 1894. Mrs. Bushnell is an ideal woman in every relation. While she is a society woman, yet she is not so in the ordinary sense of the phrase, her principal strength lying in her domestic qualities. Her two daughters are as happily married as is she herself. Mrs. McGrew is the wife of one of Springfield's most promising young attorneys, and is the mother of two children, Ellen and Fanny, while Mrs. Dimond is the wife of a prominent young physician and also the mother of two children, Asa Bushnell and Douglas Marquand Dimond. Brief reference can be made to the inau- gural address of Gov. Bushnell. Among other things he commended was the proposition of home rule or local option in matters pertaining to taxation — which means that counties should provide their own systems of taxation for their necessary expenses; that double taxation should be avoided, and that such taxation as is nec- essary should be distributed as to lighten the burden of government, and so as to retain and attract capital to the state. He also favored a purchasing board for state institutions, and the providing of some means by which the state could supply employment to such of its prison- ers as are now compelled to remain perpetually idle. He also favored the limitation by statute of local indebtedness to ten per cent of the tax duplicate, and in closing said: "Time only can tell how much or how little I shall merit your commendation, but it will be my constant aim and purpose to serve you as faithfully and as wisely as there is light given me to show the path of right, and I shall ever remember that I am the servant of the people." PORTAGE m SOIIMIT CODITIES. KON. GEORGE W. GROUSE, manu- facturer, was born at Tallinadge, Ohio, November 23, 1832, the son of George and Margaret H. (Robinson) Grouse. His grandfather, who was of Ger- man descent, was killed in battle, fighting for American independence. The maternal line is of Irish extraction, the ancestry emigrating from the north of Ireland. George ^^''. Grouse was one of a family of ten children, his father being a hard-working farmer. His early years were spent on the farm, attending the common district school in the winter months, until he was seventeen years of age, when he was enabled to secure a position as teacher in a school, and taught five successive winter terms. He had become very proficient in mathematics, and in Novem- ber, 1855, Ml"- Sisler, a friendly neighbor, having been elected county treasurer, offered him a position as deputy treasurer in his office at Akron. His peculiar fitness and diligent, conscientious performance of his duties made him many warm friends, and in addition to his duties as deputy treasurer he was made deputy county auditor; in 1858 he was elected county auditor, and re-elected in i860. A short time prior to the expiration of his second term a vacancy occurred in the treasurer's office. whereupon the county commissioner appointed him treasurer. The A. & G. Railway (now the Erie) hav- ing been completed to Akron, Mr. Grouse ac- cepted a position as its agent at Akron, do- ing this work in addition to his work as treas- urer. In 1863 G. Aultman & Go., of Ganton, determined to build a branch factory at Akron, and Mr. Grouse was tendered the financial management of the enterprise, which he ac- cepted, and with J. R. Buchtel erected the large manufacturing establishment known as the Bucke3'e works, he wholly attending to the financial management. This was the initial manufacturing establishment of Akron, and to Mr. Grouse's ability as a manager of men, his sagacity and promptness in the dis- charge of his many duties, is largely due the success of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper works, one of the largest in the land. In 1865 a stock company was forrned, he being made secretary and treasurer, continuing as such until 1885, when he became its president, con- tinuing as such up to the present time. The Buckeye Mower and Reaper works have made over 200,000 machines, and was one of the factors that contributed largely to the success of the Union arms in the Givil war, supplying the place of the young men that went out in 166 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the defense of the flag by its labor-saving machinery. In politics Mr. Crouse has always been an active republican, and as chairman of the county central committee, and other positions influential in and one of the leaders in the party. In 1872 he was elected count}' com- missioner, serving one term. He was a mem-, ber of the city council of Akron and served as its president; as a member and president of the board of education, he has always taken a deep interest in educational matters, and is one of the trustees of Buchtel College, and the donor to the college of the gymnasium that bears his name. "Crouse Gymnasium." In 1885 he was elected to the state senate and served with honor one term. In 1886 he was elected to represent the Akron district in the Fiftieth congress. In that congress he served on the committee on commerce and the committee on war claims, that grew out of the war of the Rebellion. His marked business capacity and experience specially fitted him to this laborious and delicate duty, and he brought to its per- formance the painstaking fidelity that has marked his business career, making him a most useful member of that body. In 1863, and for a number of years follow- ing, he was secretary of what was known as the Akron Board of Trade, an informal organ- isation of the best citizens to encourage the location of manufacturing in this thriving, busy city. He has assisted directly as stockholder or indirectly with his influence, the Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing company, the Akron Rubber works, the Thomas Phillips Company Paper Mill, the Akron Iron Company, Woolen & Felt Company, the Diamond Match works, the stove works, the Selle Gear works, and various other successful enterprises, which have received an impetus from the organizing and clear-sighted business ability of Mr. Crouse. In 1870 he assisted in organizing the Bank of Akron, and from that time until 1889 he was its president. October 18, 1859, Mr. Crouse married Martha K., daughter of Edward and Clemen- tine (Kingsley) Parsons, of Brimfield, Ohio. This union has brought them five children. Mrs. Crouse is a lady that exerts a strong home influence quietly and without ostentation, com- manding the highest regard of those with whom she may be thrown in contact, and de- voted to the happiness and best interests of her family, and dispensing the liberal hospital- ities of their home. It has been by no fortuitous circumstances that Mr. Crouse has reached his honorable po- sition, but the result of assiduous attention to duties, strict integrity in all business relations^ an ability to control and command the respect of his fellow citizens, kindness to, and consid- eration for, the large number of men in his employ, a public speaker able to command by his presence and familiarit}' with questions of public interest the respectful attention of any audience, generous and affable, ever having in view the best interests and advancement of mankind, he has ever been read)' to respond to all demands that charit}' makes upon him, having been a liberal contributor to the erec- tion of every church and charitable enterprise in his city, and he is held in the highest regard by his fellow-countrymen, and the declining years of his life will bear rich fruit for the ben- efit of mankind. BRANK ADAMS, one of the oldest, and who, for years, was one of the most prominent business men of Akron, Ohio, and one whose early connection with the industries of the city has aided in mak- ing it what it is to-day, was born in Windsor county, Vt. , July 5, 18 19, a son of Benjamin and Betsey (Crowley) Adams, who were natives OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 167 of Massachusetts, but were taken in early child- hood, by their parents, to Vermont, where their marriage took place. Some years after marriage, Benjamin Adams brought his family to Ohio and settled in Akron, about 1838, where his death occurred November 22, 1849, and that of his widow about twenty years later. Frank Adams received a very good com- mon-school education and early developed a talent for business. He was about eighteen years of age when he accompanied his par- ents to Akron, and with them he remained until he had about attained his majority, when he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Samuel Manning, who was engaged in map publishing, and two years later formed a part- nership with him in the same business, under the firm name of Manning & Co. A year later a Mr. Eggleston bought out the interest of Mr. Manning, and the style of the firm was changed to Adams & Eggleston. In March, 1849, Mr. Adams was appointed postmaster at Akron by President Zachary Taylor, and filled the office with great ability and to the satisfaction of the public until May, 1853, when, for political reasons, he was re- moved, the rule with political parties at that day being "To the victor belong the spoils." Mr. Adams then engaged as a dealer in hats, etc. , which he profitably conducted until burned out, April 30, 1855. He next engaged in the manufacture of sewer pipe, later became presi- dent of the Akron Sewer Pipe company, and continued in this line of business until 1886, when he retired. Mr. Adams was a member of the Akron board of trade, was president of the Akron Water Works company, and was financially and officially connected with many of the industrial enterprises of the city. During the dark period of the war of the late Rebellion, Mr. Adams was a firm friend of the Union, was a member of the Middlebury (Summit county) Military committee, was treasurer of the Soldiers' Relief Fund, and also contributed liberally of his own means in assisting the government to maintain the in- tegrity of its flag. Mr. Adams was first married January 21, 1846, to Miss Sarah Hyde Gale, but this lady was called away January i i, 1863, leaving two daughters — now Mrs. Julia Latham and Mrs. Mary Perkins. The second marriage of Mr. Adams was solemnized September 12, 1863, with Mrs. janetta L. Murphj', and this happy union has been t)lessed, also, with two chil- dren — Frank H., now cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Akron, and Zella M. The long identity of Mr. Adams with the business, industrial and financial institutions of Akron has made his name a household word, and there is now probably no man living who has taken a deeper interest in the material de- velopment, and religious, moral and educa- tional progress of the city than he. His name stands without a blemish or reproach, his busi- ness integrity has never been in the slightest degree put to question, and "None knew him but to love him; none knew him but to praise," will be quoted in his memory when the time shall have come for him to join " the universal caravan," which, in the course of nature, it must, but which, it is the heartfelt prayer of all who know his worth, will be deferred for many a long year yet to come. at ILLIAM HENRY ADAMS, of Akron, may well be classed as among the leading liverymen of northeastern Ohio. He was born in Manchester, Summit county, July i.i;, 1848, the fifth of a family of six children who blessed the union of Daniel and Mary (Shook) Adams, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Summit county, Ohio, prior to 1830, and 170 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was nominated for the office of county re- corder, was triumphantly elected in November, and assumed the duties of the office Septem- ber 7, 1897, when he relinquished his con- tracting and building operations. The marriage of Mr. Ailing took place in 1867 to Emilie A. Carter, a native of Brim- field, Portage county, Ohio, and a daughter of Horatio L. and Julia A. (Lyon) Carter, natives of Massachusetts, and this marriage has been blessed with six children, viz: Julia M., Wal- ter C, Ruth W., Fannie M., Mary E. and Edwin L. The Ailing family stand very high in the social circles of Tallmadge township, and individually Mr. Ailing is highly esteemed for his personal merits. As a soldier he did his full duty, as a republican he has been faith- ful and active, and as a citizen he stands with- out reproach. @EORGE L. ALLEN, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a re- spected citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, was born in this city February 20, 1839, a son of George and Elizabeth (Harper) Alien — both born in Ireland. George Allen was born in 1799 in Antrim, Ireland, and was a papermaker by trade. He married, in Ire- land, Elizabeth Harper. The children were Jane, Andrew, John (born in Ireland), Mary (died at sea), Robert, William, Julia, George L. , Mary, Alexander, born in America, the parents having come to this country in 1832. George Allen first settled in Lee, Mass., and worked at the papermaking business four years and then, in 1836, came to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and worked in the paper mill. He was an industrious and hard working man, was careful and economical, and accumulated prop- erty, including eighty acres where the subject of this biography now lives. He lived to be about seventy-three years of age and died on his farm in 1872, an honored and upright man. Fraternally he was a knight templar Mason, having joined the order in Ireland when but twenty-one years of age. George L. Allen, was brought to the farm where he now lives when a child of four years, received a common education and was brought up a farmer. He enlisted at Cuyahoga Falls, July 28, 1862, for three years or during the war, in the One Hundred and l-'ourth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, was transferred, at Massillon, Ohio, to company G, One Hun- dred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged, at the close of the war, at Columbus, Ohio, June 22, 1865. He was in the battles of La- Vergne, Tenn., and was taken prisoner De- cember 5, 1864, by Hood's force and surren- dered, with thirty others, to Gen. Forrest. He was taken to Meridian, Miss. , and thence to Andersonville prison, was confined five months and was then sent to Vicksburg to be ex- changed. The prisoners, being unable to travel, were left at Cahaba, Ala., for about two or three weeks, when, the war being closed, the Union troops took possession. When Mr. Allen enlisted he was a strong and very hardy man, weighing about i 50 pounds, and did his full duty, actively and proniptl)'. His severe privations during his imprisonment re- duced him to only seventy-five pounds, and when released he was a mere skeleton, and was so sickened with chronic diarrhea that he could hardly walk about. Several of his com- rades from Cuyahoga Falls, were unable to undegro the strain and died. On his return to Cuyahoga Falls, Mr. Allen was so much re- duced, that his own mother did not know him, and it was ten years before hn even partially recovered. He settled on the home farm and married, October 20, 1875, in Cuyahoga Falls, Allie C. Blake, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, Au- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 171 gust 8, 1854, a daughter of William O. and Louisa (Beach) Blake, of New England ances- try, fornierlj' from England, where the family were shipbuilders. Mr. Blake was one of the proprietors of a large printing establishment in ("olumbus, Ohio, being a member of the firm of Osgood & Blake. Mr. and Mrs. Blake were the parents of two children — Alice E. and William A. Mrs. Blake died when Mrs. Allen was but four years old ; Mr. Blake died in Columbus, Ohio, in September, 1865. He bought a farm at Copley, Summit county, Ohio, where Mrs. Allen lived after the death of her mother until seven years old, and then lived in Columbus. Mr. Blake was a member iif the Episcopal church. He had attended school but six months in childhood, but was a man of education gained by his own efforts and teaching himself Greek after he was fifty years old. He was a publisher and writer of books and wrote books for the old firm of Miller Bros., publishers, of Columbus, Ohio. Among his works widely sold and read was the •' History of the World." His nom-de-plume was Prescott. Mr. Blake descended from the famous naval officer — Adm ral IMake, of England. Gen. Blake, of Mansfield, Ohio, an English- man, was also of that family. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allen have lived on the home farm and have one son, Howard, who is a telephone inspector of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Allen is a member of the G. A. R., Eadie post, at Cuyahoga Falls. He is a war republican and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln. He is an honored citizen and for many years was a member of the school board. Mis. Allen's grandmoLher, on her maternal side, was an Abernathy — a descendant of the famous Dr. Abernathy. The Aliens are Scotch-Irish. Mr. Allen is a member of the E.\-Union Prisoners' association. He was de- tailed orderly to general headquarters, Coving- ton, Ky. , in 1863, and was in Morgan's raid, and in September his horse fell on him, dis- abling his right leg, and he was in hospital at Covington, Ky. , and nine months in Cincin- nati and Cleveland. ^ J* OHN ANDES, a prominent farmer of m Suffield township, was born in Ran- A 1 dolph township. Portage county, Ohio, September 8, 1S52, a son of Peter and Rosa (Horning) Andes. Peter Andes, the grandfather of subject, came from Germany to the United States in 1 83 1 and settled in Randolph township, where he engaged in farming. He had four children, viz: Peter, father of our subject; Mary, widow of Joseph Schrader; John, who died in Germany, and Elizabeth, who died in Randolph county, the wife of John A. Knapp, also deceased. Peter and his wife were mem- bers of the Catholic church, and passed away in that faith. Peter Andes, the father of subject, is also a native of Germany, and in 1832 came to Portage county, settling on a farm on which he lived forty j'ears, and then bought the farm now owned by his son John, the subject of this sketch. To his marriage with Miss Horning were born eleven children, eight of whom are still living, viz: Nicholas, Margaret, Peter, Mary (wife of Joseph Wise). John, Adam, Joseph and Elizabeth. The father is a democrat in politics, has served as supervisor, and in religion is a true Catholic, having served in all the secular offices of his church. He now 'resides in Randolph town- ship, a highly respected citizen, but was be- reaved of his wife, who died at the early age thirty-six years, a devout member of the Catholic church. John Andes passed fiis boyhood da_\s on his father's farm, and was educated in a Cath- olic school. At the age of twenty-one he 172 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD engaged in fanning on his own account, and June 5, 1877, he married, in Randolph town- ship, MissOdeha Paulus, a daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Gless) Paulus. Mr. Paulus was born in Germany March 35, 1830, a son of Andrew and Barbara (Hoerdt) Paulus, and in 1846 came to Ohio and settled in Suffield township, Portage county, where he is still engaged in farming. January 16, 1857, he first married Miss Eva Knapp, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Andes) Knapp, and to their marriage were born twelve children, of whom fi\e died in infancy, the survivors being John, Lewis, Henry, Mary (wife of John May), Joseph, Frank and Julia. To his second mar- riage, which was to Miss Gless, was born Odelia, now Mrs. Andes. Andrew Paulus, grandfather of Mrs. Andes, was born February i, 1795, and his wife, Bar- bara Hoerdt, was born August 2, 1807. They were married in Germany, their native country, in 1829, and came to .\merica in 1846. Here Andrew died in February, 1S77, at the age of eighty-two years and eleven days, his wife hav- ing preceded him to the grave in 1873, at the age of si.xty-eight years, both dying in the faith of the Roman Catholic church. Of their five children, four lived to maturity, viz. : Joseph; Margaret, wife of Andrew Hart; Delia, widow of Frederick Wolf; Augusta, wife of Wendell Earhart, and Francis A., who died January 6, 1897, at the age of si.xty-four years. Mrs. Jo- seph Paulus was born in Randolph township January 2^,, 1837, her parents having come from Germany in 1832. John Andes, our subject, has had born to him six children, of whom five are still living, viz: Cora, Frank, Augusta, Alfred and Clo- tilda. The deceased child bore the name of Leona and died March 20, 1894, at the age of si.N years and five months. The year of his marriage, 1877, Mr. Andes settled on his pres- ent farm, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and improved with every modern convenience. A democrat in politics, he has served as supervisor of his township three terms, and is still the incumbent of the office. Mr. Andes, now in the prime of life, is one of the most respected residents of Suffield township, and one of its most progressive and prosperous farmers. J OHNSON A. ARBOGAST, attorney at law and senior member of the well known firm of Arbogast& Esgate, room No. 3, Arcade building, Akron, Ohio, has been a resident of this city since 1883, hav- ing first come as a student of Buchtel college. He is a nati\e of Sidne}-, Shelby county, Ohio, was born June 30, 1863, and is a son of .Allen and Lydia (Schobey) Arbogast, the former family coming from \'irginia and the latter from *New Jersey, both ha\ing been largely' en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 173 Cornelius Arbogast, the paternal grandfa- ther of our subject, was a pioneer Universalist preacher, and for about forty years served in the ministry of that church in the counties of Clarke, Madison, Champaign and Shelby, Ohio, and was an eloquent and fervent exhorter and profound expounder of the gospel. Johnson A. Arbogast was reared on his father's farm, received his elementary educa- tion in the common schools, and his literary education at Buchtel college. He read law with W. D. Davies, of Sidney, Ohio, and after teaching school for three years — the last year in Marlboro, Stark county — was admitted to practice in 1 888. He at once located in Akron, and for four years had his office with John J. Hall. In 1894 he formed his present partner- ship with Mr. Esgate, and since that time they have been successful in the general practice of their profession. Mr. Arbogast, however, has largely been retained in the administration of estates, and is now one of the assignees of the valuable Schumacher property. He has been exceptionally successful in this peculiar line, and in general practice has risen perhaps more rapidly than any other young member of the present bar of Summit county. In politics Mr. Arbogast is an ardent republican and takes an active part in promoting the success of his party. Fraternally, he is a member of Nemo lodge. No. 746, I. O. O. F., of Akron, in which he has passed all the chairs, and is also a member of Akron tent, K. O. T. M. Mr. Arbogast was united in marriage in Medina, Ohio, June 20, 1888, with Miss Lelia Badger, daughter of Joseph and Amanda Bad- ger, and this union has been blessed with four children, viz: Hazel L. , Gladys Y., Frederick A. and Doris. The parents are members of the Universalist church, and their heme is at No. 1 12 Adams street, where Mr. Arbogast has erected a modern residence. Mr. Arbogast has by his own talents risen to his present position in his profession, having come to Akron without any means of importance and almost a stranger. HE AKRON CHEMICAL COM- P.\NY, organized in 1889, was incor- porated by E. Ci. Kubler, president; j. M. Beck, vice-president; C. I^. Brown, secretary and treasurer; F. M. .\tter- holt and C. B. Raymond; the present officers are F. A. Wilcox, president; J. M. I^eck, vice- president; C. L. Brown, secretary, and K. B. McConem, treasurer. The company was or- ganized for the purpose of organizing paint specialties, but in 1892 it added the manufact- ure of printing inks, which have now become its main product. In the paint line graphite preparations for all kmds of iron painting are made, and in inks, superior qualities for book, job and bag printing are produced, and the out- put of the company is in demand all over the I'nited States and many parts of Europe, es- pecially for its printing inks. This is the only establishment of the kind in .Akron and has be- come one of the city's important industries. C. E. Brown, the secretary of the .\kron Chemical company, was born in Chester county. Pa., h-ebruary 14, 1846, a son of Isaac and Margaretta K. (Kinsey) ISrown, of sterling Quaker descent. The father was reared to farming, but in his advancing age retired to Philadelphia, where he lost his wife July 19, 1896, when she died at the age of seventy- seven years, and where he still lives at the age of seventy-six. C. I^. Brown was educated in Philadelphia, and at the age of nineteen vears began clerking — first in a dry-goods store — and in 1868 came to Akron and for five or six \ears here followed the same vocation. In 1873 he formed a partnership withC. G. Auble and \N'illiam Duer, under the firm name of Auble, Brown & Co., but some six years later 174 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD fire destroyed the stock of the concern and the firm was dissolved. Mr. Brown then became a traveling salesman for Herrick & Cannon, in the wholesale crockery line, meeting with ex- cellent success for seven years, his route cov- ering a radius of about i 50 miles around Ak- ron. He next became a stockholder and di- rector in the Selle Gear company of Akron. and for four years traveled through eighteen states, introducing and selling the products of that concern, and is still one of its directors. In 1889 he assisted in organizing the Akron Chemical company, and has since been one of the chief factors in its success. The marriage of Mr. Brown took place in 1867 with Miss Emma E. Yeamans, daughter of Robert Yeamans, of Philadelphia, born November 11, 1845, in Philadelphia, Pa., and this union has been blessed with seven chil- dren, viz; Annie E., Harry J., Frank M. and Maggie K. , all deceased, and Edwin E., Bertha and Ella F. Mrs. Brown was educated in the schools of Philadelphia, Pa. She was originally a member of the Baptist church, but on removing to Akron she joined the Method- ist Episcopal church, in which she has been a most active worker since. She is also a member of the Home and Foreign missionary societies of the M. E. church and has en- deared to her a large circle of friends. She is a woman of gracious, christian devotion, and her every day life is made up of living and working for the right. For thirty years Mr. Brown has been almost constantly on its official board. He is an Odd Fellow and charter member of Akron lodge, No. 547, and in politics is a republican. The Chemical company has its place of business on State street, near Main, while the residence of Mr. Brown is at No. 106 Franklin street. He de- votes all his business hours strictly to the in- terests of the Chemical company, and the re- mainder of his time is devoted to his interest- ing family and his church work. He is ex- ceedingly domestic in his habits, and finds unequaled happiness in the family circle. His eldest living son, Edwin E. , is a graduate of the Akron high school and of the city's com- mercial college, and for six months was a clerk in the office of the Akron Iron company, and since leaving that company has been in the employ of the American Cereal company, in their Chicago office. He is a strictly moral young man and an active worker in the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Miss Bertha Brown graduated from the high school with the class of 1894, then attended the business college, and is now filling a clerical position in the office of Aultman, Miller & Co. Miss Ella F. Brown is still attending school. Mr. Brown is one of the ablest business men in Akron, has always been an indefatigable worker, and stands very high in the esteem of the social as well as business circles of Akron, and with his brethren in the church and lodge. ^T^OHN ALLEN, now living in retirement M just south of Akron, Ohio, is a native of A 1 Coventry township, Summit county, was born October 20, 1821, and is a son of a pioneer family of English extraction, but of long residence in America. Jesse Allen, grandfather of subject, came from Groton, Conn., to Summit county, Ohio, in 181 I, took part in the war of 181 2, and here followed farming until the time of his death. Jonah Allen, father of subject, was born in Groton, Conn., October 17, 1798, and was consequently but thirteen years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared in Coventry township. Summit count}', where he passed all the remainder of his life with the exception of a few years passed in Akron, where he was engaged in the manu- facture of cloth. Jonah Allen married Cynthia ^.-.^ ^. ^^^^^^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 179 Spice., who was also a native of Connecticut, born May 21, 1808, a daughter of Maj. Minor and Cynthia (Alien; Spicer, and to this mar- riage the following-named children were born: Edward, Catherine (Mrs Owen Beckwith), William, John and Cynthia, all of whom are now deceased, with the exception of John, the subject. Both parents were ardent members of the Disciples' church, in which the father was a deacon, and to the support of which he aided liberally with his means. In politics Jonah Allen was first a whig, but at the disin- tegration of that party became a strong repub- lican. He was always prominent in local affairs, took an active part in locating the county seat at Akron, and filled at different times all the township offices. He was a very industrious man, and as he added fresh tracts to his farm, paid for them by chopping cord- wood. He acquired quite a fortune for his day, having accumulated between $20,000 and $30,000, and died one of the most influential and substantial citizens of his township. He lost his life-companion September 11, i860, and his own death took place May 15, 1874. John Allen, the subject proper of this me- moir, was reared on his father's farm, and farming has always been his vocation. He re- ceiveil a common and high-school education, and has always taken an active part in the progress of his township, materially, educa- tionally and religiously, being ever ready with his money and influence in promoting all works designed for the public good. His farm is a model of neatness and thrift, and shows every evidence of being under the control of an active and experienced mind and hand. Mr. Allen is also president of the Lyman & Allen himber compan}' of Akron. Mr. Allen was united in marriage with Miss Ann E. Morgan I3ecember 9, 1857. This lady was a daughter of Isham and Julia (Meach) Morgan, who are among the wealthy and highly respectable people residing in Cleve- land, Ohio. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Allen has been blessed with the following chil- dren: Jesse, Emma (now Mrs. H. B. Sisler), Isham and John — all of whom are still living to gladden the declining years of their father. Mrs. Allen died August 24, 1894. She was a woman noted for her many virtues and pure life. @EORGE WARREN BAILEY, one of the soldiers of the Civil war and head of an excellent family, was born Feb- ruary II, 1836, in Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio, a son of Warren and Sallie (Thayer) Bailey, and Stowe township is still his home. He received a common-school education and was reared a farmer. He en- listed at Stowe, Ohio, August 12, 1862, in Capt. A. Means' company. One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, Col. Thomas C. Boon, for three years, or dur- ing the war. He was promoted to be corporal June I, 1865, for meritorious conduct, and honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 5, 1865. He was a faithful soldier and prompt to do his duty, had but little sickness, and served mostly in Tennessee on guard duty, or on detailed duty with surveying parties. Mr. Bailey married, March 25, 1867, at Salis- bury, N. Y., Elizabeth Brown, who was born July I, 1843, a daughter of Gilbert and Par- melia Ann (Satterly) Brown. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bailey settled on Mr. Bailey's present homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were born Miller, who died when three months old, and Bertha E. Bertha E. was born Oc- tober 6, 1870, in Stowe township, and mar- ried Albert F. Welker, who is train dispatcher with the A. B. C. railroad. They have one child — Helen, born April 2, 1896. Mr. Bailey first bought 102 acres of land, and by thrift 180 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and industry added to it until he now owns 172 acres, making a fine farm, on which he has built a substantial residence. Mr. Bailey is a j member of the G. A. R., Eadie post, at Cuy- ahoga Falls. In politics he is a democrat. He is an honored citizen and has served as | township trustee and as a member of the school board. He is also president of the Ag- ricultural society of Summit county, was pres- ident of the Farmers' institute, and was master of Pomona grange. Mr. Bailey had always j been an active and energetic man, but was [ stricken with paralysis in 1893 and has since been completeU' disabled. His wife, who was a most estimable lady in all respects, died Sep- tember 26, 1892. Elizabeth (Brownj Bailey, wife of subject, traces her ancestry back to the family of John Brown, from Stephentown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., who married Rebecca Bennett, a daugh- ter of June Bennett, who was born in Rhode Island, whence he moved to Stephentown, N. Y. The following are the six children: June, Ambrose, Hosea, William. Rebecca and Lystra, of whom Rebecca married John Brown and they had eleven children — Louis, Hosea, Johnson, Almira, John, Jr., Gilbert, Nancy, Susan, Eliza, Jane and WilJard. Warren Bailey, father of George W., was born at Middletown, Conn., September 27, 1796, and learned the ship carpenter's trade, which business he pursued until he removed to Stowe, Ohio, where he purchased a farm, on which he lived until his death, b}- accident, March i, 1867. His wife. Sallie Thayer, whom he married in Middletown, Conn., Sep- tember 14, 1821, was born September 3, 1798, and came with him to Ohio in 1832, survived him six years and died June 20, 1873. There were six children by this marriage: Marv, born in Middletown, Conn., October 16, 1S22, and died at Stowe July 27, 1S49; Lamira, born May 14, 1823, and married to A. |. Konkle; John Bailey, born January 22, 1828, and died July 12, 1893; Hannah, born March 31, 1830; George W. ; and Francis M., born October 16, 1838. aHARLES BAIRD, a well-known at- torney at law at Akron, Ohio, is a native of this city, was born March 25, 1853, a son of Robert Baird, who was a native of Kincardineshire, Scotland, born March 8, 18 18, and who in 1843 came to America, settling in Akron, which was then little more than a village, and following his trade of blacksmithing for many 3'ears. Robert Baird has seen the village of Akron grow to its present proportions and probably has made more acquaintances and friends in the cit}- and throughout the county than any man living within the limits of either. He was from his early settlement here a strong anti-slavery man and free-soiler until the for- mation of the republican party, when he be- came one of its most faithf\il adherents. He was married in Akron to Miss Helen Knox Moir, a native of Scotland and a daughter of Charles and Mar\' (Gordon 1 Moir. This lady was born in Brechin, Forfarshire, August i, 1 8 19, and died in Akron February 22, 1891, the mother of live children, viz: William, superintendent of the tile company at Barber- ton; Isabel, who has been identified with the educational progress of Akron since 1869, and for man}' years has been assistant principal of the high school: Charles, the subject of this memoir; Mary, who has also been identified with the schools of Akron for about twenty years and is now a teacher in the high school; and Helen, who died December 23, 1879, aged twenty-one years. Charles Baird, whose name opens this bio- graphical notice, was educated primarily in the common schools, graduated from the high OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 181 school of Akron, then for one year studied (ireek and Latin at Buchtel college, and then entered the law oiflce of Upson & Ford, study- ing assiduously until his admission to the bar November 2, 1875, following which day he formed a co-partnership with his preceptor, Judge Upson, under the firm name of Upson tt Baird. In 1H77, on the return of Mr. Ford, the name of the firm was changed to that of Upson, I-'ord & l^aird, and so continued until March, 1883, when Mr. Upson was called to the supreme bench of Ohio, when the firm dissolved and Mr. Baird continued the practice alone until 1891, when he formed a partner- ship with Edwin F. Voris, under the firm name of Baird & \'oris, which continued until June, 1895, since which time Mr. Baird has continued the practice alone. As a republican, Mr. Baird was appointed, | in 1875, township clerk of Portage township, ; and in 1879 canal collector, which office he held until his election, in 1880, as prosecuting attorney of Summit county, filling this position one term of two and one term of three years, making a total of fi\e years in this responsible position. Having given special attention to the laws governing corporations, he has been very successful in this line of practice, and has, beside, been instrumental in the forma- tion of several companies, whose lines of in- dustry have given employment to many hands and redounded to the material progress of Akron. He has, moreover, assisted in found- ing several of these important links in the chain of Akron's prosperity. For instance, he was one of the incorporators of the Portage Straw Board company, the mills of which were located at New Portage and Circlevillc, Ohio, and one of its directors until it was consolidated with the -American Straw Board company, in the organization of which he had charge of the legal proceedings and was its first secretary. Mr. Baird also assisted in 18S0-81 in the or- ganization of the Diamond Match company, the most gigantic in the world in its line, and has since been one of its attorneys. He was also one of the incorporators of the Goodrich Hard Rubber company, has been a director since its organization, and is largely interested in the B. F. Goodrich company as a stock- holder. In 1890 Mr. Baird joined O. C. Barber and A. T. Paige in the purchase of a tract of land on which the town of Barberton is now located, platted that town and assisted in the formation of the Barberton Land & Improvement com- pany, of which he is secretary and treasurer; he was one of the incorporators of the National Sewer Pipe company, and is its vice-president; was one of the organizers of the Stirling com- pany and assisted in securing ts location at Barberton, and was one of its directors for some years; was one of the incorporators of the Barberton Belt Line Railroad company, and is its superintendent and treasurer; was an incorporator of the Creedmoor Cartridge com- pany, at Barberton, and is one of its directors; was one of the organizers of the General F"ire Extinguisher company of New York, whose plants are located at Warren, Ohio, and Provi- dence, R. I., and has been from its organiza- tion one of its directors; was one of the or- ganizers and is director of the Ohio Tube com- pany, Warren, Ohio; and is interested in vari- ous other concerns. In 1888, on the death of Albert Allen, Mr. Baird became administrator of the Commins estate, the largest administered up to that time in Summit county, and in 1892 was ap- pointed one of the executors of the will of Thomas W. Cornell, the largest estate ever administered in Akron, and is still executor, in association with J. B. Wright. As an at- torney, Mr. Baird has had a wide practice in the courts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Penn- sylvania, Connecticut, New York and Ohio, 182 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and in the federal courts, making a specialty of corporation law, although he does a great deal of general practice besides. Mr. Baird was united in marriage, Febru- ary lo, 1882, with Miss Lucy Allyn Voris, daughter of Gen. A. C. Voris, of Akron, and this union has been crowned by the birth of five children, viz; Alvin Voris, born Decem- ber 3, 1882; Helen Elizabeth, August 30, 1884; Betsey Coe, June 11, 18S6; Charles, October 15, 1888; and Katharine, November 19, 1890. eL. BALDWIN, of East Akron, trus- tee of Springfield township, is one of the leading young farmers of that township. He was born in Mont- ville, Geauga county, Ohio, March i, i860, the son of Lewis C. Baldwin, whose parents, Erastus and Lucretia Baldwin, were substan- tial farming people of Goshen, Litchfield county. Conn. Lewis C. Baldwin was born in Goshen, Conn., July 20, 1826, and was reared on the paternal farm. He came to Summit county, Ohio, in 1842, and on Janu- ary 2, 1852, was married to Jerusha A. Cham- berlain, who was born April 10, 1827, a daugh- ter of Amos and Asenath (Crane) Chamberlain. To them, beside our subject, were born Elton L., May (wife of Thomas J. Santom), and Katie B., wife of Bert E. Jones. Immedi- ately following their marriage they moved to Montville, where they remained until 1873, farming. In this latter year they moved to Hudson, this county, where thej' lived until 1884, when they located on the farm on which our subject lives, and where the father died January 5, 1896; the mother June 23, 1891. Both were earnest members of the Disciples' church. Mr. Baldwin served in the late war on guard duty on Johnson's Island, enlisting August 23, 1864, in company B, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry. being discharged in 1865. He was a stanch republican and took an active interest in local affairs. During his residence in Geauga county he held several offices. He was a charter member of Montville lodge, I. O. O. F., and a past grand in Apollo lodge. No. 61, same order, and a member of Buckley post, G. A. R. , of Akron. He was buried with the honors of both fraternities. E. L. Baldwin has always li\ed on the farm. He received a good common-school education, and on January i, 1884, married Miss Josephine M. Thompson, who was born November 26, 1862, in Hudson, the daughter of Asaph and Sabrina (Burroughs) Thompson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thoinpson were natives of this county, the former being born at Hudson, December 15, 1831, the latter at Northfield, October 16, 1835. They resided continuously at Hudson, where she died F"ebruary 22, 1873. He died December 15, 1881, in California, whither he had gone but a few months before for his health. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Baldwin's paternal grandfather, William Thompson, was of Scotch descent, and was one of the earliest pioneers of the county. He married Mary Oviatt, and they lived and died at Hudson, having accumu-- lated considerable wealth for their day. Her maternal grandparents, Allen and Betsey (Honeyj Burroughs, were pioneer farming people of this county and lived and died at Northfield. Since the second jear of his marriage our subject has lived in Springfield township, and occupies a finely improved farm of 190 acres owned by Joseph A. Baldwin, of Akron. He is largely engaged in the breeding of registered Jersey cattle, and now has a considerable and valuable herd. He has been in this business for the past ten years and has been quite suc- cessful. He is a republican, strongly grounded in his political faith, and is a member of Apollo OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 183 lodge, No. 6i, I. O. O. F. In 1892 he was elected trustee of Springfield township and is now serving his second term in that office. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have been born the following children: Ruth E., Lee E., Mary F. Cdeceasedi, and Joseph C. ffiYRON BARBER, a retired farmer of Brimfield township, Portage county, Ohio, is a son of Lyman and Julia (Landorn) Barber, and was born near the village of Brimfield May 6, 1822. His parents were both natives of Litchfield, Conn., came to Ohio in 18 18, and settled in Brimfield township, Portage county, where the father bought 200 acres of land. Lyman Barber was a carpenter by trade, and erected all his buildings, including dwelling and barn, and yet he was a successful farmer. To his mar- riage with Miss Landorn were born four chil- dren, of whom two still survive — Myron and Nelson; Emily died July 13, 1840, at the age of twenty years, and one child died in infancy. Mrs. Julia Barber died February 14, 1856, at the age of sixty -one years, and May 3, 1857, -Mr. Barber married Mrs. Mary Weston. Feb- ruary 8, 1865, he passed from earth. Myron Barber was reared on his father's farm and attended the common schools until eighteen years old. At nearly his majority he married, March 23, 1843, Miss Elizabeth Jen- nings, daughter of Solomon and Susan (Price) Jennings, who bore him eight children, viz. : Wallace L. , Emily, wife of Earl Merrills; Phemie, wife of Wallace Merrills; D. H. ; Franklin W.; Susan E., who died P'ebruary 8. 1862; Byron \V., who died July 23, 1849; Oliver E. , whose death was caused, Septem- ber 5, 1873, by an e.xplosion of lime at Spring- field. The mother of this family was called away November 5, 1872, at the age of fifty years. Mr. Barber next married, in May, 1874, Mrs. Mary H. Taylor, who met with a sad and untimely end. On July 16, 1896, she left her home, in the best of health, to go to Kent to do some shopping, but within six hours was a corpse. In politics, Mr. Barber has been a repub-- lican and has served his fellow-citizens as a member of the board of education and super- visor, but filled these offices more from a feel- ing of duty than from any desire for public of- fice. Being one of the oldest nati\e-born citi- zens of his township, his long and u.-^eful life is duly appreciated by his neighbors, and his name, which is well known throughout the county, is honored where\er and whenever mentioned. ^y'^ ELSON L. BARBER, a retired I m farmer, was born in Brimfield town- ^ I ship. Portage county, Ohio, June 3. 1825, a son of Lyman and Julia (Landorn) Barber, natives of Litchfield coun- ty. Conn. Joseph Barber, grandfather of Nelson L. , married a Miss Cole and reared a family of ten children, all now deceased. Of the daugh- ters, Dorcas, the eldest, lived single until her sixtieth 3'ear, when she married a man who was eighty years old; Lucy was married to Isaac Osborn; Polly was the wife of Orrin Gilbert; Sally became Mrs. Arba Twitchell; Maria married a Mr. Sill; Abbie married a gen- tleman of the same name — Sill; the sons were named Norman, Lyman and Edwin. Lyman Barber, father of Nelson L., was a carpenter by trade and came to Ohio about 1 8 16. To his marriage, in Goshen township, Litchfield county. Conn., with Miss Julia Lan- dorn, there were born four children, of whom two still survive — Myron and Nelson L. ; one child died in infancy, and Emily, a school- teacher, died in 1840, at the age of twenty years. The father was called away in 1865, 1S4 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in his sixty-sixth jear, and the mother died in Brimfield. Nelson L. Barber passed his early years on the home farm in Brimfield township and at- tended the district school until sixteen years old, and then attended a select school in Twinsburg, Summit county, two terms of three months each. At the age of seventeen he be- gan teaching — his first school being at Brim- field — and in all he taught fourteen years dur- ing the winter months, passing the summers in farm work. His marriage took place April 22, 1852, within a few rods of his present home, to Miss Sarah Berkheimer, daughter of John Iierkheimer, and this marriage has been blessed with four children, viz: Emmit, George M. and Jesse O., still living, and John L. , who died in 1881, at the age of twenty-four years. The mother of these children was called from earth in 1882, at the age of forty-eight years. .\fter his marriage Mr. Barber continued to teach school for three terms, and then turned his attention exclusively to farming, which he successfully followed until a few years ago, when he retired on account of ill health, hav- ing for many years been a victim of asthma. In August, 1866, he made a trip to Minnesota, remained two months, and was considerably benefited; then made a visit south, and for the past eight years has alternated his visits be- tween Minnesota and Michigan. In politics Mr. Barber has been very promi- nent as a republican, and for twenty-one years served as a justice of the peace, having been elected seven times consecutively, his last term expiring in the spring of 1896; he also served as township trustee for a number of years, and for nine years was a school director. Frater- nally he has for many years been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and socially he enjoys the well-earned esteem of his fellow-citizens in general and of his imme- diate neighbors in particular. BREDERICK J. BAUER, M. D., a prominent practitioner of Summit county, was born in Suffield town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, March 5, 1854, a son of Jacob and Christena (Holtz- worth) Bauer, of whom further mention is made in the following paragraph. Jacob Bauer was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February 22, 1809, a son of Mi- chael and Mary (Wildermuth) Bauer. For six years he was a soldier in the German army, later learning blacksmithing, and in 1839 came to the United States. For a short time he worked at his trade in Erie, Pa. , and then came to Ohio, settling in Greensburg, Summit county, where he engaged in farming. He married Miss Christena Holtzworth, who was born in Germany in 1819, and to this union were born nine children, of whom seven are still living, viz.: Rudolph; Mary, wife of George Price, of Suffield; Adelia, widow of Newton Stoffer; Lena, wife of John Peterson, Carthage, Mo.; Frederick J., the subject; Lu- cinda, wife of John May, living on the old homestead in Suffield township; Jacob W. , re- i siding in Columbia, S. C, where he has charge of the state weather bureau. Those who passed away were Sophia, who was the wife of William Wilson, and George, who died in infancy. The mother of these children was called from earth in 1882, at the age of sixty- nine years, and the father in September, 1890, aged eighty-one years and six months, both in the faith of the Reformed church. Frederick J. Bauer passed his early boy- hood days on his father's farm, attending the district school of Suffield meanwhile, and, ., being an apt scholar, prepared himself for \' school-teaching, which preparation he found to be of some advantage in later years. At • the age of seventeen years, he and his brother Rudolph, and their brother-in-law, George .. Price, leased a saw-mill in Suffield, and did a \ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 185 ^ood business, under the firm name of l>auer Bros. & Price, for two years, when they sold out. Mr. Bauer then engaged as clerk in the general store of George Michael, in Suffleld, which position he held eight months, and then, beginning with 1874, for three winters taught school in his native district, and one spring term — his last term being taught after he had begun the study of medicine in 1877. While engaged in teaching, he attended Mount Union college during the summer months, which he attended six terms — two terms at a time, and then, in 1877, ^^ just mentioned, began his preparatory studies in medicine vmder Dr. |. C. Ferguson at Mogadore. He next attended the Ohio Medical college at Cincin- nati, and later the university at Wooster, from which he graduated in 1880. Returning to Mogadore, he practiced, in partnership with his former preceptor. Dr. Ferguson, until the latter's death, in January, 1886, since when he has been alone, his profound hygienic knowl- edge being the means of yearl\' increasing his large list of patients. Dr. Bauer was united in marriage, October 17, 1885, at Kent, Ohio, with Miss Kate S. Rubbins, a daughter of John and Lydia M. (Olds) Kubbins, and this union has been blessed with two children, Frederick Otis and Carl Holtzworth. Mrs. Dr. Bauer was born in Newport, N. Y., August 12, 1866, but was brought to Kent, Ohio, by her parents while yet a child. She is a highly educated lady, and through the training of her devoted mother wa.s prepared, while yet a mere child, for the profession of teacher, which vocation she en- tered upon at the early age of sixteen years, teaching for two years, her last term being just west of Mogadore, in the same district in which the doctor had been teaching, and where she formed his acquaintance, marrying him when about nineteen years old. Since her marriage she has been giving lessons in oil painting and pastel drawing, in which arts she is an adept. John Rubbins, father of Mrs. Bauer, was born in England, and is a machinist by trade. He came to the United States a single man, enlisted in the Union army and was shot through the hip at Gettysburg; after reco\ery he re-enlisted and served until the close of hostilities, when he was honorably discharged after a service of four years. Returning to New York, he married Miss Lydia M. Olds, October 3, 1865. This lady was a native of the Empire City, was a daughter of Carty and Catherine (Jenkins) Olds, and was born Janu- ary 9, 1847. She bore her her husband two children— - Emma, who died at the age of three years and seven months, and Kate S., now Mrs. Bauer. The devoted mother was called away October 13, i8g6, leaving her discon- solate husband and surviving daughter to mourn her loss. Catherine (Jenkins) Olds, the maternal grandmother, of Mrs. Bauer, was a daughter of Evan and Lydia (Hathaway) Jenkins, and bore her husband twelve children, viz: Otis; Jane, widow of Bereth Bullard; Jennette, widow of Hiram Linster; Helen, wife of Samuel Walker; Orrin; Delbert; Sarah, wife of Julius Gardner, and Lewis, all still liv- ing; the deceased were Orson, who died in the army of Frederick City, at twenty-three years of age; Marcia, who was married to Eli Root, and died in August, 1891, and Lydia M., the mother of Mrs. Bauer. Both grandparents were devout members of the Methodist church. Dr. I'rederick J. Bauer is a democrat in 'politics, and in 1886 was elected a justice of the peace, which office he filled with great ability for three years, and was also a member of the school board for two years. Fraternally he is a member of Akron lodge. No. 83, F. & A. M., and of Mogadore lodge. No. 482, K. of P., in the latter of which he has passed all the chairs, and was its delegate to the 186 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD grand lodge in the spring of 1897; he is also an honorary member of the Junior Master Mechanics of Mogadore. He is likewise a member of the Summit county Medical asso- ciation, of the Northeastern Medical society of Ohio, and of the State Medical association, to all of which he has contributed many valuable essays on professional subjects. Mrs. Bauer has been a member of the Agricultural society for the past two years and takes a very active part in its proceedings. Socially, the doctor and his wife hold a very high position, and are well qualified to ornament the select circle in which they move. EENRY AULTMAN, a well-known farmer of Brimfield township. Port- age county, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, December 30, 1829, a son of William and Susan (Shaffer) Aultman. His grandfather, William Aultman, was a na- tive of Germany, was a wheelwright by trade, and when a young man came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, and later removed to Ohio, where he died at the age of sixty years, a member of the Baptist church. The par- ents of subject were both born in Pennsylva- nia, came to Onio about the 3'ear 1812, and first located in Washington county, where Mr. Aultman engaged in carpentering and farming. To his marriage with Miss Shaffer were born five children, four of whom still survive, the sub- ject being the eldest; the other three are Lydia to Ann, wife of Samuel Wise; Fannie, married B. John Wise, and Samantha S., now Mrs. S. B. Jones. The name of the fifth child was Elias, who died in infancy. The father of this fam- ily died in October, 1892, at the age of eighty- five years, and the mother, who is a daughter of William and Sophia Shaffer, still hale and hearty, at the age of eight}-six, is living with her daughter in Brimfield. Henry Aultman attended the common schools of his boyhood, and in 1845 came to Brimfield township with his parents, whom he materially aided to support. He, himself, began life a poor man, but by untiring indus- try and true economy has worked himself up- ward, and now owns one of the best farms in Portage county; he has also been engaged in threshing for the past twenty years, thus ad- ding materially to his income. During the winter months, butchering has received con- siderable of his attention, and he has been a good manager of everything he has under- taken, the result being a competency. The marriage of Mr. Aultman took place October 17, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Gusherd. daughter of George and Catherine (Kroll) Gusherd, and this happy union has been blessed with three children, of whom Curtis married Miss Eva Woodenberg, Lettie M. is the wife of E. F. Whittlesy and Charlie E. died July 24, 1875. Mr. Aultman and family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church at Brimfield, in which Mr. Aultman has filled all the secular offices, and he has also served as a member of the board of school directors, and as supervisor for many years, being a member of the republican party. The high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen he has gained through his personal merits, and his good example through life may well be im- itated with profit by the rising generation. Mr. Aultman now owns 2i6acres of choice land, nearly all of which is well improved and on which his pleasant residence was built in 1889. He is one of the self-made men of the county, and is one of the most respected, having done as much as any man in the town- ship for the promotion of its interests, and its moral, educational and material progress dur- ing the half century he has resided here, but the details of which grand work his modesty will not permit to be chronicled. HENRY AULTMAN. MRS. HENRY AULTMAN- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 191 >y*OHN C. BEATTY, the well known M merchant of Ravenna, Ohio, is a native /» J of Bristol, Bucks county. Pa., was born February 4, 1833, ^.nd is a son of Robert and Catherine (Cabeen) Beatty, also natives of the Keystone state. His paternal grandfather, likewise named Robert, was a native of Ireland, but settled in Bucks county, Pa. , in an early day, where he was engaged in farming; became the father of four or five chil- dren, and there past his remaining days; the maternal grandfather, Robert Cabeen, also a native of Ireland, was likewise an early settler of Bucks county. Pa., was a merchant in Bris- tol, and there died in 1855, aged about sev- 6nty-five years. Robert Beatty, father of John C, was a bank cashier in Bristol, Pa. He and his wife, Catherine, were the parents of six children, of whom four are still living, and named Eliza- beth, who is the wife of John H. Bostwick; John C, of Ravenna, Ohio; Samuel and Horatio B., residing in Bristol, Pa. The mother was called to her final home in i860, but the father lived until about 1867, when he departed at the age of sixty-seven years. John C. Beatty was reared and educated in Bristol, Pa., and has been engaged in mer- cantile pursuits ever since the time of his quitting school. At the age of twenty-two years he came to Ohio and settled in Ravenna. He first opened a dry-goods store, which he conducted until 1868 or 1869, but since 1871 has been in the clothing business, and for the past six years has had associated with him his son, Robert G. John C. Beatty was first united in marriage in April, i860, in Ravenna, with Miss Henri- etta G. Day, daughter of H. L. and Winifred (Latimer) Day, and this union was blessed with three sons and one daughter, named Henry, Robert G., Harry L., and Mary E., but of these Henry and Mary E. are deceased. Robert G. married Miss Clara Black, and is the father of five children — Frank, John, Ed- ward, Mary and Robert; Harry L. married Miss Eleanor Wallace, and is the father of one child — Helen. Mrs. Henrietta Beatty died in 1869, and on the 5th day of January, 1 87 1, John C. Beatty was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Beatty, widow of Harry Clay Beatty, and daughter of Garrett and Lydia (Wilson) Lukens, and to this second union have been born three children — Jennie, Hal- sey and John, of whom Halsey and John have also been called away. Mrs. Beatty is a con- sistent member of the Episcopal church, while Mr. Beatty is contented with his membership in the Oriental commandery, F. & A. M., of Cleveland. In politics Mr. Beatty is a repub- lican, and has served as infirmary director two years, as county treasurer four years, and also four years as postmaster of Ravenna. During his long residence of forty one years in Ra- venna his reputation as a merchant has been sustained without a spot or blemish, and socially he is held in the highest esteem. As a citizen he is honored for his public spirit, and the pride he has taken in the progress of his adopted city, and his patriotism in this respect, are only exceeded by his private worth. *w ^ ON. HARRY L. BEATTY, attorney l'^^^ at law and representative in the state M. . r legislature from Portage county, Ohio, was born in Ravenna, Ohio, April 4, 1865, and is a son of John C. and Hettie G. (Day) Beatty, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Samuel Beatty, paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Bucks county. Pa., was a banker, and died in Pristol, Pa., at the age of about sixty-five years, the father of six children. H. L. Day, maternal grandfather of subject, and a native of Connecticut, was 192 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD one of the pioneers of Portage county, Ohio, and was for many years a dry-goods merchant in Ravenna, in which city he died about the year 1873, being then between sixty-five and seventy years of age; his widow is now a resi- dent of Meadville, Pa. John C. Beatty, father of Hon. Harry L. Beatty, came from Bucks county, Pa., to Ra- venna, Ohio, in 1855, and engaged in business with John H. Bostwick, the firm name being Bostwick & Beatty. To his first marriage, which, as stated, was with Miss Hettie Day, there were born three sons and one daughter, and of these children two sons are still living — Robert G. and Harry L. Mrs. Hettie Beatty having died in 1869, John C. married his brother's widow, Mrs. Mary L. Beatty, who bore the maiden name of Lukens, and to this union there have been born three children, of whom one still survives — Jennie. Some years prior to the late Civil war, John C. Beatty engaged in the dry-goods trade on his sole account, and in this he continued until 1871, when he embarked in the clothing busi- ness and continued alone until about 1885, when he admitted as a partner his son Robert, with whom he is still associated. In politics, John C. Beatty is a stanch re- publican, and has always taken an active in- terest in the success of that party, with which he is himself very popular, and which he rep- resented as a delegate to every convention in which the late James A. Garfield was nomi- nated as a candidate for any office. He has also served as county treasurer of Portage county four years, and was postmaster of Ra- venna four years under Harrison's administra- tion, and is still a wheelhorse in republican politics. Mrs. Beatty is and has long been a member of Grace Episcopal church, with which her family also affiliated. Hon. Harry Lincoln Beatty was educated in the schools of Ravenna and graduated from the high school in 1882. He then read law in the office of Judge Luther Day until 1884, when he entered the Cincinnati Law school, from which he was graduated, was admitted to the bar in Maj', 1886, and immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession in his native city of Ravenna, where his ability was fully recognized, the result being a large and lucrative clientage. A stanch republican, he was elected, in 1887, a justice of the peace, and still fills that office; in 1888 he was elected township and village clerk, and in this capacity served until 1896; in November, 1895, ^^' was elected a member of the general assembly of Ohio, of which office he is still the representa- tive from this district. Fraternally, Mr. Beatty is a Knight of Pythias. The marriage of Mr. Beatty took place April 9, 1889, with Miss Eleanor Wallace, daughter of Samuel and Harriet (Gentry) Wal- lace — two children, Mary Ellen and Harriet, being the result of this felicitous union. The home of this happy family is at the corner of Spruce and Walnut streets, and this is not only the abode of domestic bliss, but the seat of a genial and liberal hospitality and social intercourse. In all the conditions of life which it has been the lot of Mr. Beatty to fill, he has been guided by an intelligent knowledge of their wants or needs, and in every capacity has exhibited an integrity and a faithfulness that have placed his name foremost in the ranks of the eminent citizens of Portage county. «-|f-» EWIS F. BECKER, a retired citizen I r of Franklin township. Summit county, 1 ^ Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state and was born in Wayne county No- \ ember 19, 1842, of German ancestors. Michael Becker, grandfather of the subject and the founder of this family in America, was born in Prussia in 1772, in one of the Rhine OI' PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 193 provinces, where he was a gas or fire-damp in- spector in the mines. He there married Wil- helmina Ries, and in 1837 brought his family to America, for a short time lived in Summit county and thence went to Wayne county, where he died March 3, 1854, and his wife in April, 1855, members of the Lutheran church. Their children were named as follows: Lewis, farher of subject; Dorothea, wife of Christian Kies; Wilhelmina and Magdalena, twins (Wil- heimina married to Conrad Walters and Mad- dalena to Peter Klinej; Christian Frederick; Elizabeth, wife of William Gern; Catherine, wife of Lewis Nauman; Francis M., and Louisa, wife of Nicholas Wagoner. Lewis Becker, father of subject, was born in Prussia in 1805, and came to America in 1833, was a musician of considerable local reputation, and also worked in the mines with his father, with whom, also, he came to America. His expe- rience in mining convinced him that \aluable coal leads existed in Ohio, and after experi- menting opened what is now known as the Dannemiller mine, the first, likely, in the state. He married Miss Elizabeth Baker, a native of Bavaria, Germany, born May 5, 18 12. Her father was killed in Bavaria and mother later married Christian Wagoner and located, near Canton, Ohio. To Lewis Becker and wife were born Lewis F., the subject; Rev. Henry J., of Dayton, who was mission secretary of the United Brethren churches for the United States; Elizabeth (Mrs. Snyder); Magdalena (Mrs. Smith); Minnie (Mrs. Lytle), and Cath- erine and Michael, both deceased. The father of this family died August 26, 1866, and the mother, September 18, 1869. Lewis F. Becker, the subject, passed his early years in coal mining, and January 13, 1870, married Miss Harriet A. Hollinger, who was born in Franklin township. Summit county, Ohio, November 27, 1850, a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Daily) Hollinger, both natives of Summit county and born, respectively, August 31, 1818, and March 26, 1S21. Mr. and Mrs. Hollinger were married March 29, 183S, and to their union were born ten children, viz: Joseph D., born January 22, 1839 — died Oc- tober 4, 1 871; Michael D., born January 1, 1841 — died February 24, 1841; David D., born January 4, 1842; Jacob D. , born April 1 1, 1844; Levi D., born April 6, 1846; Amanda E., born February 12, 1848 — died March 18, 1896; Harriet A., born November 27, 1850 — died October 1, 1875; Josiah D., born Octo- ber 12, 1853; Uriah D., twin of Josiah D. , died October 28, 1859, and Barbara E. , born April 10, 1859 — died June 12, 1859. Jacob Hollinger, father of the above children, was a son of Jacob Hollinger, Sr. , who, with his wife and four children, came from Huntingdon county. Pa., and settled in Franklin township in i8i6, then a part of Stark county. Jacob Hollinger, Jr., died October 15, 1873, but had lost his wife, Harriet A., June 29, 1859. The marriage of Lewis F. and Harriet A. Becker was blessed with two children, viz: Ada M., born June 8, 1871, is a graduate of Hammel's business college of Akron, and Carrie E., born April 12, 1873, was a pupil at the Boston (Mass.) conservatory of music, and is now a teacher of the art. The mother of these children, as intimated above, died Oc- tober I, 1875, in the faith of the Evangelical church, while Mr. Becker' has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church the past twenty-eight years. Mr. Becker is a member of H. Bevard post, Canal Fulton, Stark county. No. 385, G. A. R., having been eligible from serving in company A, One Hundred and P'ourth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he enlisted Au- gust II, 1862. He served in Kentucky, Ten- nessee and Georgia; was in the forty-day fight- ing that led up to the capture of Atlanta, and at Columbia, Tenn., sustaining a concussion 194 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of the brain by being struck by a piece of shell. He was later in the fight at Nashville, Tenn., and was with the army in the Caro- linas, joining Sherman at Goldsboro, N. C. He is a prohibitionist in politics and stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. 'S gUIRE NOEL BECKLEY, of Cuy- ahoga Falls. Ohio, and one of the respected citizens and a native of Stowe township, springs from ster- ling English Puritan stock. Sela Beckley, grandfather of subject, was born in Connecti- cut and his business was that of a tinner. He married in his native state, and his children were Noel, Lawton, Edwin, Harriet, Celetia and Caroline. Mr. Beckley was an Episcopa- lian in religion, lived to be about sixty-one years old, and died in Stowe, at the home of his son Noel. Noel Beckley, father of subject, was born at Hartford, Conn., received a common-school education, and was a blacksmith. He came to Stowe township in 1 8 19 or 1820, worked at his trade, and married Margaret Stowe, a widow. This lady was a native of Rutland, Vt., and a daughter of James Lindsey, who was born in Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Beck- ley were born Caroline, Edwin. Laura, Noel and Ravina. Mr. Beckley settled at Stowe Corners, bought fifty acres of land, and pros- pered by his industry and thrift. There were no roads when he came to Stowe township, and he set up his forge under a tree. He bought more land, unthl he owned a farm of 130 acres, including the farm where our sub- ject now lives. He lived to be si.xty-three years old and died on his farm. He was a democrat in politics, was a man of sterling worth and integrity and was well known for his good moral character. Mrs. Beckley, by her marriage to Thomas Stowe, was the mother of tsvo children — Sallie and Emeline. James Lindsey, her father, came from Rutland, \'t., to Stowe township, as a pioneer, about the time at which Noel Beckley came. He was a farmer, owning a good farm of 100 acres, which he cleared np from the wilderness, and on which he died a greatly respected citizen. His children were James, Detius, Simeon, Betsey, Mary and Margaret. Noel Beckley, the subject of this sketch, was born July 18, 1834, received his education in the log school-house and became a farmer. He married, October 2, 1864, Martha E. Ran- dall, who was born in Stowe township July i, 1846, a daughter of David and Maria (Stowe) Randall. David Randall was born in New York, was a painter, came to Summit county when young and married .Maria Miilncx, nee Stowe, a widow, and to Mr. and Mrs. Randall were born Elizabeth, Prudence, Hannah, Martha E., and William D. Mrs. Randall had been married twice previously — the first time to E. Adams, to whom she bore one child. Mr. Adams died and she married Mul- nex, and their children were Avery and Caro- line. Mr. Randall died in Summit county, aged about forty-two years. 'Squire Beckley and wife, after marriage, settled on their present farm, then belonging to his father, and have since lived here. He bought out the heirs, improved the property and planted trees. To Mr. and Mrs. Beckley were born ^^'illiam E, Bessie M. and David E. Mr. and Mrs. Beckley are members of the Disciples' church, of which 'Squire Beck- ley is one of the trustees. In politics he is a republican, and has held all the offices of his township, having been trustee three years, con- stable two years, and recently has been elected justice of the peace. 'Squire Beckley has prospered, has always been an industrious and honored citizen, and stands high for integrity of character and sterling worth, and is well OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 195 known throughout this part of the county, his faniilj' being equall\- well respected with himself. '^yry'lLLIAM H. BEEBE, cashier of the ■ ■ I Second National bank of Ravenna, mJL^ Ohio, was born in this city October 19, 1 84 1, and is a son of Horace Y. and Augustus C. (Coolman) Beebe, the for- mer of whom was a native of Middletown, Conn., and the latter of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Beebe were the parents of two children — Mary P., the deceased wife of U. \l. Clewell, and William H., as named above. Oliver Dutton Beebe, paternal grandfa- ther of subject, was a native of Connecticut, of English ancestry, and died in Middletown, that state, well advanced in years, and the fa- ther of three sons and two daughters. Will- iam Coolman, maternal grandfather of Mr. Beebe, was born in Middletown, Conn., was a farmer, and further details concerning his life may be found in the biography of Dewitt C. Coolman, on another page of this volume. Horace Y. Beebe. father of subject, was an ear]\- comer to Ohio and first located at Cuyahoga Falls, but later removed to Ravenna. For many years he was county clerk and aft- erward was a conductor on the Cleveland & Pittsburg railroad, but left its emploj' in 1854 and became cashier lor the Robinson, King & Co. bank, but withdrew ten years later, when that bank was merged with the Second Na- tional bank, in 1864. He was always active in politics, and was one of the four Ohio men in the national republican convention who changed their votes to Lincoln, and thus se- cured his nomination for the presidency of the United States. During the Civil war he was an assessor of internal revenue in Ohio, and later became bookkeeper and manager of the Diamond Glass works. He \\ as one of Ra- venna's most public-spirited citizens and a gentleman of great force of character; was pronounced as an Odd Fellow, and was a past grand master in that order and past grand rep- resentative at the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1 888, his wife having died a few years previously — both devoted adherents of the Universalist faith. William H. Beebe, whose name opens this biographical notice, has passed his entire life in Ravenna, excepting, perhaps, a tem- porary absence during his college days. He received his preparatory education in the pub- lic schools of his native cit}', and then at- tended Hiram college under President James A. Garfield, and the day after he quit that in- stitution of learning he entered the Second National bank at Ravenna as cashier, and is now in the thirty-eighth year of his incum- bency of that position. On the 1 3th day of October, 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Reeves, daughter of John and Harriet M. (Mason) Reeves, of Trumbull county, and now has his residence on Bowery street, at the head of Meridian, Ravenna. Mr. Beebe has been a director of the Ravenna Gas & Electric company since its organiza- tion in 1873, and is at present its treasurer. Mr. Beebe is an exalted Odd Fellow, being past grand patriarch of the state of Ohio; at present a representative to the sovereign grand lodge; past grand of Ravenna lodge, No. 65; past patriarch of Ravenna encamp- ment; member of Beebe Rebekah lodge. No. 405 (which lodge was named in honor of his father), member of canton Cleveland, No. 33. in which he holds the rank of lieutenant- colonel, and of Kremlin Moscow, I. O. M., of Cincinnati. He is also a member of Un- cas tribe, No. 57, I. O. R. M., Crescent lodge, No. 252, K. of P., Ravenna council. No. 376, Royal Arcanum, and grand treasurer of the grand council, I\. A., of Ohio, for the past 196 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ten years, and was representative to the su- preme council, R. A., at Savannah. Ga., in 1S96, and in Hoston in 1H97. Politically he is a republican. Mr. Beebe has served his fellow-citi/cens as a member of the Ravenna city council for six years, and is very active in promoting the material pros- perity of the city. Ke has always, indeed, been active in his support of all wholesome measures of a public nature, and free m his aid for their advancement. For thirty-seven years he has been prominently before the pub- lic, and durinj^ that long period no murmur of complaint has ever been uttered against him. He is a most genial gentleman and has hosts of friends. aHARLES C. BENNER. a rising young attorney-at-law of Akron, was born in Franklin township. Summit county, Ohio, March 27, 1870, and is a son of Simon and Caroline E. (Slawbaugh) Benner, both natives of Summit county. Simon Benner was born June 17, 1846, was a school-teacher in his earlier years, and for a long time taught at various places in the state of Indiana, and on his return to Ohio was united in marriage with Miss Slawbaugh. a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Iveller) Slaw baugh, and this union was blessed with nine children, of whom eight still survive, viz: Elda, wife of Frank Werner; Clinton A., Mel- vinL. , Charles C, Ervin R., Gertrude M.. Wallace J. and Howard C. ; Otto M., the de- ceased child, passed away at the age of five years. For a number of years Simon Benner served as a justice of the peace, but later be- came a farmer and an extensive dealer in live stock, and was an influential and prominent citizen. He and his wife were very active members of Grace Reformed church, and in this faith was called froui earth August 22, 1884, at the early age of thirty-eight years, his widow surviving until January 7, 1S90, when she was called to join her departed husband, when forty-five years old. Henry Benner, the paternal grandfather of Charles C. , was a native of Pennsylvania, as was also his wife. He came to Ohio early in life and was among the early settlers of Frank- lin township. Summit count}'. He was a blacksmith b}' trade, which vocation he fol- lowed as long as his strength permitted, and then engaged in farming. To his marriage with Miss Kintz there were born eight chil- dren, of whom six are still living, viz: David; Mary OhI; Anna, wife of Jacob Myers; Har- riet, now Mrs. Daniel Zellers; Isabella, mar- ried to James Kerstter, and Hiram; those who have passed away were Sarah, wife of Henry Raber, and Simon. The father of this family died in 1884, at the advanced age of ninety- two years, while his wife still survives, in ex- cellent health, aged eighty-eight. The ma- ternal grandparents of Mr. Benner were both born in Lancaster county, Pa., were pioneers of Franklin township, and were the parents of two children — Frank and Caroline C. Charles C. Benner was primarily educated in the common schools of Norton and Copley townships. Summit county, and this was sup- plemented by an attendance at the Ada Nor- mal university of Ohio. He passed the later years of his minority on his father's farm, as- sisting in its cultivation during the summer months, and devoting the less busy winter months to study. In 1890 he commenced reading law with the well-known legal firm of Baird & \'oris, continuing his studies until ad- mitted to the bar, in June, 1893. The firm of Baird & \'oris having by this time dissolved, Mr. Benner at once opened an office for prac- tice in connection with Mr. Baird, and this congenial relationship has since continued, to their mutual profit. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. iy7 Mr. Benner entered upon the chosen work of his life fully equipped for the execution of all the complex, minute, exacting, ofttimes vexatious, and yet fascinating duties of the legal profession, ami has met with phenomenal success, his marked ability being recognized from the beginning, and his clientele is not only an extensive one, but unusually respect- able in its individualism. Courteous and af- fable to the general public, he has made many warm friends, and, dignified and honorable in all his dealings with his brother-attorneys, he has won their unqualified esteem. Socially inclined by nature, he is popular as a member of the Akron lodge of the Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks; he is also a charter member of Akron lodge, No. 693, Knights of Pythias, and is prominent, likewise, in the Im- proved Order of Red Men. December i, 1890, he became a member of company B, Eighth regiment, Ohio national guard, of which he was elected captain, but resigned his commission in i S94, his increasing legal busi- ness and other pressing affairs precluding him from giving what he thought to be the neces- sary attention to military affairs in order to keep up the esprit du corps of his company. Mr. Benner was most happily united in matrimony September 29, 1897, at Akron, with Miss Gertrude Forster, the accomplished daughter of Martin B. and Sarah (Clark) Forster, well-known and prominent citizens of Akron. >Y*OHN A. BENNETT, an extensive dealer ■ in coal and all kinds of mason's supplies, A ■ sewer pipe, drain tile, etc., at Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of the state of New York and was born in Niagara county, .April 11, 1853. His parents, Daniel and Louisa (Secor) Bennett, are natives of the same countv and have had born to them five children, of whom four are still living and are named John A. (subject), Charles, Ellis and Edward. Daniel Bennett, the father, has been a farmer through life, has prospered in his call- ing, and is a man of influence in his county, where he has held several local offices, and is a pious member of the Methodist church, while his wife is equally devoted to the Baptist faith. The father of Daniel was also a farmer of New York state, had born to him two sons and one daughter, and lived to an advanced age. His wife's father, John Secor, was likewise a farmer, was county surveyor for a number of years, and also lived to reach old age. John A. Bennett, the subject, was reared on his father's farm in Niagara county and was educated, like most other farmer lads, in the district school. At the age of eighteen jears, however, he left the homestead and came to Ohio', and for two years worked in the ship- yards at Cleveland. He then returned to the home farm, on which he assisted until his health failed, when he went to New Orleans, La., but, failing to recuperate, he in a short time returned to his home, where he was con- fined to his bed on account of his illness. Still in search of health he made a trip to Georgia, where he passed one summer, and, somewhat improved, returned to New York. The rigor- ous climate of the north still being too severe for his constitution, he made yet another trip to Georgia, where, in a short time, fortunately, he gained fifty pounds in his avoirdupois, and full health was apparently restored to him, and he again returned to the north. In 1887 he came to Ravenna, but still continued, nev- ertheless, his peregrinations through the east- ern, southern and northern states for three years longer, securing for himself, in the meantime, an excellent peach orchard of 100 acres in Georgia. Charmed with the beauty of Ravenna, however, he made the city his 198 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD permanent home and engaged in his present ex- tensive coal business and its collateral branches. Mr. Bennett was married, in 1876, to Miss Frances Foster, daughter of Thomas Foster, and to this marriage was born one child, Cora Louise. Mrs. Bennett having passed away in 1879, ^^r. Bennett next married, in 1882, Miss Emma G. Carmer, daughter of Benjamin F. Carmer. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Royal Arcanum and in politics is a republican. As a business man he has been very successful, being prompt in filling the orders of his patrons and attentive to their needs. His integrity has never been questioned, and his plain, straight- forward methods have won for him a constant increase of custom. Socially, he and wife are held in high esteem by their neighbors and friends, of whom they have made many since their residence in Ravenna. ^y^lLLIAM BERGIN, a prominent and ■ ■ I prosperous farmer and dealer in live m%^J stock, Franklin township. Portage county, was born in Northtield, Summit county, Ohio, February 11, 1844. Patrick Bergin, father of William, was a native of county Kings, Ireland, was born in 181 5, came to the United States in 1842, and settled in Northfield, Summit county, where he was chiefly employed in clearing up land and in fanning. He first married, in England, Mrs. Mary Robinson, whose maiden name was France, and who was a native of Yorkshire, England. To this union were born three chil- dren, of whom John and William still survive, while Mary lost her life by drowning when eleven years old. Mrs. Mary Bergin died in September, 1847, at the age of thirty-three years, and was a most amiable and adorable woman. The second marriage of Mr. Bergin was with Ellen Donahue, a Catholic in religion. but to this union there was no issue. Mr. Bergin died in the holy faith February 14, 1872, at the age of fifty- seven years, an hon- ored and respected man, and Mrs. Ellen Bergin expired February 22, 1895, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. William Bergin, whose name opens this biography, lived on his father's farm until his seventeenth year, receiving his education in the district school, and then was employed as a clerk in the grocery, provision and liquor store of a Mr. Donahue, at Ravenna, and this posi- tion he retained six years. February II, 1867, he married Miss Mary McNamara, a daughter of John and Bridget (Murphy) McNamara, and this union has been blessed with three chil- dren, of whom Mary E. died December 13, 1867, aged one month; Ann T. and Ellen are the names of the surviving two. In 1867 Mr. Bergin passed a few months on the old homestead, but in the fall removed to Iowa, where he engaged in the grocerj' trade, but, owing to the ill health of his wife, returned to Ohio eight months later and bought a half-interest in his brother's farm south of Ravenna, on which he resided one year, when he removed to the city, where he was engaged in the wholesale butchering business until 1872. He then settled on his present farm, where he has since been engaged in general farming and stockraising, and is widely known among horse- men as a breeder of some of the fastest trot- ting horses in the country. In politics Mr. Bergin is very prominent as a democrat and has served as school director for several years. He was also a member of the fire department while residing in Ravenna, and served from October 3, 1863, until Octo- ber 3, 1868, and for the past ten years he has served as a director and superintendent of the Portage county Agricultural society, in which he takes a deep interest. Mrs. Mary Bergin was born in county Kil- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 199 kenny, Ireland, May 26, 1S41, and was brought to America in 1852 by her parents, who first located in Earlville, Ohio, and afterward re- moved to Ravenna. Patrick McNamara, pa- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Bergin, was a farmer and the father of eight children. Thomas Murphy, her maternal grandfather, married Miss Mary Grace, and was blessed with a family of thirteen children. John McNamara, father of Mrs. Bergin, was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, was a railroad man, and to his marriage with Miss Bridget Murphy were born four children beside Mrs. Bergin, \\/..: Richard, who was killed on a railroad in 1854, at the age of nine years; Ann died March 3, 1891, aged forty-eight years, and Patrick now lives in California. Mr. McNamara, the father, passed away October 19, 1S89, at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife having preceded him to the grave March 23, 1887, aged seventy-eight. Mr. and Mrs. Bergin stand very high in the social circles of Franklin township, and the business name of Mr. Bergin is without a stain. >Y'0HN B. BETZ, a well-known farmer ■ and e.\-soldier of Norton township, A 1 Summit county, Ohio, was born in this township, on the farm owned by Cyrus Miller, and has been identified with the agri- cultural interests of Norton township all his life. Abraham Betz, great-grandfather of sub- ject, was a native of Philadelphia, Pa., was born August 14, 1743, and married Eva Bauers, who was born October i, 1761. John Betz (1st), son of above and grandfather of subject, was born February 28, 1773, and married Catherine Tro.val, who was born May 2, 1778. He was in early life a school-teacher and was of deep religious convictions, and was the founder of the Betz family in Summit county, Ohio, having first located in Chippewa township, Medina county, whence he moved to Norton township, Summit county — the lat- ter county having been formed in March, 1840, from parts of Medina, Portage and Stark coun- ties. Here he purchased a large tract of wooded land, filled with deer and other game, but lived to improve, or clear, the greater por- tion of it, and died May 14, 1852, one of the most honored and substantial citizens of the township and county. His widow survived until June 5, 1862, when she, too, was called away, venerated by all who knew her. John Betz (2d), son of above and father of subject, was born in the Keystone state March 15, 1808, and there married Rebecca Beyer, who was born January 27, 1807. Shortly after marriage he came with the family in wagons to Chippewa township, as above mentioned, and a little later bought the farm of 160 acres in Norton township on which Cyrus Miller now lives. The land was all new and im- proved with a log cabin only. Here he under- went all the hardships of pioneer life, but suc- ceeded in developing from the wilderness a comfortable home, and accumulated a great deal of other valuable property. He rose to great prominence among his fellow-citizens, and as a democrat was honored by being elected to fill almost all the township offices. He was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he aided financially with great liberality, and was one who carried his religious convictions into the affairs of his every-day life. He was ne\er known to use profane language on any occasion whatever. This respected pioneer, while on a \isit to his soldier-sons in Union camp during the Civil war, was seized with camp fever, and on his return home died, as he had lived, an exalted Christian, February i, 1863. His widow sur- vived until December 18. 1887, when she also expired in the same religious faith. The chil- 200 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD dren born to John and Rebecca (Beyer) Betz were named as follows: Samuel, Susan (wife of Eli Wuchter), Aaron, George W. , Mary E., Charles W. and John B. Of these, Charles W. died in Virginia while serving in the Sixth United States cavalry, and his remains received interment at the place where he died. John B. Betz was born October 25, 1844, received a good common-school education, and lived on the home farm until his enlistment, in August, 1864, in company G, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry. He was assigned to the western army, and took part in the campaigns through Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, and was in the last campaign against Hood and in the battle of Wilson's Pike. He was finally taken ill and was placed in hospital at Washington, D. C, and was mustered out in June, 1865, having received an honorable discharge. August 13, 1867, he married Miss Catharine Weaver, a native of Coventry township. Summit county, born December 10, 1847. Daniel E. Weaver, father of Mrs. Betz, was born in Pike township. Stark county, Ohio, August 8, 1823, and married, in Coventry township. Summit county, Rebecca Renniger, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 11, 1824, a daughter of John and Maria (Spotts) Renniger. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver came from Coventry township to Norton township in 1866, and here Mr. Weaver died May 22, 1892, a devoted member of Grace Reformed church, and in politics ademociat. Mrs. Weaver now resides with her son, Philip, at Loyal Oak, Summit county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were named as follows: Su- sanna, who is the wife of William Souers; Mary E., who was married to Dr. J. C. Dreh- er, but is now deceased: Catherine, married to subject; George; Levina, wife of M. Young; Philip and Joseph. The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Betz has been blessed with the fol- lowing children: Franklin S., born May 23, 1868; Minnie R., born January 12, 1S70, and now the wife of Perry E. Ware; George H., born March 10, 1872; Nora E., born January 14, 1874, was married to E. E. McXeely, but died March 6, 1896, leaving an infant, Ruth I., then twelve weeks old and being now reared by its grandparents; Daniel O., born April 4, 1876, and Maud E., who was born April 7, 1879, and died March 4, 1S80. Mr. Betz is the owner of a highly cultivated farm of seventy-five acres, improved with ex- cellent buildings, and regarded as one of the best farms of its size in Norton township. He and his wife are leaders in Grace Reformed church, to which all the family also belong, and are active in Sunday-school work. Mr. Betz is a member, likewise, of Buckley po.st, No. 12, G. A. R., and, although a stanch democrat, voted, at the age of twenty years, while in the army in Tennessee, for .Abraham Lincoln for the presidencj' of the United States. Locally he has always taken an active part in politics and has filled the office of town- ship trustee, and also as county infirmary director for three years from November 8, 1892. Mr. Betz is probably one of the best marksmen in the state of (^hio, being capable of taking off a pigeon's head in a tree-top with a rifie-ball, and was never known to kill a squirrel except by shooting it through . the head. So great is his skill in this respect, he is barred out of all ordinary shooting matches. He is very comfortably situated, is at the head of a respected family, and enjojs in every particular the esteem of his fellow-citizens. ,V^^ ORMAN B. BIDLEMAN. one of the I M most substantial farmers and live ^ _ [ stock raisers in Green township. Summit county, Ohio, is a native of this township, and was born February 24, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. JUl 1S50, a son of Georfje and Rachel ((irotz) Bidleman. John Bidleman, paternal grandfather of Norman B., was born in Pennsylvania, was a drover, and married Elizabeth Lilhe, who was also a native of the Keystone state, was born in 1780, and died March 3, 1867, the mother of four children. It is surmised that her hus- band met with a death by violence, as he had departed from his home for New Jersey with a drove of ninety-one mules, always carried con- siderable money about his person, and was never thereafter heard of. Abraham Grotz, maternal grandfather of Norman B. Bidleman, was also a native of Pennsylvania, was a hat- ter by trade, doing business in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, and in 1831 came to Ohio. To his marriage to Emeline Koon were born eleven children, of whom three still sur\i\e, viz: John K., of Bloomsburg, Pa.; Rebecca, widow of Michael B. Myers, and Louisa, wife of John B. Myers, of Green township, Sum- mit county, Ohio. George Bidleman, father of Norman B., was born in Bloomsburg, Pa., October 16, 1804, and learned the tanner's trade. He married, April 3, 1828, Miss Rachel Grotz, who was born February 11, 1809, a daughter of Abraham and Emeline (Koon) Grotz, and to this union were born six children, of whom Rebecca is the wife of Jacob Royer, of Stark county; Norman B. ; Abraham passed away in infancy, in i829;\\'illiam died March 17, 1851, at the age of seventeen years; Lovinia died in 1830; an infant unnamed is deceased. .After George Bidleman settled in Ohio he followed farming until his retirement about twenty years before his death, which occurred Janu- ary 28, 1890, his wife dying \fay 18, 1891. Mr. Bidleman had attained considerable prom- inence in his township, of which he was a trustee for many years, and had accumulated a handsome competency, living retired from active attention to biisiness for fully twenty years. He and wife were both conscientioos members of the Reformed church and were greatly esteemed for their many good qualities of heart and mind and the purity of their lives. Norman 13. Bidleman resided on his fa- ther's farm until fourteen years of age, receiv- ing, in the meantime, a fair education in the district school. For a year he clerked for C. F. Stroman cS: Co., receiving $50 and his board for his services. The following year he hired to David Grotz for $13 per month, and remained with him two years, and then, at the age of seventeen j'ears, took possession of his father's farm. November 14, 1872, he married Miss Eovinia A. Wise, who was born January I, 1850, in Eake township, Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel N. and Anna (Raber) Wise, and to this union have been born four children, of whom two — Carrie E. and Mattie M. — are still living, Elsie A. having died February 16, 1874, aged twenty-one days, and Norman B., Jr., also dying in in- fancy. Samuel N. Wise, father of Mrs. Bidleman, was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 9, 1823, was reared a farmer, but for many years was engaged in the live stock trade, and now resides in Union Town, Stark county, in retire- ment, and is still an active member of the Methodist church, in which he has been a class leader for the past thirty years. He married Miss Anna Raber, who was born .May 22. 1822, a daughter of John Raber, and to their union were born five children, of whom two are still living, viz; Hiram P., of Union Town, Stark county, and Lovinia A., wife of Mr. Bid- leman. The deceased three children were Amelia, John and Amanda^the last named having been married to Frank Myers, and dy- ing April 5, 1887, at the age of thirty-four years. Mrs. Anna (Raber) Wise departed this life January 4, 1892, aged si.\ty-nine 201' PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD years, seven months and twelve days, and was a devout Christian. Since 1S72, in addition to farming, Mr. Bidleman has given a great deal of attention to the raising of and dealing in live stock, and for the past ten years to the bujing and sell- ing of wheat, and at present is operating the grain elevator at Myersville Station, constantly } adding to his already comfortable fortune. Politically he was in early days a democrat, but now affiliates with the prohibitionists, pre- ferring that the grain he handles should go into breadstuffs, rather than into whisky. He cast his first vote for Horace Greeley. He and family are members of the Methodist church at Union Town, in which he holds the office of steward, and of which he was, for a number of years, a trustee, and was superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Bidleman is one of the most progress- i\c tiusiness men of his township and count}', and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens, for he has cer- tainly done much to advance the moral and material progress of both town and county, having begun when a mere lad and continuing the good work in the prime of his manhood. a APT. GEORGE BILLOW, the vet- eran funeral director of Akron, Ohio, is a native of Germany; he was born on the 2d day of April, 1833, in Nord- heim, near the cit\' of Worms, on the famous rivur Rhine, Hessen Darmstadt; he is the fourth son of John and Elizabeth (Millius) Billau. The family, consisting of the parents, five sons and two daughters, immigrated to this country in 1844, settling eight miles northwest of Fremont, Sandusky count}', Ohio, in what was then known as the "Black Swamp." At the age of sixteen, George, our subject, was apprenticed to Ambrose Ochs, a vvagonmaker in Fremont, for three years, at the following wages: Fifteen dollars for the first year; twenty dollars for the second, and forty dollars for the third, together with board and his washing. Low wages and long days (twelve to thirteen hours) were then the prevailing cus- tom. After learning his trade he wended his way to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked in the carriage factory of Jacob Lowman until he had acquired proficiency as a body-builder, when, in February, 1854, he came to Akron, engaged himself as a body-builder to C. A. Collins in his factor}' at Middlebury, now the Sixth ward of Akron, and later embarked at the same place in the business for himself until the second year of the war of the southern Rebellion, when, in July, 1862, he assisted in recruiting a company of volunteer infantry for the Union army, enlisting himself as a private, being mustered in with his company, I, One Hundred and Seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, as orderly sergeant, at Cleveland, Ohio, on September 6, 1862. On November 30, following, he was commissioned second lieutenant, but the name being spelled Billow instead of Billau — the arm}' being under march- ing orders to Fredericksburg, \*a. , in anticipa- tion of meeting the enemy in severe battle, prompted Col. Seraphim Myers, who com- manded the regiment, to advise the immediate muster in as second lieutenant under the name given, since which time it has been so retained. Subsequent promotions to first lieutenant and captam followed October i, 1863, and Novem- ber 3, 1864, respectively. The One Hundred and Seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, with which the captain cast his lot, was des- tined to pass through extraordinary hardships, privations and severe battles. Before being fully equipped, it was rushed to the front to resist the advance of the rebel army in Ken- tucky, under Gen. Bragg, after which it was forwarded to the army of the Potomac and 1 OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 203 assigned to the command of Gen. Franz Sigel, the Eleventh corps, at Fairfax C. H., Va., sharing with it the cruel hardships of Gen. Burnside's December campaign to Fredericks- burg, Va. , the humiliating defeat of the bat- tle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863, and its glorious victory at the famous battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July i, 2 and 3, 1863, losing heavily in killed and wounded because of the prominent part taken, yet, in all, Capt. Billow escaped the rebel missiles. After the battle of Gettysburg, what remained of the One Hundred and Seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, was, with Gen. Gordon's division, transferred to Folly Island, S. C. , the department South, com- manded by Gen. O. A. Giltriore, where, on the several islands in front of Charleston, they were engaged in assaults upon and the final taking of Fort Wagoner, on Morris Island, as also in frequent skirmishes and small battles from August, 1863, to January, 1864, when they were transferred to Jacksonville district of Florida. While on Folly Island, Capt. Billow was taken sick with typhoid fever, and with other hopeless cases, sent to St. Augus- tine, Fla., returning to his command about four weeks later, not well, but convalescent. He never fully recovered from said sickness; in consequence he was, in February, 1864, de- tailed on the staff of Col. Noble, of the Sev- enteenth regiment, Connecticut volunteer in- fantry, commander of brigade, to act as com- missary of subsistence; on May 18, following, he was ordered by Gen. Foster, commanding the department South, to Fernandina, Fla., in charge of the commissary department. De- cember 13, 1864, he was assigned to duty as provost marshal at Jacksonville, Fla., and March 12, 1865, by special request of Com- missary Gen. Champlin, at Hilton Head, S. C, he was again returned to his former post at Fernandina, serving until relieved for the purpose of muster-out with his regiment at Charleston, S. C, July 10, 1865, and finally discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 26, 1865, serving his entire term of nearly three years without a single furlough. The captain is a member of the Episcopal Church of our Savior, and is quite prominent as a Freemason, being Past E. C. of Akron commandery. No. 25, K. T. , and its present Prelate; King of Washington chapter. No. 25, R. A. M. ; P. M. of Adoniram lodge. No. 517, F. & A. M., for the establishment of which and the Masonic Temple company he was un- tiring as a prime mover; he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine; he is a charter member and past commander of Buckley post, No. 12, G. A. R., a member of the Loyal Legion, I. O. O. F., and several beneficiary societies; in politics he is a sincere and ardent repub- lican. Springing from families of more than ordinary longevity (his grandfather, father and mother attaining to the age of over eighty-six years), his genealogy is quite interesting and not without its military ancestors, who figure under another government; yet the family characteristics lean toward peaceful pursuits. Capt. George Billow's marriage took place September 19, 1854, to Miss Anna Mary, daughter of Conrad and Charlotte Fink, of Akron, Ohio. His family consists of five sons — George W. , Charles F., Albert C. , Jacob and Edwin L. — and three daughters — Anna (Mrs. John Sabin, in Vermont), Ida (Mrs. James Rehert, Akron, Ohio), and Clara. Since his discharge from military service the subject of this sketch has been engaged, with various successes and reverses, in the gro- cery business at Akron, as a partner, also as salesman; invested largely in fanning-mill pat- ent right on the advice of friends, proving a total loss; then moved to Huntsville, Ala., to enrich himself, raising cotton, which proved a (lisniai failure, whereupon he returned to his old home, .\krt)n. Ohio, and in 1875 engaged 204 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in the undertaking business, and by industry, honesty and skill has succeeded in making it the leading establishment in his city, which is still growing, and, possessing the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, this seems to afford him the contentment so essential to happiness and quite satisfactory at the even- tide of a bus\' life. ^'^YLVESTER J. BOLEXDER, a •^^^* thriving farmer of Franklin town- h,^^ ship. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Lake township. Stark county, Jan- uary 31, 1850. George Bolender. grandfather of subject, was a nati\e of Union county. Pa., was car- penter and cabinetmaker, and a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio. He was also a farmer, and in Union Town, Stark count}', was pro- prietor of an inn and a stage-coach line. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion was a member of the Reformed church. He married, in Stark county, Margaret Wise, who came from Cumberland county, Pa., in 1815. John Bolender, father of subject, was born in Green township (now in Summit county) March 27, 18 19, was reared to farming, also learned cabinetmaking, and for several terms taught school in the old pioneer school-house of his district. In politics he was a democrat, and for a number of years filled the office of justice of the peace. He was an elder in the Reformed church and for fifteen years was su- perintendent of the Sunday-school. He at one time possessed considerable property, but, owing to the failure of others in business, he lost heavily. About 1838, Mr. Bolender mar- ried Miss Judith Pontious, daughter of Ben- jamin and Sophia (M\'ers) Pontious, and to this union were born Sophia, deceased wife of Manum Rayor; James K., who died when small; Armina L. ; Sylvester J.; Lucretia; Charles; and Sarah J., wife of Forest Nees. Mr. Bolender remained on his farm until 1866, when he retired to Union Town, where his death took place August 7, 1883, and that of his wife July 7, 1893. Both were honored for their chaste lives and their unswerving adher- ence to the teachings of their church. Sjlvester J. Bolender lived on the home farm until seventeen }ears of age, and then served an apprenticeship of four years at cab- inetmaking and later learned hard-wood fin- ishing. He had received an excellent educa- tion in the Greensburg academj- and was pre- pared for teaching school, and duly qualified, also, for teaching music. He passed nine years at his trade, and on Maj' 4, 1876, mar- ried Jennie R. Sorrick, daughter of Peter and Mary A. (Kyser) Sorrick, and this marriage has resulted in the birth of Bertha B., who was born May 22, 1877, and died August 7, 1877, and Hazel L. , born November 17. 1888. Peter Sorrick, father of Mrs. Bolender, was born in Franklin township September 20, 1822; his wife, Mary A. Kyser, was born in the same township May 29, 1829, and here they were married November 15, 1855. Mr. Sorrick owned a well improved farm of 127 acres in Franklin township, and seven acres in Manchester. He was a democrat in politics, and died December 20, 1893, a member of the Reformed church. His only child, Jennie R. (Mrs. Bolender), was born September 21, 1856. Adam Sorrick, father of Peter Sorrick, was a native of Blair county, Pa., and an early pioneer of Stark county, Ohio. He took up land from the government in Franklin town- ship (then a part of Stark but now in Summit count)), and lived to clear it all up. He mar- ried, in Franklin township, Mary Raber, also a native of Blair county. Pa., and died in 1875 — his wife dying March 27, 1877. Sylvester J. Bolender, since his marriage has lived upon the 127-acre farm formerly OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT XZOUNTIES. 205 owned by his father-in-law, and has materially improved it, rendering it both comfortable and profitable. In politics he is a prohibition- ist, has the full confidence of his party, and is moreover widely known and respected through- ont the township. EENRY F. BOWERS, a successful and and respected farmer of Green town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Lake township. Stark county, Sep- tember I 5. 1845, a son of Frederick and Eliza- beth (Coxen) Bowers, the former a native of Bedford county, Pa., born in May, 1798, and the latter born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in July, 1816. Frederick Bowers was brought to Ohio in 1 80S by his parents, who located, first, about five miles south of the site of the present city of Canton, Stark county, where they remained one year, and then removed to Lake township, where Frederick passed the remainder of his •life. He was reared a farmer, and married Mrs. Elizabeth Spotts, a daughter of and Catharine (Fox) Coxen, the marriage re- sultin},' in the birth of five children, of whom three still survive, viz: Jacob, in St. Joseph county, Ind. ; Henry F., our subject, and Cath- erine A., wife of Uriah Stoner, of Canton, Ohio. The two deceased were William, who died at the age of nineteen years, July 4, 1863, in hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, from disease contracted in the Civil war, and Rachel, who died at the age of forty-seven years, the wife of Isaac Shriver, who is also deceased. Mr. Bowers, who was a carpenter as well as farmer, departed this life in June, 1880, at the age of eighty-two years, and his widow followed him to the grave in July, 1884, at the age of sixty- eight years. Jacob Bowers, grandfather of Henry F. Bowers, served seven years in the Revolution- ary war and was a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio (settling there in 18081, and to him and wife were born fourteen children, of whom twelve reached maturity. The maternal grand- parents were natives of England and the par- ents of ten children, three of whom are still living, viz: Hannah, svife of George Witsman, of Lake township. Stark county, Ohio; Will- iam, of West \'irginia, and Emanuel, of Kan- sas. The deceased Coxen children were Mrs. Lucinda Bogue; Phebe; Mary, wife of Jacob Shively; Sarah, wife of Jonas Ruff; Elizabeth, wife of Henry F. Bowers, our subject; Sophia, wife of Levi Bolander, and John. The Coxen family were all members of the Reformed church, and people of some distinction among their neighbors. Henry F. Bowers was reared on his fath- er's farm and was educated in the district school of his native township and at Greens- burg seminary. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching school, following the voca- tion for twelve successive terms in district No. I, Lake township; five, in No. 6; two, in No. 12; two in Union township; all in Stark count}', Ohio, and one term in Green township. Sum- mit county, but the summer months were passed on the farm. Mr. Bowers was united in marriage Febru- ary 23, 1 87 1, with Miss Catherine A. Kreigh- baum, daughter of Abraham and Harriet (Reif- snyder) Kreighbaum, of Lake township, and to this union have been born three children, viz: Edith I., wife of Frank Long, of Akron; Har- riet, married to Frank Langs, a leading mer- chant of Myersville, Green township, and Ralph C, still under the parental roof. Abraham Kreighbaum, father of Mrs. Bow- ers, was a native of Lake township. Stark county, Ohio, was a tanner by trade, but in later years became a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Harriet Reifsnyder, daughter of David and Mary (Grane) Reifsnyder, were born 2o<; PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD seven children, viz: William C. ; Catherine A., who was born April 14, 1852, and is now Mrs. Henry F. Bowers: Frank G. ; Daniel R. ; Mary, wife of Isaac Heckman; Charles S., and Ellen, wife of J. Bare, all living in Stark county, with the exception of Mrs. Bowers. The mother of this family was called away March i, 1884, in the faith of the Evangelical church, and at the age of fifty-two years; the father reached the age of sixty-seven years, and died in October, 1895, in the faith of the Lutheran church, although he had formerly been a member of the same church with his wife. In the spring of 1S87 Mr. Bowers purchased his present farm, where, in connection with farming, he is. extensively engaged in stockrais- ing. For twelve years Mr. Bovvers was a member of the school board in Stark county, and has served as township clerk of Green township. Summit county. Heenjoys the con- fidence of the entire community, and he and family are among the most respected in Green township. '^-r'OHN H. BREWSTER, who is well M known as one of the most experienced A 1 business men and thrifty farmers of Coventry township. Summit county, Ohio, was born on his present farm January II, 1834. His father, James G. Brewster, was a native of Groton, Conn., was born in 1797, and was fourteen years old when brought to Summit county by his parents, and here endured all the hardships of pioneer life, being educated in an old log school-house and inured to the severe toil of frontier farming. In early manhood he married Miss Martha Has- son, who was a native of Carlisle, Pa., and to this union were born six children, viz. : Stephen, deceased; John H., the subject; James G., who died January i, 1897; Hiram; George W., and William, who died when quite small. The father wrought out from the wilderness the farm now occupied by our subject, was the owner of 320 acres, and in his day was considered a wealthy man. He was a gentle- man of great influence in the community in which he lived, took an active part in whig politics and also a great interest in muster day. In religion he was a Universalist. and died in that faith June 27, 1842, more than ordinarily well respected; his widow survived until October 12, 1884, when she died, a Scotch Seceder in religion and venerated as a lady possessing many womanly virtues. John H. Brewster has always resided un his native farm, never having been away from it, with the exception of two months passed in Iowa. The live Brewster brothers who at- tained manhood's estate never divided their financial interests, but jointly conducted the farm, beginning at the point where their father left it. They now own about a section and a half of fine arable land in Summit county, be- side 400 acres of coal land in Columbiana , county, as one mutual possession. John H., however, is president of the Buckeye Sewer Pipe company, of Akron, and president of the United States Stoneware company, of the same city; also is a director in the Barberton Savings bank, and is interested with his broth- ers in the Brewster tlouring-mill, of Coventry township. In poHtics Mr. Brewster is a re- publican, and has filled most of the township offices as a matter of duty as a good citizen, has served three terms as county infirmary director, and is at present serving his second term as county commissioner. Hiram Brewster, brother of John H., was born June 8, 1835, and has always li\ed on this, his native farm. Neither brother is mar- ried, both living in "single blessedness" in their beautiful country house, which cost them over $14,000. //. ^tZZXA/J^^t^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 209 The grandfather of Mr. Brewster was Stephen Brewster, born in Groton, Conn., in 1770, came to Summit county, Ohio, in 181 1, and died here July 12, 1858. He was a car- penter by trade, and he and the father of Mr. Brewster erected the first flouring-mill on the Tuscarawas river. The mill was commonly known as the Fritts mill. >T^OHX BOOSINGER, a retired farmer M and one of the oldest residents of Brim- A J field township, Portage count}-, Ohio, was born here May 8, 18 18, the center village of the township being then known as Thorndyke, and is a son of John and Barbara (Willard) Boosinger. Conrad Boosinger. the grandfather of our subject, came to America from Germany, and took part in the war for American independ- ence. John Boosinger, the father of our sub- ject, was a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1816 came to Por- tage county, Ohio, and entered a 200-acre farm in Brimfield township, which was then a dense wilderness. Here he built a log cabin, and by untiring industry cleared up his land, which he converted into a fine farm, and which, through the added industry of our sub- ject, is now one of the best farms in the county. To his marriage with Miss Willard were born eight children, of whom John (our subject), Benjamin and Nathan are still living, while Catherine, Sarah, Susan, Philip and George have passed away. The father of these lived to be ninety years of age, when he died in the faith of the Universalist church. John Boosinger, the subject of this me- moir, was reared on the Brimfield farm, re- ceived such education as could be secured in the pioneer school, and at the age of twenty- two years assumed the management of the home place. He was first married in Novem- ber, 1842, to Miss Caroline Naff, daughter of Conrad and Mary Naff, and to this union were born two children — Lafayette V. and I-ucy C. — the latter married to George Meacham. Mrs. Caroline Boosinger was called from earth April 1 1 , 1843, at the age of twenty-nine years. November 4, 1845, Mr. Boosinger chose for his second helpmate Miss Julia Naff, a sister of his deceased wife. This union has been blessed with three children, viz. : Edward Conrad; Sadie, wife of William Moulton; and Omer C, who died December 30, 1887, at the age of twenty-nine 3'ears. Mr. Boosinger greatly inproved the home- stead while it was in his possession. He oper- ated a threshing machine several years in con- nection with his agricultural pursuits, but the old home place has passed out of the family, and now Mr. Boosinger owns another fine farm of 120 acres. In politics he has always lieen a democrat, and has filled the office of town- ship trustee, and for six years was a member of the board of school directors. He is a de- voted member of the Universalist church, of which he is also a trustee, and no resident of the county of Portage stands higher in the es- teem of the public than John Boosinger. ^y^ ENJAMIN M. BOYEK, a highly re- l/*^ spected agriculturist of Springfield >^^_^ township, Summit county, Ohio, and a well-known educator, was born in Juniata county. Pa., February 17, 1841, a son of George and Mary Magdalena (Kepner) Boyer, of whom mention in full will be made further on. Benjamin M. Boyer received a sound public- school education, then attended Airv View and Markelville academies, and when seventeen years of age began teaching school in his own .district, continuing the vocation six consecutive years. He assisted his father on the home L'lO PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD farm when not attending or teaching school, and in 1864 came to Ohio, and in Akron secured a position as clerk in P. D. Hall's dry- goods store, where he remained nearly two years, and while thus employed was married, at Wooster, Ohio, October 3, 1865, to Miss Marv A. Ritter, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Ritzman) Ritter, and of whom fur- ther mention will be made before this sketch shall have been brought to a close. This marriage has been blessed with five children, of whom Philander M., Harry J., Emerson E. and Altha Augusta are still living; Effie M. died when but one year old. Of these chil- dren. Philander M. passed through the com- mon schools and the Akron high school; also took a course in Buchtel college, and in the normal department of the Union Town (Stark county) high school; his present business is that of a gardener. Emerson E. graduated from Hamniill's business college, is engaged in the dairy business, and is an honored mem- ber of lodge No. 50, I. O. O. F., at Akron. Miss Altha A. has passed through the district schools and has been awarded a certificate which permits her entrance to any high school in the county. In 1866 Mr. Boyer began teaching school during the winter months in Portage township, Summit county, and taught for eighteen con- secutixe terms, but while not teaching found many other occupations to engage his time and attention, for instance: The first year after leaving the dry-goods business he con- ducted a meat market in Springfield township, and then bought a small farm, but shortly afterward sold it at a handsome profit and bought another south of Akron, where he en- gaged in gardening. He then entered the brokerage business, which he still continues, more or less, handling stocks, chattel mort- gages, etc. In 1884 he relinquished teaching, and since then, beside his broker's business, has been principally engaged in agriculture, dairjing, and in running a fruit and vegetable wagon to Akron. He has also had some ex- perience as a teacher of vocal music in the public schools, and at one time was engaged in the sale of musical instruments. In poli- tics he is a democrat, and cast his first presi- dential vote for Gen. Geo. B. McClellan." He has served as township supervisor several terms, has been a member of the school board six years, and township trustee one term, per- forming his duties faithfully and satisfactorih'. He has served, also, as as guardian of three families of children and has settled up their estates to their entire satisfaction. Frater- nally Mr. Boyer is a past grand of Summit lodge. No. 50, I. O. O. F. , of Akron, and also of the encampment. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Boyer are members of the Lutheran church, while Philander M. and Altha are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church at Krumroy. Mrs. Mary A. (Ritter) Boyer, wife of Ben- jamin M., was born January 22, 1843, in the house in which she and her husband now re- side in Springfield townshij), which house was erected by her father, who, with his wife, came from Snyder county. Pa., and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Boyer. Of the eight children born to John S. and Elizabeth (Ritzman) Ritter, Frederick resides near Bed- ford, Cuyahoga county, and is an agricultur- ist; Henry lives in Springfield township. Sum- mit county, and is also a farmer; Phebe is the wife of Levi Thornton, of Coventry township; Catherine is at home; Mrs. Boyer and John S. M. are next in order of birth; one child died in infancy, and Matilda, who was the wife of Solomon Warner, died at the age of forty-nine years. The father of this family died in 1872. at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother in 1884, when seventy-seven years old, both in the faith of the Lutheran church. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 211 and among the most highly respected residents of Springfield township. George Boyer, father of Benjamin M. Boyer, was born on the banks of the Susquehanna ri\er, Cumberland connty, Pa., January 4, 1819, and his wife, Mary Magdalena Kepner, was born March 19, 1818, in Juniata county, in the Tuscorara valley, of the same state, and they were married December 19, 1839. In Juniata county, of the Keystone state they re- tain their residence, and are now living in retired ease. In his younger days Mr. Boyer learned tailoring, but followed the trade a short time only, preferring to drive a team at- tached to a canal-boat, at which work he earned considerable money, and in course of time was able to buy his present farm in Ju- niata county. To his marriage have been born nine children, of whom Benjamin M., whose name opens this article, is the eldest; Elmira J. is the wife of Alonzo H. Guss, of Akron, Ohio; Lehman O. resides in Juniata county. Pa. ; Mary is the wife of Jacob Wise- haupt. also of Juniata county; Ida C. was first married to Dr. Hench, and, after his death, was married to Wilson Robinson, who is also deceased, and the daughter herself is the manager of the household of her parents; George W. manages the farm for his father; Elizabeth C. died after reaching maturity; Sarah C. died at the age of eight years, and Albert Luther died in infancy. The father of this family, now eighty years of age, retains in full his mental faculties and keeps a gen- eral oversight of his financial interests, being a large stockholder in the Port Royal bank, and having other extensive investments. In fact, he has always been a financier, and- while a canal-boat driver boarded seven canal boat- men, and during the construction of the Penn- sylvania Central railroad exercised his energy in driving a team along that road, realizing $3,ODO in three years. He and wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran, church, live fully up to its teachings and are among the most vener- ated residents of Juniata count}'. Michael Boyer, paternal grandfather of subject, was born in Lebanon county. Pa., and was a son of a German who settled in Lebanon county. Pa., and to his marriage with Miss Koons were born five children, of whom three are still living, viz: Catherine, widow of James Foose, and a resident of New- port, Pa. ; George, and Jane, wife of David Kilmer, of Juniata county. Pa. One son, John P., with his family, was burned to death in Perry county. Pa., and another son, Philip, is also deceased. The maternal grandfather of B. M. Boyer was twice married, and to his first marriage were born John, Jacob and Catherine, all de- ceased. His second marriage was to Miss Sarah Dupes, and to this marriage were born eight children, viz: Elizabeth, now eighty- nine years old and married to Samuel Aughe}', of Millford, Pa. ; Christine, who was first mar- ried to Jacob Hertzler, and, after his death, to a Mr. Heikes, who is also deceased; Mary Magdalena, who is the mother of our subject; Benjamin D.; Samuel D. ; Solomon, who died in infancy; Sarah, who was married to Samuel Rice, but, with her husband, is now deceased; Henry, the oldest, has also passed away, and the parents have likewise gone to their rest in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. Boyer is located on a beautiful farm of 154 acres in Springfield township, seven miles from the court house at Akron. He comes from one of the old and respected fam- ilies of Summit county. He is also owner of valuable real estate in the city of Akron, and is classed as one of the progressive farmers of Summit county. While he was a member of the school board in his township the question was agitated of forming a high school system and Mr. Boyer was appointed as committee on 212 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD that work, which was finally adopted. The system of high school known as the Akron system originated in this county and in Akron. l^y^ILHELM J. BRACKLOW, proprie- mm I tor of the Columbia hotel, Ravenna, WjL^ Ohio, was born in Berlin, Germany, August I, 1853, and is a son of Johan and Caroline Bracklow, who were the parents of four sons, three of whom are still living — Wilhelin J. , Herman and Joseph. The father, Johan, was in early life a soldier, but later became a carpenter, contractor and build- er, and was killed by an accident, which oc- curred in his native city. His widow married Otto Kickow, and both now live in Ravenna, Ohio, with their two children, Lena and Mary. Both grandfathers were also military men. Wilhelm J. Bracklow was a youth of four- teen years when brought to America by his mother. He had received a very good public- school education in his native country, and at the age of fifteen years began clerking in a hardware store in Ra\enna, Ohio, where his mother had made her home. Eight years later, tiring of this occupation and seeking for wider fields in which to realize a fortune, he started west, in 1875, for the Black Hills, for the purpose of prospecting, but in 1877 re- turned to Ravenna, but a trifle better off than when he departed. However, he was pre- pared to enter the furniture business in part- nership with his now step-father. Otto Kickow, which they carried on together about five years; he next clerked in the grocery store of Furry & Williams for seven years, and then, for sev- eral years, conducted a restaurant, in which business he was so successful as to induce him to take charge of the Columbia hotel in 1896, where the prospects for a competency are most flattering, as he is a most genial land- lord, is well acquainted with the needs of the traveling public, and as his experience in the restaurant business has fitted him for a first- class caterer and qualified him for overseeing the essential of all hotel-keeping — the cuisine. The marriage of Mr. Bracklow took place September 10, 1881, with Mrs. Cynthia Will- iams, daughter of Stephen and Eunice (Chickering) Bissell, but to this union there has been no offspring. Mrs. Bracklow, how- ever, is the mother of one son — Alonzo C. — by her former husband. The parents of Mrs. Bracklow were natives of Massachusetts and were the parents of nine children — three sons and six daughters, of whom five are still li\ing, viz: Maria A., wife of George Clark, of Royalton, Ohio; Cynthia, wife of Mr. Brack- low; Maud I., wife of Charles Coolidge. of Cleveland; Delia E. and William S., both, also. of Cleveland. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bracklow was Har\ey Bissell, a native of Massachusetts, an early settler of Medina county, Ohio, and the father of six children; the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Bracklow was George Chickering, also a native of the Bay State, was a farmer and was one of the pioneers of Cuyahoga county in the Buckeye state. For several years he kept a country inn, about twelve miles from Cleveland, the only stopping place west of the city on the state road, and in reality in the wilderness. He had a family of seven children, who all grew to maturity, and the last few years of his life were passed in Cleveland, where he died at the age of seventy-seven. The father of Mrs. Bracklow, Stephen Bissell, was a car- penter, came to Ohio in an early day, and set- tled in Medina count}' until about 1876, when he moved with his family to Cleveland and followed his trade until his death, in March, 1892, at the age of sixty-six years; his widow is still a resident of that city. Mrs. Bracklow is a faithful member of the Methodist church and is an able assistant to OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 213 her husband in his present business, being a lady of much experience. Mr. Bracklow is a master Mason and a member of the uniform rank, K. of P. In politics he is independent, and during his long residence of thirty years in Kavenna has ne\er made an enemy, but re- tains the friendship of hundreds of citizens whom he has won by his obliging disposition and unvarying courtesy, and his ability to "keep a hotel." @EORGE W. BREWSTER, the fifth son of James G. and Martha (Hasson) Brewster, was born on the home farm March 21. 1837, received a sound common-school education, and in 1857 went to California, \ia New York city and the isthmus of Panama. He passed nearly seven years on tlie Pacific coast, two years in the mines, and for one year drove a ten-mule team between Sacramento, Cal., and Virginia City, Nev. He was next employed to manage or superintend the interests of a syndicate of wealthy men in 7,000 acres of land, and in 1866 returned to Summit county, Ohio, to be- come bookkeeper and manager for the Brew- ster Bros. ' coal mines, which have now been worked for more than twenty years, employ- ing from twenty-five to 135 men. His present residence, in this interest, is situated about a half-mile north of Thomastown, and cost $14,- 000, and to which allusion is made in the me- moir of John H. Brewster. For five years Mr. Brewster has been treas- urer of the Summit County Agricultural society, and a director for fourteen years; he is a di- rector in the 15uckeye Sewer Pipe company, in the United States Stoneware company, both at Akron, and in the Barberton Savings bank. In politics he is a strong republican, and fra- ternally is a member of lodge No. 83, F. & A. M. Mr. Brewster was joined in matrimony, October 18, 1876, with Miss Marie L. Kent, who was born in Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, a daughter of Josiah and Lucia (Miller) Kent, pioneers of Portage county. Mr. Kent is now deceased, and his widow makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Brewster. The marriage of Mr. Brewster has been blessed with four children, viz: Georgia M., now at- tending Buchtel college; Hiram Wallace, who died young; Arthur K. , who was a very intel- ligent, but never strong lad, and died April 28, 1895, at the age of fourteen years, and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Brewster are members of the Congregational church, and it is hardly necessary to add that their social standing is with the most respectable people of Summit county. ■^Y* OSIAH BROWN, one of the old soldiers J of the Civil war, was born February A 1 28, 1838, in Cuyahoga Falls, received a common education in the public schools and learned the cabinetmaker's trade of his father. He enlisted at the age of twenty-three years, September 10, 1861, for three years or during the war, at Cuyahoga Falls, under Capt. A. J. Konkle, in company D, First Ohio light artillery, was promoted sergeant, served until he re-enlisted at Strawberry Plains Jan- uary 7, T863, in the same organization, and was promoted to second lieutenant May 13, 1864, and assigned to battery E, First Ohio artillery. He was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 20, 1865, having served his country three years and eight months. He was in the battles of Ivy Mountain, Ky., Pittsburgh Landing, Corinth, Miss., Nash- ville, Tenn., Knoxville, Tenn., and a battle near Resaca, La. Mr. Brown was sick in hospital from November, 1862, until May, 1S63, with chronic diarrhea — with this excep- 214 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tion he was always an active soldier and prompt and efficient in the discharge of his duty. After the war he returned to Cuyahoga Falls and worked for Turner, \'aughn & Taylor for twenty years, in the wood-working department, and then engaged in the furniture and under- taking business with his father. He married, July 2, 1866, at Lebanon, Pa., Lucy E. Warner, who was born May 5, 1 841, in .Spring- field township. Summit county, Ohio, and a daughter of John Warner. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born Ida A., Charles A. and I^irdie B. Mr. Brown is a member of Eadie post, No. 37, G. A. R., Cuyahoga Fails, and is now quartermaster, and also of Howard lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F., and is an honored and respected citizen. Simon Brown, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania February 21, 181 1, a son of Jacob I^)rown, of sturdy Pennsylvania- Dutch stock. Simon came to Cu3ahoga Falls when a young man, about 1833 or 1834, and learned cabinetmaking and undertaking of J. T. Holloway, and, when he had learned his trade, engaged in business for himself at Cuy- ahoga Fails, and so continued for more than sixty years, or until his death, October 5, 1895. He was very industrious and reliable, and through his long business career was seldom away from his duties. He married Elizabeth Pontious, born March 25, 18 17, in Lake county, near Hartsville, Ohio, a daughter of Solomon Pontious. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born Josiah, April 28, 1838; Harriet E., February 10, 1840, and Ezra, January 18, 1842. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown were members of the Methodist church, in which he took an active interest and to which he contributed liberally. In pol- itics he was a republican and was a strong Union man. His son Ezra served in the Sev- enth Ohio volunteer infantry for about one year, was wounded in the hand badly, and was honorably discharged. This wound caused his health to be totally ruined. Simon Brown, father of our subject, was a well known and highly respected citizen and had the respect of all thr()Ugh(5ut his long life. HUSTIN K. BREWSTER, one of the most enterprising business men of Akron, was born in Coventry town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, Novem- ber 23, 1845, 's a son of Alexander and Mar- garet (Kinney) Brewster, and paternally is of remote Scottish extraction, William Brewster, the progenitor of the family of that name in America, having been a native-born Caledo- nian who came to America in trie Mayflower, in 1620, landing on Plymouth Rock, Mass. From him descended \N'illiam Brewster, the great-grandfather of our subject, who married a Miss Woodard and lived in Groton, Conn. Stephen Brewster, son of the last-men- tioned William, and grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Groton, New London coun- ty, Conn., May 4, 1770, became a carpen- ter and joiner, and married Lydia Bellis, who was born in Connecticut, May 14, 177'> a daughter of John Bellis, who lost three sons on board men-of-war during the war of the Revolution. To the marriage of Stephen Brewster were born the following children: James G. ; Lucinda, who was mar- ried to James Edrington; Charlotte, married to Martin Hansell; Hannah, married to Will- iam Clark; Hiram, who died in infancy, and Alexander. In i Soo the family moved from Connecticut to Whitestown, Oneida count}', N. Y., and in 1812 came in wagons to Sum- mit count}', Ohio, there being at that date only two log cabins in Akron. The}' cut a road from East Akron through the wilderness to Akron, part of this road being now Buch- tel avenue, and here the father bought the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 215 farm of 160 acres on which John Brewster now resides, built on it the first habitation — a log cabin — and cleared up the land. In 181 5, Stephen Brewster erected the first frame house in the township, and, being a zealous Presby- terian, the early meetings of this sect in the neighborhood were held in this new dwelling. Stephen and wife later became charter mem- bers of, and largely aided in building, the First Tallmadge and Second Springfield town- ship Presbyterian churches. Mrs. Lydia Brewster died in this faith at the age of seventy-one years, and Mr. Brewster died, an equally devout Presbyterian, July 4, 1858, aged eighty years and two months. Alexander I>rewster, youngest child of Stephen and Lydia Brewster and father of our subject, was born in Oneida county, N. Y. , September 10, 1808, and was consequent- ly four years of age when the family reached Summit county, Ohio, the day on which the war of 18 1 2 was declared against Great Brit- ain. He was educated in the log school- houses of the frontier, and lived on the home farm until his marriage, January 9, 1830, to Margaret A. Kinney, who was born May 14, 18 1 3, a daughter of Ephraim and Mary Kin- ney. To this marriage were born the follow- ing children; Louisa, wife of J. F. Michum; Alfred A.; Ephraim; Mary; Melissa, wife of R. H. Kent, and Austin K. In 1848, Mr. Brewster engaged in coal mining, and before retiring had made it the largest industr}' in this line in the state, as will be shown in the coming paragraph, but it is here necessary to introduce an episode in the life of Mr. Brewster. March i8, 1850, he, in company with several others, started for the gold fields of California, going by wagon to Saint Louis, Mo., thence by steamboat up the Missouri river to Saint Jo, and then by wagon across the plains, through hordes of hostile Indians, to Sacramento, and while on this trip saw many hundred persons die of cholera. For about one year he engaged in gold digging, and then returned to Ohio and resumed coal mining. While in the coal business, Mr. Brewster, in company with his sons, exhausted about ten mines, and the books of the company, kept in Cleveland, show that he handled from 300,000 to 500,000 tons of coal yearly for twenty-one years, besides other outputs, not recorded in the books mentioned. The company had al- most exclusive control of the mines on the Cleveland & Ohio canal, and continued their operations until 1865, when Mr. Brewster re- tired to Akron with a competency, and this city is still his home. December 14, 1854, Mrs. Margaret A. Brewster was called from earth, and some time afterward Mr. Brewster married Minerva Brown, who died September 6, 1877. Mr. Brewster next married Mrs. Lucy J. Chamber- lain, daughter of Justus and Sarah (Hyde) Gale, who came from Brattleboro, \'t., in 1833, to Akron, Ohio, which then contained a population of about 300. Here Mr. Gale became a prosperous merchant, accumulated valuable property, and died in the faith of the Episcopalian church, and in politics was a whig. During the active years of his life, Mr. Brew- ster was a class leader in the Methodist Epis- copal church, and has always been most liberal in his contributions toward the support of church and school. At the age of eighty-nine years, he is to-day one of the oldest, most prominent and most respected of the citizens of Summit county. Austin K. Brewster was educated in the district schools of Coventry township, in the Greenburg seminary, and in the public schools of Akron, and began his business life in 1S65 by becoming bookkeeper in the office of his father, in Coventry township. The same year, the firm of Brewster & Sons was formed, and n& PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in 1867 the Brewster Coal company was in- corporated, since when Austin K. has been its secretary and treasurer. In 1869 he came to Akron, the main office of the company being transferred to this city, and here he has ever since made his home. May 25, 1875, Mr. Brewster married Miss Louise Hitchcock, daughter of Frederick and Laura L. (Seekins) Hitchcock, of Cleveland, Ohio, and this union was blessed with one child, Liona L.. born May 4, 1882. Mrs. Louisa Brewster, it is painful to add. was called from earth and from her family April 6. 1897. ^"V'ELAH WARREN BURT, mayor of •^^^kT Kent, Ohio, was born in Franklin h*^,^_y township. Portage county, June 1 5, 1835, the }ounger of the two children born to Warren and Lydia (Shurtlif?) Burt, and is a representative of one of the pioneer fam- ilies of Franklin township. Martin Burt, grandfather of subject, was a native of Northhampton, Mass., was a farmer, and in 1821 traded his land in the Bay state for 600 acres in Ohio, and the same year came to Portage county and settled in F""ranklin township, where he cleared up a farm adjoin- ing Lake Brady, being one of the first settlers of that neighborhood. To him and wife, Phil- omelia (Robinson) Burt, were born si.x chil- dren, viz: Warren, father of subject; Martin, who resides in Virginia; Philomelia (Mrs. Ormsby), of Vermillion, Ohio; Horace, de- ceased; Dorcas C. , who was married to Rodney Wing and died in Birmingham, Ohio; Electa, wife of Samuel Wales, of River Falls, Wis. Warren Burt, father of Selah W., was born in Northampton, Mass., August 5, 1806, and came to Ohio with his parents, driving a team all the way and arriving in Portage county on his fifteenth birttidaj'. Here he grew to manhood, assisting his father in clearing up the new homestead, and working on the dams and locks of the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal, in the meantime receiving a very fair common-school education. November 30, 1829, he married Miss Lydia, daughter of Selah and Pruanna (Phillips) Shurtliff, and a native of South Hampden, Mass., born in 18 10, and also came to Ohio in 1820 with her parents, who settled in Franklin township, Portage county. At his marriage, Warren Burt was presented bj' his father with a tract of eighty acres of the orig- inal 600 acres of land, on which he lived until 1863, when he removed to Kent, where his wife died in 1886, since when he has made his home with his son, Selah W. To his marriage there were born two children, viz: Lydia Louisa, wife of T. M. Sawyer, of Cleveland, and Selah Warren, the subject of this memoir. In politics Mr. Rurt was first a whig but is now a republican, and in religion he has been a member of the Christian church since almost childhood, and of this church his wife was also a member. Selah Warren Burt was reared on the home farm in Franklin township, received his ele- mentary education in the common schools and then attended Hiram college two terms. In August, 1859, he first married Miss Sarah Stowe, who died in April, 1861, leaving one child, also deceased. In 1862 he married Miss Susan A. Stratton, a native of Franklin town- ship and a daughter of Josejih B. and Ruth (Olin) Stratton, and this union has been blessed with one daughter, Cora M., wife of Frank C. Green, of Kent. Joseph B. Stratton, father of Mrs. Burt, was a native of Vermont, was a farmer, and ended his earthly cares in the city of Kent. Mr. Burt followed agriculture as a calling on his farm of eighty-two acres until 1886, when, on the death of his mother, he retired to Kent. In politics he has always been an active republican and his first public office was OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 217 that of township trustee of Franklin, w hich he held for over twenty years. In 1893 he was elected infirmary director, which office he still holds. He ser\ed as member of the city coun- cil of Kent for one term, and in 1806 was elected mayor. He has proven faithful and efficient in every trust reposed in him, and is deservedly popular with his party as well as with the general public. He is a member of Kockton lodge. No. 316, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past worshipful master. His wife and daughter are members of the Univer- salist church. Sociallj' the family stands very high, and their circle of acquaintance em- braces a wide extent of the territory of Frank- lin township. >Y*^H^^ P". BYERS, manager of the John M F. Byers Machine company, Ravenna, m J was born in Milton township, Mahon- ing county, Ohio, November 13, 1844, a son of Frederick and Ann (Reichard) Byers, natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of five children, four of whom are still living, viz: John F., George R. , Charles, and Hattie, the wife of .A. Trowbridge. Frederick Byers, the paternal grandfather of subject, was born in Germany, lived for many years in Pennsylvania, but died in Ma- honing county, Ohio, at the age of eighty-si.\ years, the father of a large family. John Reichard, the maternal grandfather, was also a native of Germany, first settled in the Key- stone state, later came to Mahoning county, Ohio, and there died at an advanced age. Frederick Byers, the younger, father of John I'. Byers, was reared on a farm in Pennsyl- vania, came to Ohio in his early manhood and lived in Mahoning county until within ten years of his death, which occurred in Ravenna, March 4, 1869. His wife died in 1887, a member of the Lutheran church. John F. Byers, the subject of this biog- raphy, was educated in the district schools of his native county and reared on the home farm until nearly seventeen years of age. About 1859 he came to Ravenna, learned the stone- cutter's trade, and worked on a neighboring farm until twenty-one years old, and then worked for fourteen years for the railroad company as stonecutter. His next step in business was to establish his present machine shop, which employs, when in full running order, about fifty hands. On the /th day of August, 1890, Mr. Byers was united in marriage with Miss Kate Palm, daughter of Adam Palm, and this happy mar- riage has been blessed with four children, born in the following order: Fred, Anna, John and Eve. Mr. Byers and family have a pleasant home one mile south of Ravenna, where he owns a farm of 125 acres, which, beside being pleasant — Mr. Byers having been reared a farmer — is made profitable through his skillful direction. Mr. Byers is a non-affiliating Odd Fellow, although for a number of years he was an active member of that order. In his poli- tics he is independent and votes for the man he thinks to be best qualified to fill the offices necessary to be filled — preferring to devote his time and attention to the needs of his patrons rather than wasting it by dabbling in party feuds. He and wife enjoy a high posi- tion socially and are much esteemed by all who know them. BRED I. BEAN, the gentlemanly pro- prietor of the Etna House, Ravenna, Ohio, is a native of Hammondsville, Ohio, was born January 17, 1869, and is the only survivor of the three children born to James and Eli/.a (Downer) Bean, the former of whom, also a native of Ohio, was a physician, but died when the subject was in 218 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD his infancy; the mother, now Mrs. H. S. Shannon, is a resident of Ravenna, Ohio. Subject was educated at Ada, Ohio, and grad- uated from the Northwestern Ohio university; his life has been passed almost entirely in ho- tels, his step-father, Mr. Shannon, having had an extensive e.xperience in this line of busi- ness, and to him subject owes much of his in- struction in hotel keeping. The Etna House, of which Mr. Bean took charge June i, 1896, was thoroughly reno- vated and remodeled and is to-daj' the most favored of the hotels in Ravenna. The dining- room service is perfect and the employees courteous and polite on all occasions. The tables are supplied with the choicest viands that can be procured, and three complete meals are furnished daily — not with one good dinner and a light breakfast and supper, as is the custom with many hotels — but three sub- stantial repasts. The rooms are neatly fu r- nished and steamheated — thebeds are luxuri- ous and inviting to repose, and the Etna is rapidly becoming the choice of resorts by the traveling men of northeastern Ohio, who es- teem themselves fortunate if they reach the house in time to pass a Sunday or a holiday. No large city hotel could boast of a more ele- gant menu than that prepared at the Etna for Thanksgiving day, 1S96, and the daily fare is proportionately liberal and choice. In con- nection with the hotel is a bar, from which all gambling and its devices are strictly excluded. This is presided over by a temperate and po- lite gentleman, who caters to a legitimate trade, supplying the choicest articles of con- sumption, but discourages all loungers and dis- reputable visitants. The two clerks of the ho- tel are affable and obliging, and use every eflort to make the guests feel at home. Mr. Bean is himself a frank, genial and cordial gentleman, whose long experience as man- ager and proprietor of hotels here and else- where has well fitted him for the discharge of his duties in the delicate profession he has chosen to pursue, and all acknowledge him to be able and thorough in all its multifarious departments. Mr. Bean is prominent in Freemasonr)', being a member of Rockton lodge. No. 316, A. & F. M., of Kent; of Tyrian chapter. No. 91, R. A. M., of Ravenna, and of Akron com- mandery, No. 25, K. T., and also of the Or- der of the Eastern Star, and Crescent lodge, 225, Ravenna. In politics he is a republican. aHRISTIAN CACKLER, one of the most prominent native farmers of Franklin township. Portage count}', Ohio, and a representative of one of the oldest families in the county, and the third of his name, was born August 17, 1S36, in the house in which he resided until the spring of 1897, when he removed to Kent — a son of Christian and Tharisa (Nighman) Cackler, of whom a biography will be presented further on. The house in which subject was born was erected by his father in 1829, was one of the first brick mansions erected in portage county, is still an elegant residence, and here was organi2ed permanently the Pioneer asso- ciation of Portage county in 1S74. Christian Cackler, the subject, was edu- cated in the common schools of his district, and he also attended the schools of Kent for a few terms. All his life has been passed in the quiet but noble pursuit of agriculture, and he now owns 114 acres of land in one body, this being his portion of the original 400 acres owned by his father. He was married August 10, 1862, to Elizabeth Mary Bently, daughter of John Bently, of Kent. This lad\- was born in New York city January 29, 1S43, and when fifteen years of age came with her parents to Portage count\', Ohio. To her marriage with OF PORTAGE AND SUMxMIT COUNTIES. 21i> Mr. Cackler she has borne two children, viz: John C, who was born January 13, 1872, and who married in December, 1894, Miss Mary Hilderhoof, the result of this union being one son, Donald G., and whose residence is in Kent; Theresa Ella Louisa, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Cackler, resides with her par- ents and is a music teacher. In politics Mr. Cackler has always been a democrat, is at present a township trustee, and has held sev- eral other township offices as a matter of pub- lic duty, but not for either emolument or honor. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason, and both his wife and daughter are members of the order of the Eastern Star, an au.\iliary branch of the Masonic order for the benefit of the wives and daughters of Masons. To revert to the life of the parents of sub- ject: Christian Cackler, one of the first settlers of Portage county, died at his residence, in Franklin township, on the morning of July 5th, 1878. He was born in Washington county. Pa. , June 27, 1791. In the spring of 1804, with his father and eldest brother, he moved to Hudson, Ohio. Three years later he was bound out to remain till he was twenty-one, that he might help support the family. Shortly after he obtained his freedom, he enlisted in the war of 18 12, and remained in service one year and twenty days. In August, 18 14, by Frederick Caris, Esq., he was married to Miss Tharisa Nighman. This was the first white couple married in Franklin township. On January i, 18 16, he moved to the place where he resided until death. The young couple had to endure the privations and hardships incident to the early settlement of Portage county. The prospect before them would not, to young people of this generation, seem very inviting. Mr. Cackler had an ax, and his wife a bed, and they purchased three white saucers, three knives and forks, and a wooden pail. These articles, with three wooden plates. a kettle and a table that was given them, com- posed their "set out." They contracted for fifty acres of land for $175, and they had to labor, struggle and economize for seventeen years to obtain a deed. This was a grand triumph over trying difficulties and adverse surroundings, and prepared the wa\' for other victories. From this time they were blessed with material prosperity. Hy honest work, frugal management, and the rise of real estate, they acquired a valuable property. For nearh' fifty years they lived and toiled together. Of twelve children all but one lived to years of maturity, and three still survive, and reside at, or near, the uld home. Of thirty-two grandchildren all but one survive their honored ancestors. Mrs. Tharisa Cackler listed until April 23, I SG9, when she expired at her home in Frank- lin township from a paralytic shock. She was born in- Hagerstown, Md., November 23, 1791, and came to Franklin township. Portage coun- ty, Ohio, with her parents, in 1808. Here- with is appended in chronological order the complete genealogy of this old and respectable Ohio family, from the original pioneer to the birth of the subject of this memoir: Christian Cackler, Sr. , born January 27. 1756; Mrs. Julia Ann (wife of C. Cackler), born October 14, 1759; Peggy Cackler, born December 7, 1780; Elizabeth, born March 12, 1782; Polly, born August 12, 1783; Susan, born September 3, 1785; Catherine, born June 5, 1787; Abraham, l)orn May 5, 17S9; Chris- tian Cackler, Jr., born June 27, 1791; John, born October 22, 1793; J'llia Ann, born March 22, 1796; Sarah, born May 16, 1798; Peter, born November 13, 1801. C. Cackler, Sr., was married January 27, 1780; died Sep- tember 28, 1830. Mrs. C. died November 23. 1831. Record of Mrs. Cackler's family: Tharisa Nighman, born November 23, 1791; George, 220 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born August 28, 1793; John, born August 8, '795; Catherine, born September 15, 1797; Henry, born October 6, 1799; Peggy, born May 6, 1801; David, born October 10, 1802; Frederick and Polly, born September 5, 1804; Eliza, born February 13, 1807; William, born November 18, 18 10; Emily, born Deceinber 23, 1813; Adam Nighman, father of Mrs. Cackler, born June 21, 1764, and Elizabeth (Mrs. X.), born April i, 1772. The former died June 12, 1835, and the latter August 5, 1840; David died April 23, 1826, and George died June 12, 1835. Christian Cackler, Jr., was born June 27, 1 791. Tharisa Cackler was born November 23, 1791; died April 23, 1869, aged seventy- eight years. George Cackler was born Feb- ruary 13, 181 5; Almon Cackler was born Au- gust 21, 1816 — died July 2, 1845, aged twen- ty-nine years. Polly Cackler was born Feb- ruary 26, 18 1 8. Elizabeth Cackler was born March 19, 1820 — died February 15, 1872, aged fifty-two years. Harriet Cackler was born November 20, 1822- died April 10, 1849, aged twenty-seven years. Edwin and Edward Cackler were born April 10, 1824. Edward died February i, 1826, aged two years. Caroline Cackler was born May 31, 1826 — died April 23, 1849, aged twenty-three years. Jacob Cackler was born October 3, 1828. Julia Ann Cackler was born August 10, 1830. Delanah Cackler was born July 12, 1834. Christian Cackler III was born August 17, 1836. m. 'ILLIAM HENRY CANFIELD, bookkeeper for the Ravenna Shoe company, was born in this city September 6, 1 840, and is a son of William Harrison and Lydia Thompson (Frary) Canfield, the former of whom was born in Edinburg, Portage county, Ohio, and the latter in North Becket, Berkshire county, Mass., but came when quite young to Ohio with her father. William Harrison Canfield, father of our subject, was well educated in the district schools of Edinburg, then learned cabinet- making, which he followed many years, and then engaged in undertaking, removing to Windham, Portage county, in 1841, where he lived until 1858, when he came to Ravenna, re- mained here one year, and then went to Corry, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life. William Henry Canfield, the subject, was educated in the common schools and in the academy of Windham; at the age of fifteen years, came to Ra\'enna and entered the store of Bostwick & Beatty as clerk, whence he went to Cleveland and took a course of six months in the Spencerian Business college, thoroughlv learning bookkeeping and business methods generalh'. He then clerked for Ed- win Holden, at Charleston, Portage county, for a year and a half, and afterward went to Youngstown, Ohio, where he started a gro- cery, which he later merged into a general store, this being about the time of the open- ing of the Civil war. In 1865 he sold out his Youngstown establishment and went to Corr\', Pa., in 1866, where he entered the freight office of the Atlantic & Great Western Rail- way company and remained until 1869, when he returned to Youngstown, Ohio: where he was employed in the office of the same com- pany as bookkeeper for fourteen jears. About two years of this time, however, he was in charge of the Shenango company's coal mines, under the general manager, R. J. \\'ick. About this time Mr. Canfield's health began to fail, and for a time he withdrew from his too confining vocation, and found desul- tory employment with the board of elections, also served as juror and as assessor until Feb- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 221 ruary i, 1S93, when he returned to Ravenna and assumed the duties of his present posi- tion, which he has since filltd in a most satis- factory manner. September 2, 1S62, Mr. Canfieid married, in Youngstown, Miss Elizabeth Burnet, deugh- terof Stephen F. and Harriet (Drake) Burnet, the union resulting in the birth of nine children, viz. : Emma Lydia, Mary Elizabeth, Fordham Harrison, Frederick Wesley (deceased), Cyrus Burnet and Harriet Iva (deceased), Clara Louise, William Jay and Charles Henry. The father of Mrs. Canfield, Stephen F. Burnet, was born in New Jersey and his wife in Roche- dale, Lancashire, England. Mr. Canfield had three children, viz.: William H., Charles Wesley, who died in February, 1876, and Iva G. , now Mrs. J. P. Dawley, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Canfield was formerly a member of lodge No. 365, F. & A. M., of Corry, Pa., but is now an unaffiliating Mason. In religion he is a Methodist, and at Youngstown was record- ing steward and trustee of his congregation; with his family he is now a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Ravenna, of which he is also a steward. In politics he is a strong republican and a believer in a protective tariff and sound monej'. ta 'ILLIAM I. CARIS, D. D. S., one of the most scientific dentists of the state of Ohio, and now a resident of Kent, was born on his father's farm in Portage county, September 4, 1852. He is the inventor of the Caris Electro-anss- therizer, and is at the head of a company in Kent organized for the manufacture of the same. John Caris, grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and while yet a single man came to Ohio and was one of the first settlers in Rootstown, Portage county, of which town- ship, also, he was the first justice of the peace. He was a millwright by trade and a general wood worker, was very ingenious, and in- vented a wheel for spinning flax and wool, and also invented a turning lathe. He here mar- ried Elizabeth Hartle, by whom he became the father of nine children. \iz: George, a shoemaker; Michael, a farmer; Frederick, a blacksmith; Samuel, a farmer; Lycurgus, a stone and brick mason; Henry, a farmer: Mary, married to James Likings; Susan, wife of Nelson Fuller, and one other. These chil- dren all made their homes in Portage county excepting Lycurgus, who settled in LaGrange, Ind. Frederick Caris, a brother of John, came with the latter to Portage county and engaged in farming. Samuel Caris, father of Dr. William I. Caris, was born in Rootstown township De- cember 27, 1823, a son of John and Elizabeth Caris. He was reared a farmer and married Rachel Ward, who was born in Rootstown June 20, 1824, a daughter of \Villiam and Betsey (Eatinger) Ward. William Ward, while serving in the army during the Revolu- tionary war, was badly injured and was carried from the field to camp b\' his comrade, John Caris, and this incident made them lasting friends — three sons of John Caris subsequently marrying three of the daughters of William Ward. John Caris lived to reach the age of eighty-two years, but his friend, William Ward, died when seventy-three or seventy- four years old. To the marriage of Samuel Caris and wife were born three children, viz: Belle, wife of Ira L. Herriff, of Kent; Dr. William I.; and Frank D., who died at the age of seven years. The mother of these chil- dren passed away in June, 1895; the father is living in Kent, but still owns the home farm. He has alwavs been a democrat, but has taken 222 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD very little interest in politics, excepting the depositing of his ballot. Dr. William I. Caris lived on the home farm, attendinj^ school the meanwhile at Roots- town, until seventeen years old; he then passed a year at Ravenna in business, and at the age of eighteen commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. G. A. Case, under whose preceptor- ship he remained two years, and then opened an office in Huntington, W. Va., where he was in active practice until 1874, when he returned to Kent, Ohio, being now one of the oldest dentists in this city and standing in the front rank of the profession. He is an active worker in the Ohio State Dental society, in the North- ern Ohio Dental society, the Odontological society, the West Penn Dental society, of Pittsburg, and of the Lake Erie Dental so- ciety, and is a constant attendant at their meetings as well as a valuable contributor to their professional literature. He is the invent- or of the most wonderful and effective cata- phoric instrument ever discovered, which is denominated the Caris electro-antestherizer, and is unequivocally endorsed bj' hundreds of professional dentists of the highest reputation who have used the little instrument or ma- chine, and a company has been formed in Kent for its manufacture. Dr. Caris has been also instrumental in advancing other local en- terprises in Kent, and is a stockholder in the Royal Machine company, which manufactures refrigerators, steam engines, etc. ; he is also a stockholder in the Kent opera house, of which he was the first manager, holding that position two years. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and has passed all the chairs in his lodge; is a member of Akron encampment. No. 18, and of grand canton, No. 2, being brigade surgeon of the Ohio division and holding the rank of major; he is also a Knight of Pythias, being a past chancellor commander, and now a mem- ber of McPherson lodge. No. 65, at Akron; likewise, he is a member of the Royal Ar- canum. March 25, 1876, Dr. Caris married Miss Roxie S. Parmelee, and this union has re- sulted in the birth of two bright children — Carl P. and Mabel D. In politics the doctor was a democrat until the formation of the greenback party, with which he identified him- self and was elected city clerk; he was then appointed to fill an unexpired term as mayor of Kent, and after the expiration of his term was elected to succeed himself and served one full term. While mayor he succeeded in in- troducing the present waterworks system in Kent, the contract for the construction of the plant being let under his administration. He is now serving his second term in the city council. The doctor has made every dollar he owns, although his father once went his se- curity for $400, which has long since been paid by the doctor. The father could have done better, but had full confidence in his son's ability to succeed with this little aid, and he was not disappointed. ,>^^EWTON CHALKER, one of the I M most sagacious and experienced at- K f torneys-at-law of Akron, Ohio, with his office at No. 130 South Howard street, has been a resident of this city since 1874. He is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Southington, Trumbull coun- ty, September 12, 1842, a son of James, Jr.. and Eliza J. (Hyde) Chalker, both, also na- tives of Trumbull county. The families on both sides were from Connecticut and were of English descent, the paternal branch having come to America about the year 1640. James Chalker, Jr. , father of Newton Chalker. the subject, was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Eliza J. Hyde, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 223 who bore him four children, viz: Benson, who (lied in childhood; Byron, a farmer of Southington, Trumbull county, who died at the age of fifty-two years; Newton was the third born; Columbus, also a farmer, who died at the age of twenty-seven years. The mother of this family died December 24, 1849, and Mr. Chalker then married Adaline Timmerman, of York state, who bore two daughters — Mary J., deceased wife of A. J. Morris, of Southington, and Bertha, wife of Thomas McConnell, of Warren, Ohio. The father, James Chalker, Jr., lived to reach the age of eighty-two years, and died September 23, 1893. Newton Chalker was reared in his native township and attended the district school un- til he was fourteen years of age, and then at- tended the Western Reserve seminary, at Farmington, Trumbull county, at intervals, until he reached his twenty-first year, when he entered Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., from which he graduated in the class of 1866 with the degree of A. B. , and later received the degree of A. M. The year of 1866-67 h^ was principal of the Dixon (111.) seminary, and in 1867-68 was superintendent of the public schools at Darlington, Wis.; in 1868-69 he attended the law school of Albany, N. Y. , graduated in 1869, receiving the degree of LL. B. , and was at once admitted to the bar of New York, but soon afterward went to Cameron, Mo. , was admitted to the bar of that state, and for five years was there en- gaged in active practice. In 1874, as before stated, he came to Akron, Ohio, where he has since been occupied in general practice, and in handling real estate. He has made two allotments in the city of Akron, the first being known as Chalker's sub-division of a part of the original plat, and the second as Chalker's North Hill addition, and which comprises twenty-one acres. Mr. Chalker has also been a stockholder and a director in the People's Savings bank of Akron. In 1893 Mr. Chalker praticall)- retired from business and passed much time in travel. He visited Canada, most of the states of the Union, and Mexico. In 1895-96, he made a tour around the world, visiting the leading na- tions of the earth. In politics Mr. Chalker is a republican, in religion a rationalist; he is also a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., having enlisted in the Civil war, in company B. Eighty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and having been engaged in the three days' battle at Harper's Ferry, ■Va., in September, 1863, under Gen. Miles, who was defeated by the larger army of Stone- wall Jackson. After a service of four months, he was honorably mustered out at Delaware, Ohio. Mr. Chalker is unmarried, but has a pleasant home at No. 907 North Howard street. He is-truly a self-made man, having acquired his success through his astuteness as an attor- ney, his financiering abilities, and, above all, his unswerving integrity and diligence in car- ing for the interests of his patrons. ORIN D. CHILDS, M. D., an eminent physician and surgeon of Broadway and Market streets, Akron, Ohio, is native of Washington county, Vt. , was born in February, 1840, and is a son of Dennis and Angeline (Straw) Childs, of En- glish descent. Dennis Childs, father of the doctor, was a farmer and civil engineer and quite distin- guished in his native state of Vermont in pub- lic affairs, having been twice elected to the leg- islature and having filled several minor offices. In the fall of 1855 he removed to Wisconsin, where he quietly followed agriculture until his death. His children, who all grew to matur- ity, were si.\ in number, and were named, in 224 PORTRAIT AND I5IOGRAPHICAL RECORD order of birth, Ruth, who is married; O. D., the subject; A. S., a homeopathic physician of Chicago, 111. ; A. A., a dentist of Akron, Ohio; Eunice, wife of Charles Remington, of Brook- lyn, N. Y. , and Mary, wife of Myron Sam- phere. Dr. O. D. Childs was educated in the com- mon and high schools of \'ermont and Wis- consin, having been fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the latter state. He was reared to farming, and in February, 1865, enlisted for the war in company D, Forty-ninth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged at Madison, Wis., in October, 1865, long after the war had closed. In the fall of the same year he came to Ohio and entered the office of Prof. T. P. Wilson, in Cleveland, where he read medi- cine until prepared to enter the Cleveland Homeopathic college, where he attended lec- tures until his graduation in February, 1867. In the fall of 1868 he assisted in organizing the Woman's Homeopathic college of Cleve- land, in which he filled the chair of anatomy until this college was merged into the Cleve- land Homeopathic Medical college. During the interval, however, he had opened an office for practice in Akron, in 1867, and alternated his professional with his college duties. The doctor has made nervous disorders a special study, and his practice has been very lucrative and successful. For twenty years the doctor has been a member of the state Homeopathic Medical society, was one of the organizers of the Northeastern Ohio Medical society, and also of the Summit county Homeopathic Clinical Medical society, as well as of the Cleveland Medical college, of which he is still one of the trustees. In 1871 he became a member of Akron lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M. He is pub- lic spirited to a marked degree, and eager to advance the prosperity of his adopted city. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Savings & Loan association in 1871, and is still a stockholder and directqr; also an organizer of and director in the Akron Belting company; also a director in the Akron Abstract & Title Guarantee company, and is active in other en- terprises. In 1870 he was one of the organiz- ers of the Y. M. C. A., of which he was pres- ident for the years 1874, 5 and 6. Dr. Childs is emphatically a self-made man in the business sense of the expression. having begun life with little or no pecuniary assistance, and now standing in the front rank among the members of his profession, as well as among the solid business men of the citj' of Akron. The doctor was united in marriage in June, 1890, with Miss Lillian R. Robertson, daugh- rer of Capt. Robertson, now of Kansas City. Mo., but formerly for many years a steamboat captain on the lower Ohio and Mississippi riv- ers. The marriage of the doctor has been blessed with one child — Celeste Angeline. ,>^ ENJAMIN F. CLARK, recorder of l/*^ Summit county, was born in Colum- J^^^ biana county, Ohio, January 24, 1841, a son of George Calhoun and Susan A. (Lee) Clark. George Calhoun Clark was a nati\e of Lancaster county. Pa., of Scotch and Ger- man parentage. While an infant he was deprived by death of his father and was being reared in the Catholic faith by his mother, which, being obnoxious to him, caused him to desert his home at a tender age and seek a refuge in Virginia. There he spent his youthful days and managed to secure a good common- school education, and later learned the car- penter's trade; he next began the study of the Scriptures, with a view to entering the min- istry. While engaged in these studies he married Miss Susan A. Lee, a first cousin of ^,j.-^' 7^. lyo.^^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 227 Gen. Robert E. Lee, and daughter of William Lee, who married a Miss Atchison and resided Albemarle county, Va. After marriage Mr. Clark came to Ohio and located in New Lis- bon. Having united himself with the Disciples' church and entered the ministry, he devoted his life to that service, chiefly preaching in Columbiana, Trumbull, Stark, Wayne and Summit counties, Ohio, from the age of thirty years until his death, at the age of fifty-nine years, in Wooster, ^^''ayne county, August 12, iiS6o, while he was there in charge of the Disciples' church. His widow survived him until March 4, 1865, when she died also in Wooster. Their family comprised eight chil- dren, viz: William H., who died at Nashville, Tenn., at the age of thirty years; Mary A., widow of Lieut. George W. Pomeroy, of Akron; Sarah, who died in infancy; Nancy Lee, who died in Wooster in 1870, the wife of A. J. Harvey, a soldier of the Civil war; Sylvanus, who died in Millersburg, Holmes county, in 1872, from the effects of wounds received at the battle of Pea Ridge, while serving as ser- geant in Capt. Hickenloope's battery; Eliza- beth F., who was first married to Stephen A. Goodrich, a soldier of company I, One Hun- dred and Second Ohio volunteer infantry, captured at Birmingham, Ala., and murdered by guerrillas, and whose second husband was E/ra Tryon, a veteran of the Mexican war, and later was wounded while serving in the Si.xth Ohio battery in the Civil war, but who died on his farm at Nelson Center, Portage county, in 1893; George W., a machinist of Kansas City, Mo., and a member for three years of company H, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry; and Benjamin F., the subject. Benjamin F. Clark was reared in north- eastern Ohio, was educated in the public schools — principally of Massillon — and at the age of sixteen years entered the office of Dr. A. Met/., the noted oculist and surgeon of 4 Massillon, studied under him for three years, and was prepared for his first course of lectures when the Civil war broke out, and he en- listed, August 13, 1 86 1, in compan\- H, Six- teenth Ohio \olunteer infantry. He was wounded in the knee by a piece of shell at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., late in 1862, was sent home, and, after careful nursing, recov- ered and re-enlisted March 20, 1864, entering company B, Mcl^oughlin's squad of cavalry, and participated in the engagements at Resaca, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, around At- lanta and the raid on Macon, where he was taken by the enemy and sent to Andersonville, where he was confined nine months. He was one of the first 100 selected to be sent to .An- napolis, Md., for parole, and, like the others, was a mere skeleton, unable to walk, from star- vation. As soon as able to be transported he was returned to his home at \\'ooster, Ohio, but here collapsed, and for three months was on the verge of the grave. His good mother nursed him to life again, but at the sacrifice of her own; for, on the third day after he was was able to sit up, she lay down and three days later yielded up her faithful spirit. Mr. Clark then joined his regiment at Charlotte, N. C, and was placed on guard duty; shortly after his squadron was merged into company C, Ohio cavalry, and was finally mustered out at Charlotte, N. C, October 28, 1865. After returning from the war, Mr. Clark learned the printer's trade at Wooster, and about this time was married, of which event further mention will be made. At the same time, in partnership with his brother, George, he established a bakery and confectionery, which was continued for about one year. He then took his young wife to Canton, Ohio, entered the Repository office, Josiah Hartzell and Thomas Saxton proprietors, and was con- nected with this journal eight \ears, and, beside setting type, did much uf the local 228 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD reporting and editorial work. In 1874 he came to Akron and ten years was a com- positor on the Beacon and eleven years on the editorial staff — having charge, during the three years of the latter period, of the local force. He gave some attention to politics while on the Beacon, but was not a seeker of office; nevertheless, being a stanch republican, he was solicited, in the fall of 1890, to become the candidate of his party for the office of recorder of Summit county — was elected, and re-elected in 1893. His term of office expired in January, 1897, and then he was appointed by the county commissioners to fill the vacancy in the office, occasioned b)' the change in time of the year when the recorder assumed the duties of the office. Beside wielding a trenchant and facile pen, Mr. Clark is a first-class business man. He was one of the founders of the Van Wart company and is its vice-president; he is also proprietor of a novelty store in Youngstown, which he has placed in charge of a son, and which he established in the spring of 1892; he is president of the board of trustees of the First church of Christ in Akron, and for seven years was secretary of the board of charities in this city. Fraternally, he is a member of Akron lodge, No. 547. I. O. O. F. , and of Akron encampment. No. 18; of grand canton Akron. No. 2, patriarchs militant, and past chief patriarch of Akron encampment; also assistant surgeon-general of the First brigade, patriarchs militant of Ohio, with the rank of major; is a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., and McPherson lodge, No. 63, K. of P. The marriage of Mr. Clark took place May I, 1866, with Miss Carrie Foltz, daughter of Moses and Sarah Foltz, the union resulting in the birth of four children, viz.: Harry W., who died at the age of six months; Cora Alice, wife of H. S. Brandon, picture-framer of .Akron; George Kean, manager of his father's store in Youngstown, and married to Miss Ona B. Waite, of Akron; and William Kean Foltz, at home with his parents. ^>^ YRON CHAPMAN, M. D.. of Copley l^''^ township, Summit county, Ohio, was JK^^^ born near Skaneateles, N. Y., Jan- uary 8, 1822, a son of Ashbel and Polly (Lane) Chapman, natives of Massachu- setts and the parents of the following-named children: Orson C, Selina, Orlin C, Lovina, Melissa, Lucius, Cynthia (whose husband, H. D. Patch, was killed at Shiloh in the late Civil war), Percinda, Almeron, Philinda, Will- iam J., Byron and John H. The Chapman family came overland from New York by teams to Copley township. Sum- mit county, in the fall of 1835, and settled on a farm of 154 acres, one-half mile south of Center. Here Ashbel Chapman, who had fought at Lundy's Lane in the war of 1812, cleared up a comfortable home, and on this farm Byron was reared to manhood, attend- ing in the meanwhile the common and more advanced school, until twentj-two years of age. Having now decided to adopt the med- ical profession as his life-pursuit, he com- mended the study of the science under his brother, William J., then a practitioner of some note in Copley. Later he attended lectures at Cleveland (Ohio) Medical college, from which he was graduated in March, 1847. But, just about this time, his elder brother and preceptor, William J., was suddenly called from earth and his field of usefulness, yet Byron felt no hesitancy in taking charge of the deceased physician's patients, whom he so skillfully treated that his reputation was at once established, and an increased and lucra- tive practice has been his ever since. Dr. Byron Chapman was united in mar- riage, December 23, 1847, with Miss Matilda OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 229 Dils, then of New Hudson, Oakland county, Mich., but a native of Cayuga county, N. Y., born April 1 1, 1830, a daughter of Abram and Mary (Polhamus) Dils. To this union have been born two children, Willis D. and Fan- nie P. Willis 1). Chapman was born October 3, 1 84S, and was educated in Copley and the Penn- sylvania Polytechnic college of Philadelphia. He then became locating engineer on the Lake Shore tS; Tuscarawas Valley railway, held the position until 1871, and then filled a similar position on the Canada Southern rail- way from 1872 to 1876; was then engaged in general civil engineering, with headquarters at Toledo, Ohio, for two years; then was for two years mining engineer and United States dep- uty surveyor in Montana, and in Akron, Ohio, served as city engineer from 1886 until 1889, since which time he has been engaged in elec- tric street railway construction in Akron, Can- ton and Zanesville, Ohio. At present Mr. Chapman is general manager of the Akron Street Railway & Illuminating compan\-. He has been a member of the American society of Civil Engineers since 1883, and also of the Ohio society of Civil Engineers. His marriage took place February 26, 1873, to Miss Ella A. Marriner, who was born in Akron Alay 5, 1849, and to this union have' been born six children, viz: Charles A., Etha M., Willis D., Jr., Ella A., George B. and Fred. Fanny P. Chapman was born August 3, 1852, and is now the widow of Albert E. Hiestand, who was a prominent attorney of Akron. Mrs. Hiestand has her present residence with her parents in Copley, and is a lady of many esti- mable qualities. , Dr. Chapman has been a member of the republican party since its organization, assist- ing as a delegate to Columbus, Ohio, when the party was founded in this state. He has served as postmaster seventeen years, as town- ship clerk ten years, and as treasurer twenty- seven years. Fraternally, he is a member of Copley tent. No. 204, K. (). T. M., and has ever been a prominent man, professionally and socially, and has always held an advanced position in promoting the moral and educa- tional interests of his county and state. The doctor has acceptably filled a position on the school board for about twenty-two years, which speaks volumes for him as far as the esteem in which he is held by the general pub- lic is concerned, but his professional eminence is the crowning glory of his life. BRANKLIN P. CHAPMAN, the enter- prising boot and shoe merchant of Ravenna, Ohio, and probably the most extensive dealer in fashionable footwear in the city, was born in Rootstown, Portage county, August i, 1852, a son of Ed- ward E. and Melissa (Reed) Chapman, also natives of the Buckeye state and parents of five children, of whom four are still living, viz: Rose, wife of Nelson Loveland; Will- liam B., Franklin P., and Carrie, now Mrs. Charles Bogue. Edward E. Chapman, in his earlier business life, was an itinerant merchant, and drove a notion wagon through the country, profitably disposing of his wares to the good housewives and others who were debarred ready access to the markets of the town merchants. He later engaged in the cigar and tobacco trade, and ceased his peregrinations. Horace Reed, the maternal grandfather of Franklin P. Chapman, had the proud distinction of being the first white male child born in Rootstown township. Portage county, and further concerning his an- cestry maj' be found in the memoir of Judge C. A. Reed, on another page of this volume. Franklin P. Chapman was reared and edu- cated in Rootstown until thirteen years of age, 230 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and then went to Cleveland, where, for a short time, he was employed as a bell-boy in the Weddell house. He then returned to Roots- town and for one term walked daily to Ra- venna to attend school, as supplementary to his earlier education. His next step in life's progress was to learn the shoemaker's trade in Ravenna, and after having thoroughly mas- tered this business he started a shop in Roots- town, which he conducted about two years. June 19, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Tibbie Powers, the accomplished daugh- ter of James and Rebecca (Windle) Powers. This union has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Maud Irene, of whom they are justly proud. This young lady is a graduate of the Boston school of oratory, and in May, 1896, completed a post-graduate course in the Boston school of Expression, and in June of the same year was selected to represent this school at the Boston Art school recital. From about the year 1873 until 1S80 Mr. Chapman conducted a grocery store and shoe shop at Freedom Station, Portage county, and was the postmaster there for nearly seven years, having served until the close of the Gar- field and Arthur administration. In 1880 he came to Ravenna and soon afterward bought out the interest of Mr. Sturtevant, of the shoe firm of Rumbaugh & Sturtevant, and for about ten years was in partnership with Mr. Rum- baugh, whom he bought out in 1892, since which time he has been doing a most success- ful business on his own account, and is carry- ing one of the finest and best assorted stocks of boots, shoes, etc., to be found within the limits of Portage county. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member of the official board and treasurer for many years, and of the tenets of which he and his wife are strict observer-s, as well as liberal supporters of the church itself. Fraternally Mr. Chapman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Roj'al .Arcanum, and politically has alwaj's been a stanch republican, being at present clerk of the board of health, of which he was president in 1895. Socially Mr. and Mrs. Chapman enjoy the esteem of a very large circle of friends, and as a business man his integrity and fair dealing have always been favorably commented upon; any one who once deals with him will ever after continue to patronize him. He has a most pleasant residence at the corner of Oak and Meridian streets, where his hospitable doors are always open to his numerous friends, who never tire of passing their hours at this home of culture and refinement. £~^ ELAH S. CLAPP, one of the oldest •^^^^ and most respected agriculturists of K^^ Franklin township, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Montgomery town- ship, Hampden county. Mass., January 9, 1 8 12, and is a son of the late Selah and Diana (Sheldim) Clapp, both natives of the Bay state. Selah Clapp, father of our subject, was a shoemaker by trade, was married in his native state March i, 1804, and came to Ohio August 8, 1820, and here engaged exclusively in farm- ing, became a highly respected citizen, and was honored by being elected to various town- ship offices. To his marriage were born eight children, of whom three only are now living, viz: Spencer, of Iowa; Selah S., the subject of this memoir, and Diana, widow of Dr. J. P. Randell. Of those who have passed away, Samuel died July 2, 18 18, aged three years; Silas and Susan died at unrecorded dates; Achsah died July 19, 1863, at forty-five 3-ears of age; Delana died May 11, 1870, when for- ty-six years old. The father, Selah Clapp, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 231 (lied June 4, 1840, at the age of seventy-five years, and his widow died, at the age of eighty years, August 29. 1S50 — both devout members of the Presb\terian church. Noah Sheldon, maternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Nortnampton, Mass., and married a Miss Clark, by whom he became the father of a large family. Selah S. Clapp was but eight years of age when brought to Franklin township. Portage county, by his parents. His educational op- portunities were limited, as schools were at a great distance, and his services were needed in clearing up the home farm from the wilder- ness. He was thoroughly initiated in the sci- ence of pioneer farming, and at the death of his father purchased the homestead, on which he still resides. His marriage took place at Ravenna, Ohio, to Miss Mary Brown, also a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Nicholas and Fanny (Phillips) Brown, both natives of Massachusetts and parents of five children — Lucy, Mary, Lewis, Benjamin P. and Fann\' — all now deceased. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Clapp was blessed with four children, of whom Fanny E. died January i, 1855. aged eighteen years and six months. The surviving three are Mary Adelia, single and at home; William H., who married Miss Mary Richardson and is a prosperous farmer of Franklin township, and I^ucyT. , still un- married and making her home with her father, Mr. Clapp having had the misfortune to lose his wife January 27, 1875, who died a sincere Christian, at the age of fifty-eight years In politics Selah S. Clapp is a republican, but has never sought office, although he has been honored by election to several township offices, and lias served very acceptably as township trustee several terms. For the past si.xty years he has been a member of the Dis- ciples' church, and to the erection of the house of worship of this denomination in I'ranklin township he contributed $1,000, and also con- tributed very liberally toward the erection of the Presbyterian church edifice at Kent. For more than fifty years Mr. Clapp has been a deacon, and for many years a trustee of his church, of which his wife is also a devoted member. Mr. Clapp is the owner of one of the best farms in Franklin township, beside other property, and at one time, in connection with farming, also dealt largely in live stock, traveling extensively through the western states in the prosecution of his business. Being now over eighty-five years of age, he is still hale and hearty, and no man in the township stands higher in the esteem of the community. >Y* V. CLEAVER, M. D., one of the most ■ experinced physicians and surgeons of A 1 Akron, Ohio, is a native of East Beth- lehem, \\'ashington county, Pa., was born June 13, 1858, and is a son of John I. and Pleasant H. (Hill) Cleaver, the former of German and the latter of Scotch-Irish descent. The Cleaver family is a very ancient one in America, the ancestors of the doctor having come to this country in 1682, and Pennsyl- vania has ever since been known as its home. John Cleaver, grandfather of the doctor, was one of the first settlers of Washington county, then a wilderness, but now one of the most populous in the state. Although tending largely to the pursuits of agriculture, the fam- ily has produced several physicians of celebrity and others have reached distinction in politics. Dr. Hiram Cleaver, an uncle of the subject, was professor of obstetrics in the Keokuk (Iowa) Medical college, and his son was also a physician, but both are now deceased; James H. Cleaver, M. D., is the present mayor of the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa; another uncle, Eli B. Cleaver, of Jefferson county, Ohio, has served in the state legislature, but John I. 232 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Cleaver, father of subject, contented himself with the ennobling pursuit of agriculture. His children were four in number and were born in the following order: Etta, who died in early life; Dr. J. V., the subject of this biog- raphy; Solon H.. who died in early childhood; Isaac N., who has charge of H. P. Wasson's mercantile establishment, of Indianapolis, Ind. Dr. J. V. Cleaver passed his early life on his father's farm, and received his elementary education in the public schools; he next at- tended the Southwest Normal school at Cali- fornia, Washington county, Pa., and then taught school four years, synchonously read- ing medicine under Dr. Q. C. Farquhar, of East Bethlehem, Pa., and a so serving as treasurer's clerk of his native county. He then became a student in the medical de- partment of the university of Pennsylvania, and gave especial attention to surgery under the able instruction of the renowned Prof. C. R. Agnew (surgeon to President Garfield), and graduated May 2, 18S7. On the ist day of June, the same year, he came to Akron, and for one year was in partnership with Dr. Thomas McEbright, and then opened an of- fice for practice on his sole account. He now stands at the head of his profession in Summit county, and his patronage has been so great both in medicine and surgery, and particularly the latter, that he has felt it incumbent upon himself to relinquish the former and to devote almost his entire attention to the latter branch of his profession. Of professional societies the doctor is a member of the State Medical association, the Northeastern Medical society, the Mississippi 'Valley Medical association, and the Celsus club, of Akron, of which latter he was the first president. Fraternally, he is a member of Akron lodge, No. 247, I. O. O. F. , of which he is a past grand, and is also a member of the encampment, in which he is P. C. P. The marriage of the doctor took place in Akron, October 24, 1894, to Miss Mabel Wagoner, daughter of Aaron Wagoner, and to this union has been born one child — Josephine. In politics the doctor is a republican, and has served two years as city physician and as in- firmary physician four years, and is also sur- geon to the Northwestern Ohio railroad company. a APT. JEDEDIAH COLE, ex-soldier and county surveyor of Portage coun- ty, Ohio, was born in Garrettsville, this county. May 26, 1830, a son of Jedediah and Elizabeth (Noah) Cole, the for- mer of whom was a native of "Vermont and the latter of Chester, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Cole had born to them four children, one of whom died in childhood; the three survivors are Re- becca, wife of Uriah Craig, of Cameron, Mo. ; William C, of Hamilton, Mo.; and Jedediah, the subject of this notice. Benjamin Cole, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a soldier from \'ermont during the whole of the Revolution, and died in his native state at a green old age, as did also his wife. They were the parents of ten children — eight sons and two daughters. John Noah, maternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Dresden, Saxony, and on com- ing to America first located in Pennsyhania, where he tnarried a Quakeress — a most ami- able lady, who was never known to utter an angry word. In 1804 or 1805 Mr.. Noah came to Ohio, and with several members of his fam- ily settled on the farm in Nelson township where subject was reared, having but a short time been preceded by the Garrett family, of Garrettsville. There Mr. Noah followed his calling of agriculturist until his death at the age of eighty-nine years — his wife's death oc- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 233 curriiif; within six months of his own. at the age of eighty-two. Jedediah Cole, father of subject, was a car- penter and joiner in early life, but later en- gaged in farming. He came to Portage county, Ohio, in 1818, and settled a mile and a half east of Garrettsville, where he followed farm- ing and likewise practiced medicine. Here he lost his wife in 1834, and was next married to Mrs. Milton Hamlin, nee Sanford, of Elyria, Ohio, whose father is reputed to have been the first permanent settler of Mantua town- ship. Portage county. To this second mar- riage of Mr. Cole were born five children, of whom three still survi\e — Milton, Orilla and Cordelia. Mr. Cole was a gentleman of no political aspirations, although he filled some few township offices that were in reality forced upon him, and was content to lead the life of a useful citizen until his death, on his farm, in 1850. He and his wife had formerly been members of the Baptist church, but in later years became identified with the Disciples, there probably having been no place of wor- ship for the former denomination in the neigh- borhood. It may here be mentioned, also, that one of the brothers of Mr. Cole was killed in the battle of Lundy's Lane, Canada, in the war of 1812. Jedediah Cole, the subject proper of this memoir, was born, reared, and, in fact, mar- ried in a log house, and can recollect when the wagon-road between Ravenna and Garretts- ville was nearly all a dense wilderness, and he is at present the representative of two of the oldest-settled families of Portage county. He remained on his grandfather's farm until six- teen years of age, and received his early edu- cation in the district school, later attended the high school of Nelson, and then engaged in teaching at Salem, 111. He received his first license to teach in that state from the father of the recent democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States, eight years before the latter was born. Before teaching four years in Salem, he taught one year (near- ly) in the neighborhood of the Jennings fam- ily, then went to Jacksonville, Iowa, taught two years, and then taught in Prairie Du Chien, Wis., until 1862, where he enlisted in com- pany A, Thirty-first Wisconsin volunteer in- fantry, served something over two years, re- ceiving graduated promotions from the ranks, and was then mustered out to be commissioned captain in the One Hundred and Twentj-third U. S. C. I., for meritorious conduct in the field, and in this capacity served somewhat more than a year. He was finally mustered out in the latter part of October, 1865, re- turned to Portage county, and rented a saw- mill in Nelson township, and carried on the lumber trade until i 86g, when he was elected county survej'or by the republican party, and has -filled this office ever since, with the excep- tion of a part of a term, and, it is needless to say, to the perfect satisfaction of all parties. Mr. Cole was united in marriage Septem- ber 6, 1855, with Miss Catherine M. Dickens, daughter of James H. and Lydia (Pitner) Dickens — Mr. Dickens having been a Metho- dist minister for more than fifty years. To the happy union of Mr. and Mrs, Cole have been born five children, viz: Augustus S., the present mayor of Ravenna, who married Jane Allen, and has one child living — Lee; Henry M., died at the age of thirteen years; James, who resides in Kansas City, Mo., engaged in the coal and ice trade, is married, and has one daughter; Katherine D., a graduate of the Boston School of Oratory under Miss Edgelly, and who is now a noted elocutionist east and west, having made successful tours through both sections and is now professor of elocution in the I. F. College at Jacksonville, 111.; Paul, the youngest of the family, is attending Hiram college. Mrs. Cole is a devout member of the 234 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Methodist church, while Mr. Cole is a master Mason and also a member of Mark Horton post, G. A. R., of Garrettsville. He has always been a favorite with the republican party, and has served as justice of the peace in every state in which he has lived. His resi- dence is in Garrettsville, but he has his office in the court house in Ra\'enna. He has grown with the growth of the county, has witnessed its wonderful progress for the past sixty years, and even before reaching his majority became a factor in its development. He and wife are extensi\ely connected in their social relations and stand high in the esteem of the people both of Garrettsville and Ravenna. HUGUSTUS S. COLE, mayor of Ra- N'cnna and attorney at law, and a descendant of one of the oldest-set- tled families of Portage county, Ohio, is a son of Jedediah Cole, present county sur- veyor, and his wife, Catherine (Dickens) Cole, of \\hom an extended biography will be found preceding this memoir. Augustus S. was born in Jacksonville, Chickasaw county, Iowa, during a temporary residence of his parents in that town, on October 6, 1858. In 1.865 he was brought to Portage county on the return of the family to their old home, and was here reared to manhood, and here received his pre- liminary schooling, and later attended Oberlin college for a short period. He learned civil engineering under his father's instructions, began the study of the law in 1880, and in 18S2 was admitted to the bar. November ij , 1884, Mr. Cole was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Allen, daughter of William R. and Mary Allen, which mar- riage has been blessed with one child — Lee. Since 1886, Mr. Cole has been in the active practice of the legal profession in Ravenna, in which he has met with eminent success, being now classed with the foremost lawyers of the county and state. He has always been an ardent republican and has ever been popular with that party, as well as with the public in general, and under its auspices has filled most satisfactorily the office of justice of the peace, and in April. 1892, was elected to the highest office within the gift of the citizens of Raven- na — that of mayor, his present position. Fra- ternally Mayor Cole is a royal arch Mason, and is also a Knight of Pythias. He is a ge- nial, wide-awake public-spirited citizen, a sound and reliable lawyer, and an accom- plished gentleman. His home is on West Oak street, which he and wife make the seat of a generous hospitality, and which is the abode of a true domestic felicity. The attention of the reader is respectfully called to the biogra- phy of Jedediah Cole, father of the mayor. ^>^ EWITT CLINTON COOLMAN, I I postmaster of Ravenna, Ohio, was /f^^_^ born in this city, February 16. 1828, a son of William and Mary (Bur- roughs) Coolman. respectively natives of Con- necticut and Vermont and the parents of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are now deceased, with the exception of Dewitt Clin- ton, whose name opens this paragraph. William Coolman, paternal grandfather of subject, was born in Strassbourg, Alsace, Germany, and came to the United States in 1790. He first located in Charleston, S. C, but afterward moved to Middletown, Conn. Still later he removed to the town of Turin, Lewis county, N. Y., and in iSio came to Ohio and settled in Shalersville, Portage county, where he passed the remainder of his life, engaged in his regular calling of farmer, and died at the age of eighty-eight years — the father of three sons and two daughters. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 235 Daniel Burroughs, the maternal grand- father of subject, was a native of Vermont, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was a farmer by vocation, and in 1808 came to Shalersville, Portage count}-, Ohio. He had never experienced a day's illness in all his long life, and while on a visit to one of his sons in Illinois, simply lay down as if to go to sleep, antl so passed away in about his ninetieth year, leaving a family of li\e sons and three daughters. William Coolman, father of DeWitt C. Coolman, was for many years a contractor for carrying the United States mail between Pitts- burg, Pa., and Cleveland, Ohio, but in 18 10 came to Shalersville, Ohio, with his father, and there made his home until his marriage, when he came to Ra\-enna. He was a promi- nent worker in the democratic party, and after settling in Ravenna ser\ed first as deputy sheriff, was later elected sheriff, and filled the office several terms. In 1839 he was appointed clerk of courts and served seven years, and also served several terms as a member of the Ohio general assembly. Among the minor offices \vhich he filled was that of city magis- trate, and among the numerous business en- terprises in which he was engaged was that of contractor on the Ohio & Pennsylvania canal, and during its existence was one of the govern- ment directors thereof; he was also a con- tractor on the Cleveland & Pittsburg railroad, a director in the Cleveland cS: Pittsburg and the Erie railroads, and was ver_\' active, also, in advancnng the business enterprises and pub- lic improvements of Portage county. He had been a soldier of the war of 18 I3, and when the Civil war burst forth, still filled with pa- triotic ardor, he carried his trust\' old rifie to Cincinnati, with the intention of again enlist- ing in the defense of the flag of the nation, but for some reason his services were declined — possibly on account of his age. In 1845 he lost his wife, who died in the faith of the Methodist church, and he took, for his second life companion. Miss Susan Bristol, but she also was called away, dying in the same faith, but leaving no offspring. His own death oc- curred in Ravenna in December, 1869, at the age of seventy-si.\ years, his religion being that of the Methodist church, and his fraternal relations being with the Masonic order, of which he had been a member ever since he had become of the proper age to assume its obligations. Few men in Ravenna were more honored or held in higher estimation by its citizens, and his loss, though inevitable, was deeply felt throughout the community. DeWitt Clinton Coolman was reared in Ravenna, there received his rudimentary edu- cation in the common schools, which was sup- plemented by an attendance at the Allegheny college at Meadville, Pa. , until the senior year, when,' in 1847, he joined the engineer corps at Ra\enna, to engage in the construction of the Cleveland & Pittsburg railroad, and thence- forward followed the profession for thirty years, and within Ihat period was chief engineer in the construction of the Atlantic & Great Western road from Salamanca to Dayton — now known as the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio rail- road. In 1869 he established, in partnership with George Robinson, the Diamond Glass works, which, with some few changes, were successfully conducted until 1880, the changes being occasioned by the death of Mr. Robin- son and the incoming of Wanzer Holcomb, the sale of Mr. Holcomb's interest to Mr. Coolman, and the final disposition by Mr. Coolman of his plant to other parties. In fact, Mr. Coolman has been one of the prime movers in the progress and prosperity of Ra- venna. He was one of the organizers of the Second National bank, was one of its first di- rectors, for a time was its vice-president, and later its president, and has been more or less 236 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD interested in other business enterprises of minor note. Always a stanch democrat, Mr. Coolman has represented his congressional district in three national democratic conventions — in New York in 1868, in Cincinnati in 1880, and in Saint Louis, in 1892, when Grover Cleve- land was nominated for his second race for the presidency; he ran against James A. Garfield for congress in this, the Nineteenth district of Ohio, and was also his party's nominee for lieutenant-governor of Ohio on the ticket with Thomas E. Powell. February 16, 1894, he was commissioned postmaster of Ravenna, an office he is still administering with his accus- tomed ability. The marriage of Mr. Coolman was solem- nized in December, 1849, with Miss Elizabeth Coleman, the accomplished daughter of James and Sarah (Bell) Coleman, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and this happ)' union has been blessed | with six children, viz: James and Horace (twins), Clinton H., Mary, and Blanche and Bertha (twins). Of these, however, Clinton | H. and Blanche only survive. Clinton H. married Miss Anna Hall, and to their union have been born four children — Frederick Will- iam, DeWitt Clinton, Catherine Multon and Alexander Curtis; Blanche still resides with her parents and is an assistant in the Ravenna post-office. Mrs. Coolman is a devoted mem- ber of the Episcopal church, while Mr. Cool- man is an exalted member of several secret societies — being a thirty-second degree Mason, of which order he has been a member for thir- ty-nine years, during which time he has served as master of Unity lodge. No. 12, for several terms; as high priest for a number of years, and is a veteran member of Oriental com- mandery of Cleveland, being now exempt from all dues; he is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. For forty-seven years he has been an Odd Fellow, and has filled all the chairs of his home lodge — Ravenna, No. 65. He is likewise a charter member of the home lodge of the Royal Arcanum. He has had his home in Ravenna now for sixty-eight years and done much to aid the development of the city and the prosperity of Portage county, and but feu- men have won so deservedly high a standing in the esteem and confidence of their fellow- citizens as DeWitt Clinton Coolman. BON. ELI CONN, M. D., and state representative for Summit county. Ohio, is a native of I^utler county. Pa., was born June 10, 1840, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Conn, also natives of the Keystone state, of combined Scotch and Irish extraction. The father died in his native state in 1854; and the mother in 1889, at the unnsLially great age of ninety-two years. Dr. Conn, the subject of this memoir, was reared on the family homestead, and after re- ceiving a due course of instruction in the dis- trict school, became himself a teacher and conducted a school in his native township in the winter of 1860-61, and was thus employed at the time of his enlistment, in 1861, in the One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania vol- unteer infantry, which was assigned to the Sixth corps of the army of the Potomac, and with which he remained until the close of the Rebellion, taking part in thirty-two regular battles and as many, or even more, skirmishes. After receiving an honorable discharge, he re- turned to his home and in the fall of the same year entered Baldwin university at Berea. Ohio, from which institution he graduated, in 1868, with distinction. He next attended the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical school for two terms, and then located for practice in his native county. Being a stanch republican at that time, he was elected by his fellow-citizens pro- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 23< bate judge of Butler county, Pa., and filled the office for four years to the utmost satisfaction of his constituents. In 1880, the doctor came to Akron, where his professional abilities were at once recognized, and he was equally suc- cessful in securing a long list of patrons. Nat- urally, he attracted the attention of the local members of the republican party, and was elected health officer of the city of .\kron, which position he held from 1882 until 1S84. In 1895, he was elected to represent Summit county in the Ohio general assembly, but has modified his political views to some extent, and is now a silver republican. In 1869, Dr. Conn was united in marriage with Miss Helen Kingsbury, of Medina, Ohio, the result of the union being four children, viz: Ellwood K., Maud J., Mary A., and Helen E. The family stand very high socially, and professionally the doctor holds a most promi- nent place before the public and in the esteem of his fellow-practitioners. He is connected with various medical associations, for whom he has prepared numerous essays on medical subjects, and has also contributed numerous similar articles to the journals published in the interest of the medical profession. aYRUS L. COX, a substantial farmer and citizen of Franklin township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Green township, in the same county, July 5, 1850. Christopher Cox, great-grandfather of sub- ject, came from England prior to the Revolu- tionary war, bought an extensive tract of land in the wilderness of Washington county. Pa., and there and in Greene county, followed farming the remainder of his life. He married a Miss Rush, and by her became the father of the following-named children: Jacob, John, William, Moses, Ann, Lucinda and Matilda. Jacob Cox, grandfather of subject, was born in Greene county. Pa., was reared a farmer, and there married Elizabeth Hardsock, who was born in Washington county, a daugh- ter of ante-Revolutionary parents. To this union the following children were born, Nancy, wife of John Hann; Susan, wife of Joseph Grayble; Henry; Annie, wife of Isaac Horn; Noah; Christopher; Hiram; KittieA., wife of Thelas Wheeler; Jacob; Andrew, and Mary A., wife of Joshua Martin. After marriage the parents settled in Washington county, where they passed the remainder of their days. In politics the father was a whig and filled several township offices, and in religion, although not a member of the church, affiliated with and worshiped with the Baptists, and was free with his purse in contributing to the support of church and school. He died in August, 1861, honored alike in Greene and Washington coun- ties, Pa., where all his active life passed away. Christopher Cox, father of Cyrus L. , the subject, was born in Greene county. Pa., No- vember 30, 1820, and, like his ancestors, was reared to farming. After receiving a good common-school education he taught school for some months. In 1842 he walked from Penn- sylvania to Summit county, Ohio, 130 miles, and settled in Green township. Here he married, April 4, 1844, Mary Chisnell, a native of Lancaster county. Pa., born in 1824, and a daughter of George and Mary Chisnell, and to this union ha\e been born the following chil- dren: Cornelius (deceased), Hiram, Harriet. Henry Potters, Cyrus, John, Albert, Elizabeth (wife of Oliver Overholt), Edward, George, Harvey, Frank, and Clara (wife of Edward Huena, editor of the l>arberton Leaderj. In 1859 the parents moved from Green township. Here, at one time, Mr. Cox owned over 1,000 acres of good farm land, all of which he paid for with money earned through his personal exertions, with the exception, perhaps, of a L'38 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD few hundred dollars bequeathed him by his father. The greater part of this land Mr. Cox has divided among his children, but still retains a sufficient quantity to well provide for his own needs. In politics Mr. Co.x was originally a whig, but became a member of the republican party on the formation of the latter, but simply gives voice to his political opinions at the polls, being by no means desirous of public office. He is closely identified with the Brethren church, in the faith of which his beloved wife died August i8, 1889, after a wedded life of over forty-five years. Cyrus L. Cox, the subject of this sketch, took to himself a wife in Stark county, Ohio, on the 19th day of December, 1875. The lady whom he married bore the maiden name of Lavina N. Smith, and was born in Stark county, May 15, 1855, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Ruch) Smith, the former of whom is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829, and the latter was a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in Stark county, where the death of Mrs. Smith took place August 18, 1889, in the faith of the Lutheran church. Mr. Smith resides near Canal Ful- ton, Stark county, where he owns 900 acres of land and is largely engaged in stock dealing. He also attends the Lutheran church and is liberal in his contributions to its support. In politics he is a republican, but his time and attention are mostly devoted to his busi- ness affairs. His children were born in the following order: Levi, Lavina N., Caroline, Ellen, .Amanda, John, Charles and Mary. The marriage of Cyrus L. Cox has been blessed with four children, viz: Delia May (who died September 7, 1885), Mary E., Perry E. and Clarence S. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are doing all they can toward the education of their chil- dren. Miss Mary has attained that place in school work which entitles her to admission to the high school. Perry is desirous of entering a school of a more extended course of study, and, as his parents are people of abundant means, the wishes of the children will be observed. Mr. Cox has been identified with Franklin township. Summit county, all his life, with the exception of about four years in Green township. Summit county. He owns a good farm of 125 acres, which he has improved with a modern farm house and barn. He also owns a sawmill and threshing machine, which occupy most of his time, while his farm work is done by hired help. In politics Mr. Cox is a strong republican, and cast his first presidential vote for the soldier president. Gen. U. S. Grant. In religion he and wife adhere to the Method- ist Episcopal faith, the children are attendants at the Sunday school, and in the local church he has filled the office of steward. He is highly respected among his neighbors for his sobriety, industry and upright life, and his wife enjoys with himself the warm regard of the entire community. BE. COURTNEY, the accomplished photographic artist, of the Arcade building, Akron, Ohio, is a native of the city and was born March 15, 1858, a son of Robert A. and Lucy A. (Hannan) Courtne\', natives respectiveh' of Maryland and Ashland county, Ohio. The father, a me- chanic of great skill, first came to Akron in 1842, and is still a resident of the city; the mother passed away some years since. F. E, Courtney, the subject of this mem- oir, was reared and educated in Akron, and some time after quitting school went to Can- ton, Ohio, and there took lessons in his pres- ent art under his brother, Sherwin B. Court- ne)', who is one of the leading photographers of the state of Ohio. After passing nearly five years unner his able instruction and thoroughly OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 239 learning the art in all its branches, F. E. Courtney went to South Carolina and for a year was in the employ of Mr. Anderson, a well-known photographer, and then returned to Ohio and spent another year with his brother at Canton. He then went to Medina, Ohio, and to Chester and AUentown, Pa., passing one year each in the latter two places, and then once more returned to Ohio and followed his vocation until 1888, when he came to Ak- ron and succeeded to the business of Mr. Chandler, up to that time Akron's favorite art- ist. Mr. Courtney has now one of the finest studios in the northeast part of the state and executes every variety of work known to the photographic art, including portraiture, view and commercial and mechanical delineations, in all of which he is unexcelled. He keeps fully abreast of all the modern advances made in photography, being a member of both the State and the National Photographic associa- tions, which are constantly making known to their members every new feature or improve- ment as fast as it is developed. ^y^ .\NIEL E. CRANZ, M. D., one of the I I eminent physicians and surgeons of /^^_^ Akron, Ohio, occupies the rooms Nos. 3, 4 and 5, Odd Fellows' tem- ple, where he has been in the active practice of medicine since July, 1893, but is now giv- ing special attention to rectal and gyna;co- logical surgery. The doctor was born in Middletown, Holmes county, Ohio, October 31, 1854, to William and Mary (Drushel) Cranz, of German de- scent. The famiU' settled in Summit county in 1863, and here the father died in 1895. The latter in early life was a merchant, and his later years were passed in farming; in poli- tics he was a democrat, and in religion was a Lutheran. His children were born and named in the following order: Sophia, deceased; Pau- line, wife of Hon. C. O. Hale, of Bath town- ship; Frederick, an engineer, residing in Ak- ron; Cornelia, of Bath township; Daniel E., the subject; Frances Lena, deceased; Ivate, a teacher of German and French in the Athens (Ohio) State university; Lewis, a farmer of Bath township; Eugene F., also a farmer of the same place; Herbert, foreman of a brass foundry at Wadsworth, Ohio; Estella, wife of Amos Walters, of Bath township, and two children who died in early childhood. Dr. Daniel E. Cranz passed his early dajs on his father's farm, received his elementary education in the district school, and then at- tended Buchtel college, at Akron. At the age of seventeen years he began the study of medicine under Dr. O. D. Childs, of Akron, and then for three years attended the Hahne- mann Medical college, of Chicago, 111., from which h'e graduated in 1877, ^nd at once set- tled down to the active practice of his profes- sion in Wadsworth, Ohio, where for sixteen years his abilit}' and professional knowledge won recognition; but this field was not suffi- ciently extensive for the exercise of his energy and varied attainments as a surgeon, as well as physician, and in 1893, as already stated, he found a wider scope for his profession in Akron, where he has met with the most flat- tering success. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical society, of the North- eastern Ohio Medical society, and of the Sum- mit county Clinical society; he is also one of the visiting surgeons of the Akron city hos- pital. Fraternally he is a member of Adoni- ram lodge. No. 517, F. & A. M., of Akron. Ohio. Dr. Cranz was married at Wadsworth, Ohio, February 26, 1880, to Miss May E. Butts, to which union ha\e been born two children — Pauline and Cornelia. The doc- tor and his wife are members of the Reformed '240 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD church, although the Cranz family of former days were identified with the Lutheran church from its establishment — each first-born male child of the family becoming a minister in that church from the time of Martin Luther to the time of Daniel Cranz, grandfather of subject of this review, who was a pioneer minister of Holmes county, Ohio; and it may also be stated that one church of this faith in Germany had for over a hundred years a member of this family as its minister. The family is a very ancient one, and in the Black Forest of Ger- many hangs to-day an oil painting of one of the doctor's ancestors, who was a minister in the Lutheran church, and who lived in the tenth century. aHARLES H. CULVER, the well- known blacksmith and master me- chanic of South Akron, Ohio, is a native of Seneca county, N. Y., was born March i6, 1S48, and is a son of Charles H. and Harriet Culver, now residents of the city of Buffalo. Charles H. Culver, the elder, was born in the Empire state in 1825, and was there mar- ried to Mrs. Harriet Smith, whose maiden name was Newberry, she being a niece of Lord Newberry, of England. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Culver the following children were born in the order named: Sarah, Clar- issa, Charles H., Solon K., George H., Clar- ence B., Emmeline and Ida. The parents lived for many years in Seneca county, N. Y. , but finally settled in Buffalo, where they are highly esteemed for their many excellent qual- ities, and worship at the Presbyterian church. Charles H. Culver, the subject, passed his earlier years in Geneva, Ontario county, N. Y., and has always been an industrious student, being mostly self-educated. At Phelps, N. Y., in 1874, he built the first Monitor engine ever placed on wheels, and, in 1879, came to Ohio and for ten years was master mechanic of the Diebold Safe & Lock company in Canton, and later was master mechanic of the Canton Car company; he then lived in Cleveland two years, and in 1890 came to Akron, and was here em- ployed as foreman of the D. F. Morgan Boiler company; he also, for a time, filled the posi- tion of master mechanic for Aultman, Miller & Co. For the past five years, however, he has been in business on his own account in South Akron, and, being extraordinarily skilled in his art, is meeting with the success his knowl- edge and industry deserve. In politics Mr. Culver is a democrat and is a strong advocate of free silver. He is very popular with his party, and in the fall of 1896 was honored by an election to the office of justice of the peace, which position he fills with ability. Fraternally, he is a member of Adoniram lodge. No. 517, F. & A. M. Mr. Culver was united in marriage, in September, 1886. with Mrs. Elmira Snyder, whose maiden name was Bancroft, and both enjoy the esteem of a constantly widening circle of sincere friends. In 1864 Mr. Culver made an effort to enlist in the Union army, but, owing to his youthful years, his application was refused. March 31, 1865, however, he succeeded in enlisting in company K, Eighth regiment. New York mounted volunteers, for three years, or during the war, was honorably discharged from the service June 27, 1865, and was mustered out at Alexandria, Va. , the war having been brought to a successful close. ^"V'HERLOCK B. CUTHBERT, one •^^^ of the most highly respected citizens ^ y of Brimfield township, Portage coun- ty, Ohio, and an ex-soldier and a very successful farmer, is a native of this coun- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 241 ty, and was born March 24, 1843, a son of James and Anna (Graham) Cuthbert. James Cuthbert was born in Perth, Scot- laud, came to America when a mere boy, Hved in New York a few years, where he was mar- ried to Miss Graham, a native of New York, and then came to Kent, Ohio. The result of this marriage was nine children, seven of whom are still living, viz. : William, of Long Branch, Cal. ; James A., of Kent, Ohio; Harriet, widow of John Newham; Sarah, wife of G. W. Rouse; Sherlock B., the subject; Charles J., and Mary.\., wife of M. M. Parkerson, of Corn- ing, Iowa. Mr. Cuthbert lost his life partner in 1850, and his own death occurred in 1882, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the state at the time of his death, had been a faith- ful member of the Congregational church for many years, and was an elder for some years prior to his demise. Sherlock B. Cuthbert attended the schools of Kent until twelve \'ears old, and then, until sixteen, worked out among the farmers of the neighborhood; he next apprenticed himself to a blacksmith, with the intention of learning the trade, but the outbreak of the Civil war made a change in his plan, and August 27, 1861, he enlisted in compan}' A, First Ohio light artillery, and served within a few dajs of four years, being twice wounded — the first time at Shiloh, where he was struck on a fin- ger (and he still preserves the bullet), and the second time at Stone River, where he was shot in the left thigh, December 31, 1863. No at- tempt will here be made to enumerate the many battles in which Mr. Cuthbert partici- pated, and it will suffice to say that for meri- torious conduct he was promoted to be corpo- ral September 21, 1863; also that, on receising his second wound, a few months later, he lay four ilays on the battle field without food or drink, and was then hauled thirty-one miles to hospital, where he lay four weeks; was then transported to Cincinnati, where he was con- fined in hospital four months, and then con- fined in hospital at Clevelatfd four months longer; finally, having recovered from his se- vere wound, he returned to the front and re- enlisted in his same company as a veteran, received the usual thirty-day furlough, and served until receiving an honorable discharge, at Cleveland, July 31, 1865. / After returning from the war, Mr. Cuth- bert served a year at Kent as baggage-master, and for two jears afterward was emplo3ed by the railroad company. April 4, 1870, he mar- ried Miss Minerva Needham, daughter of Val- orus and Mary L. (Smith) Needham, to which marriage have been born five children, viz: Charles H., Ellen J., (irace N., Mary and Perry E. Since 1870, Mr. Cuthbert has de- voted his attention to farming, and is now one of the most prosperous agriculturists of his township. In politics a republican, Mr. Cuth- bert his served his fellow-citizens as supervisor of Brimfield township one term, giving com- plete satisfaction to his constituents. He is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R., at Kent, and is one of the most highly honored and es- teemed residents of Brimfield township and Portage count}-. \'alorous Needham, father of Mrs. Sher- lock B. Cuthbert, was born in Hampshire county, Mass., March 29, 1806, and was reared a carpenter. In 1833, he came to Ohio, located in Brimfield township, Portage county, worked at his trade a number of years and then bought the farm now occupied by his son-in-law, Mr. Cuthbert. There he resided until 1865, when he retired to Kent. His marriage took place, in 1S43, to Miss Mary L. Smith, daughter of Henry and Chloe (Chap- man) Smith, and to this marriage were born six children, of whom two only are still living — Mrs. Cuthbert, who was born March zy, 242 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1849, in Brimfield township, and Mrs. L. M. Tracy. Ttie deceased four were named Henry, who died in July, 1862, at the age of eighteen }ears; Chloe, who died in July, 1862, aged two and a half years; Harmer, who died at the age of eighteen years in May, 1865, and Ellen, who died in April, 1869, also aged eighteen years. The mother of this family died September 7, i860, at the age of forty- live years; the father, June 13, 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, the wife in the faith of the Baptist church. Alvin Need- ham, father of Valorous, and grandfather of Mrs. Cuthbert, was also a native of Massachu- setts, married Miss Abigail Wallbridge, and came to Brimfield township, Portage county, Ohio, in 1835, and here passed the remainder of his life in the noble pursuit of agriculture. *-|^ AFAYETTE DARROW, a prominent I r farmer of Stowe township, is a grand- 1 J, son of George Darrow, who was one of the original pioneers of Summit county, Ohio, and came with 'Squire Hudson on his second" trip to Summit county in 1800. George Darrow married, October 17, 1801, Olive Gaylord. This was the first marriage in Summit county and was solemnized by 'Squire Hudson. They settled in what is now the southern part of Hudson, on Darrow street, and cleared up a good farm from the wilder- ness, where John Morris, who married a Dar- row, now lives. George Darrow and wife were the parents of George, William, Daniel, David, Charlotte, Olive and Amanda. Mr. Darrow died at the venerable age of eighty-two years, a much respected pioneer. He was an Indian iigher, and after the shoot- ing of Daniel Diver in Deerfield in the winter of 1806-7, George Darrow and Jonathan Will- iams joined in the pursuit of the slayer, the latter shooting and killing the Indian Nickshaw in the township of Richfield. In the war of 1812, a military company was formed in Hud- son township, and George Darrow, as major of the battalion, was assigned the work of opening a road through to Camp Huron, near Sandusky, but before its completion, learning of the trouble which the American troops were meeting with at the hands of red skins in the vicinity of Detroit, he hurried forward to re- inforce the garrison at Fort Huron, afterward being ordered to assist in the building of Fort Meigs. He was afterward colonel in the state militia, and was always called Col. Darrow. William Darrow, son of above, and the fa- ther of Lafayette Darrow, was born on Dar- row street, on his father's farm, received a common education and was reared a farmer. He married, December 15, 1841, Harriet Dea- con, who was born in Hudson township, a daughter of Henry Deacon. Henry Deacon was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent; his wife was of Irish descent. Mr. Deacon was an early settler of Hudson township, be- came a substantial farmer, cleared up a large farm and was at one time the largest land- owner in Hudson township. His children were Mary, Harriet, William (who went to Colorado and never returned), Betsey and Henry. Mr. Deacon was a good business man and lived to a ripe old age. William Darrow settled on the old Darrow homestead and there passed all his remaining days and was success- ful, owning 400 acres of land. His children were George, Lafayette, William and Mary. Mr. Darrow lived to be sixty-eight years old and died on his farm. He was a much re- spected, honorable and upright gentleman. Lafayette Darrow was born on his grand- father's old homestead, July 21, 1851, received a common-school education, and has alwajs been a farmer. He married, September 30, 1875, in Stowe township, Ellen J. Call, who was born September 6, 1852, in Darrowville, '-v^,^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 245 a daughter of Moses and Maria (Starr) Call. Mr. Darrow owns a j^ood farm of i6o acres, which he has placed under first-class cultiva- tion. He is independent in politics, and in religion is a member of the Congressional church. He is a gentleman of undoubted in- tegrity of character, and stands deservedly high for his sterling worth. * w ^ ON. LEONIDAS S. EBRIGHT, M. »^^ I)., of .\kron, an ex-soldier of the late I , r war, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, near Royalton, September 25, 1844, and is a son of George and Rachael (Hathawayj Ebright. He is paternally de- scended from Pennsylvania -Germans, and maternally, through his grandfather, from Scotch ancestry. George Ebright. father of the subject of this review, was a carriagemaker by trade and minister of the Methodist church for many years. He had a family of nine children and died in 1864, at the age of fifty-three years; his widow is now se\ent}^-si.\ years old. Dr. L. S. Ebright was educated in the public schools of Fairfield county, and May 7, 1862, enlisted in company K, Eighty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, for the three months' ser\- ice, and was. honorably discharged in Septem- ber, 1862. In the winter of 1863-64 he taught school, and in April, 1864, he enlisted in the Eighthy-seventh Ohio infantry, but was soon transferred to company G, Eighty-eighth re- giment, and served on detached duty until July 3, 1865, when he was mustered out, by special order, at Camp Chase, Ohio. After returning from the army he was employed for six months as clerk in a drug store in Wooster, Ohio, and in February, 1866, came to Akron entered the office of Drs. Howen & Ebright (Dr. Ebright l>eing an uncle), and with them read medicine until prepared to enter the Charity Hospital 5 Medical college at Cleveland, from which he graduated in February, 1 869, when he re- turned to Akron, where he practiced until the winter of 1871, and then took a course in the medical department of the college of Physi- cians & Surgeons of New York. He then re- sumed practice in Akron, which he continued until October, 1872, when he went to Germany and passed ten months in the hospitals of that countr}-. After an absence of thir'teen months abroad, Dr. Ebright again took up the active practice of medicine in Akron, but for many years devoted all the time he could spare from his professional duties to fraternal and benevolent matters, being a member of the F. & A. M. and K. of P. For four years he was grand treasurer and one year grand regent of the grand council of Ohio. R. A., and was three times representative to the supreme council from this body; was grand commander of the grand 'council of A. L. of H., and for eight years was a member of the supreme body of of that order; he was surgeon of battery B, O. N. G., for five years, and for five years, also, was surgeon of the German Guards. He was also appointed by Go\-. McKinley surgeon- general on the governor's staff, with the rank of brigadier-general, and held the office four years. As a republican he has been very pop- ular, and in the fall of 1879 was elected to rep- resent Summit county lin the lower house of the state legislature. For twenty years he has been a member of the county central republi- can committee, and during that time has made more speeches in the cause of the republican party than any man in the county. He was the first secretary of the Northeastern Medical society, and in 1896 retired from the pres- idency of the same; he served a long time as health officer of Akron, and for ten years has been physician to the Children's home. He is president of the county Agricultural society and also a director in the Hill Sewer Pipe -'40 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD company. He is a member of Buckley post, No. 12. G. A. R., and has likewise been a member of the board of physicians of the Akron city hospital for many years. He has a good knowledge of the German language as well as of the English, and in his political canvasses has made many speeches in the former tongue, and has been the associate and compeer of such able orators as McKinley, Tom Reed, Judge West, Ben Butterworth, Boutelle, and <^)thers, and is, in fact, one of the representa- tive leaders of the republican party. In the memorable campaign of 1896 Dr. Ebright did effective work for the party in Ohio, Kentucky, city of Chicago, and Michigan, and as a mark of confidence and the esteem with which he is held by the leaders of the party he was ap- pointed, by President McKinley, postmaster of Akron, Ohio, his commission bearing date of July 27, 1897. Dr. Ebright was united in marriage, in 1883, to Miss Julia Bissell, of Sharon, Medina county, Ohio, which union has been blessed with two children — Ruth B. and Mary R. The doctor is a frank, outspoken gentleman, is witty, apt and genial. He is quick at repartee on the stump and in the social circle, and, as may well be inferred from the above record, has host of friends in Akron and Summit county. ^^^EORGE L. DARROW, one of the ■ ^\ substantial farmers of Stowe town- ^^^M ship. Summit county, Ohio, is now living on the old Darrow homestead, where he was born August 19, 1856. His re- mote ancestors came from Scotland, and set- tled in Connecticut some time in 1600, at New London. Nathaniel Darrow, great-great-grandfather of George L. , was born in New London, Conn., and married Rachael Wilco.x, of Eng- lish descent. Their children were Nathaniel, Isaac, James, George and David, whose de- scendants are scattered throughout the United States. George Darrow, son of above and great- grandfather of subject, was born September S, 1747, and settled when a young man ih Leba- non, New York state, married Eunice Meach- am, and reared a family of si.\ children (all of whom lived and had families of their own), viz: Celia, born March 12, 1774; Joseph, March 27, 1775; George, October 7, 1778; David, March 13, 1782; James, May 18, 1784, and Sallie, June 19, 1787. In 1806, George Darrow came with his family to Stowe town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, then all in the woods. He was one of the original pioneers, but died, five years after settling, in 181 1. Joseph Darrow, son of above, and grand- father of subject, born March 27, 1775, came to Ohio, when a single man with "Squire Hud- son as a surveyor, was one of the party who landed at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, river 1799, and he was the surveyor who laid out the land for 'Squire Hudson. Mr. Darrow married, in Northampton township, April 18, 1803, Sallie Prior, who was born October 28, 1 78 1, a daughter of Simeon and Catherine (Wright) Prior, and they settled on the farm where our subject now li\es. The Priors were of English descent, and of New England ancestry, and were pioneers of Summit count}'. Simeon Prior married, January i, 1781, in New England, and settled in Northampton township. Joseph Darrow's name appears with that of his brother George in the list of voters of the first election of town officers held at Hudson, Ohio, .April 5, 1802, in the first log house built in Summit county. This was built by 'Squire David Hudson, in 1799, in the fall, 'Squire Hudson being one of the orig- inal proprietors of Hudson township, which was the land of the Connecticut companj-. 'S(|uire HudsiMi came out from Goshen, Conn., OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 247 to Cleveland, and from there up the Cuya- hoga river to Boston, near the southwest cor- ner of Hudson township. He had with him a company of men, and Joseph Darrovv, the sur- veyor, and they cleared ten acres of land when he surveyed the townshiji. The Darrows were no doubt among the earliest pioneers of this Count)'. Joseph Darrow settled in the woods and cleared up the farm where our sub- ject now lives, and he surveyed much of the land in this county, including the Hrst road from Hudson to Canton. Joseph Darrow and wife were the parents of the following children, all born in Stowe township: Polly, born February 3, 1S05; Ly- man, September 3, 1S06; Abbie, November 24, 1808; Stephen, March 31, 1810; Julia, De- cember 10, 181 1 ; Sarah A., July 19, 1813; Caroline, January i, 18 15, Charles, Septem- ber, 19, 1816; Seth, November 30, 1818; Catherine, January 22, 1821; Norman, Octo- ber 14, i822;Newry C, October 27, 1824; Clarissa, February 15, 1827. Joseph Darrovv was a democrat in politics, and died November 13, 1856, a venerable man of eighty-one years. He was a justice of the • peace many years and much respected. He was a hunter and trapper in early days, for his own pleasure and the benefit of his family. He was one of the early members of the Ma- sonic lodge, at Hudson, Ohio, and was liberal in religion, holding to the Universalists' belief. He was a man of sterling worth and high character. Charles Darrow, son of above and father of George L. Darrow, was born September 19, 1 8 16, on the farm where the latter now lives, and the first child born in the frame house still occupied liy our subject and built in 181 5- 1816. He received a good education for his day in the old pioneer school-house and was always a farmer. He married, January 27, 1841, Sabra Wilcox, who was born July 2, 18 1 8, a daughter of Nathan Wilcox. After marriage Mr. Darrow and wife settled on the old Darrow homestead, and here they passed all their remaining days. J-Joth were members of the Methodist church, and in politics he was a republican. He was a strong Union man and had a son in the Civil war — Norman, a private in companj' G, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, who died of sickness at Camp Chase, Ohio, October 20, 1862. Mr. Darrovv owned a good farm of 160 acres and was a substantial and respected man. George L. Darrow received a good educa- tion in the public schools and became a farm- er, and also learned the carpenter's trade. He married, September 3, 1876, in Darrow- ville, Emma R. Appleton, who was born July 28, 1858, in Northfield, Summit county, Ohio, a daughter of Wesley and Amanda (Norton) Appleton. Wesley Appleton was a soldier in the Civil war and was among the missing. Mr. and Mrs. Darrow have five children: Lottie M., Charles, Fred, Dorotha H. and Celia. Mr. Darrow is a substantial farmer and dealer in agricultural implements. In politics he has been a republican, a free sil- verite and a populist. He is a member of the Knights of Macabees at Hudson, Ohio, and a member of the Darrow Street grange. He stands high as a business man, is an excellent citizen, and his familj' is one of the most re- spected in the countj'. Lottie M. Darrow is now married to William H. Peck, a farmer of Stowe township. EERMAN B. DICKINSON, prominent as an attorney at law, was born in Randolph township, Portage county, Ohio, August II, 1858, and is a son of William P. and Harriet (Watkins) Dickin- son, both natives of the Buckeye state, and 248 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the parents of six children, viz: Herman B., Grace, Harriet (wife of H. A. Cail), Percie, and Fannie and Maie, deceased. Alpheus Dickinson, paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, was a farmer and lumberman, and a patriot of the war of 1812. He was an early settler of Portage county, Ohio, reared a large family, and died in Randolph township at the ad- vanced age of over ninety years. Joseph Watkins, the maternal grandfather of Herman B. Dickinson, was born in Wales, and was a boy when brought to America by his parents, who lived for some years in Con- necticut, and then came to Ohio and settled in Steubenville. Mr. Watkins became a mer- chant in Evansburg, Coshocton county, whence he shipped large quantities of grain, and was also a potent factor in the business, political and religious affairs of the town, being espe- cially interested in the famous underground railroad of that day. His death took place in Kno.x county, at the age of about sixty years. William P. Dickinson, father of subject, was reared in Portage county to farming, and was first married to Mariette Gillette, who bore him one child, Arthur, who is now living in Randolph township. His second marriage re- sulted, as already stated, in the birth of six children. Mrs. Harriet Dickinson died in 1889, a member of the Congregational church, of which her husband is also a member. She had two brothers who served through the Civil war, and one who served through the greater portion of it. Mr. Dickinson now re- sides on his farm near the east corporation line of Ravenna. H. B. Dickinson, the gentleman whose name opens this memoir, when a year old was taken by his parents to New Jersey, where they lived until he was five years of age. The faniilv then returned to Ohio, and for two years lived in Oberlin, whence they moved to Knox county, and, in 1869, returned to Ran- dolph, Portage county, and finally settled on the farm east of Ravenna in 1876. Here Mr. Dickinson received his education in the district school, and in 1 883 graduated from the Ravenna high school. Immediately thereafter he began the study of law under Judge P. B. Conant, and was admitted to the bar June i, 1886, from which date until February i, 1888, he served as deputy in the office of C. A. Reed, judge of the probate court. Ma\- i, 1888, he opened his present office, and February i, 1897, he formed a partnership in the practice of law at Ravenna with G. R. Percival. In pol- itics he is a republican and has served two terms as justice of the peace. Mr. Dickinson was united in wedlock May 10, 1889, with Miss Ida E. Hitchcock, daugh- ter of Dr. Hitchcock, the marriage being blessed with three children — Ethel, Ruth and Howells. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson are con- scientious members of the Congregational church. Mr. Dickinson is a young man of pleasant manners and is rapidly building lip a lucrative practice. His legal ability is univer- sally recognized, and he holds the confidence and esteem of the citizens of Ravenna and surrounding territory. aLAUDE M. DAVIS, assistant cashier of the City Bank of Kent, Ohio, and agent in this city for the John Han- cock Mutual Life Insurance company of Boston, was born in Kent, April 20, i858, and is a son of Dr. Joel D. and Mary (Smithj Davis. Joel D. Davis, M. D., the leading physician of Kent and Franklin township, was born in Randolph township. Portage count)-, Ohio, July 8, 1844, his parents being Darius and Louisa (Merrell) Davis, natives, respectively. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 249 of the states of Ohio and New York, but whose lives were principally passed in Kent, where the father, Uarius, died at about sixty-two years of age, and the mother at about seventy. Joel D. was primarily educated in the common schools of his native township, where he con- tinued to reside until twent}' years old, or thereabout, when he came to Kent, which city has since been his home. He began the study of medicine, in 1875, under the preceptorship of Dr. E. ^^'. Price, quite an eminent profes- sional of Kent, was thoroughly prepared for and entered the \\'estern Reserve universit)-, from the medical department of which he graduated in 1878, and at once opened his office in Kent, securing a large and lucrative practice. In 1884 the doctor opened a drug store, which he conducts in conjunction with his practice, and finds to be a very convenient and profitable accessory. By his marriage, in 1867, to Miss Mary Smith, there have been born seven children, viz: Claude M., Ethel- bert L. , Jay D., Louise M., Edna P., I^essie and Jeannette. Fraternally, Dr. Davis is a Freemason; politically he is a republican; so- cially he mingles in the select circles of Kent, and professionally he stands in the front rank of the medical men of Portage county. Claude M. Davis, after attending the com- mon schools of Kent until he had absorbed all that their curriculum afforded, took a course at the Spencerian Commercial college at Cleve- land, and then, from 1888 until the spring of 1893, clerked in his father's drug store. In the last-named year he engaged in the real es- tate and insurance business, and July i, 1894, ha\ing manifested unusual business (jualifica- tions, was tendered his present position in the City Bank of Kent, which he accepted and has since filled in a most satisfactory manner. October 20, 1888, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Lorinda M. Card, who was born in Decrfield, Portage county, Ohio, De- cember 12, 1867, a daughter of Silas and Mar- garet H. (Ellett) Card, the latter of whom came here from New Jersey, with her parents, about sixty years ago. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Davis has been blessed with two sons — Ray C, born November 18, 1889, and Joel M., born March 8, 1892. In politics Mr. Davis is a stalwart republican, and fraternally is a member of Achilles lodge. No. 378, Knights of Pythias, at Kent. He is one of the leading young business men of northeastern Ohio, is very popular and prominent in Kent, and his social standing, as is that of his accomplished lady, is with the elite of Ivent and surrounding territory. Wi ILLIAM DANNER, an experienced agriculturist and formerly cabinet- maker, and a highly respected citi- zen of Green township, Summit county, (^hio, and a son of Philip and Mary- Ann (Benzel) Danner, was born in Canton, Stark county, February 15, 1833. Philip Danner, grandfather of William, was a native of Pennsyhania, was a shoemaker b}' trade, and was a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio, coming here in 1818, and locating one mile east of Canal Fulton, where he followed farming. He married Miss Margaret Millheim, the union resulting in the birth of nine chil- dren, viz: John, Samuel, Catherine (wife of George Stover), Jacob, Philip, Margaret, Michael, George and David. The father of this family died at the age of eighty-one years, seven months and nine days, and his wife also attained great longevity. Philip Danner, father of subject, was born in Center county. Pa., was a weaver by trade, but on coming to Ohio settled at what is now known as Canal Fulton, Stark county, and carried on wea\ing and also carpenter work. He married Miss Mary .^nn Benzel, daughter 250 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of Baltzer Benzel, and this union was blessed with four children, of whom three still survive, viz: Samuel, of Canton; Emaline and William (our subject). Alfred, the deceased child, died in 1855. The parents both were spared for several years after their marriage, and died in the enjoyment of the esteem of all their neighbors. William Danner was but four months old when he was adopted into the family of his uncle, George Danner, who reared him to farming until twenty-one years old; after, he worked on shares until 1859, when his uncle was called from earth. He then moved to a point near Canal Fulton, where he had an aunt liv- ing, and there passed away nineteen years of his life. He had married at Canal I'^ulton in October, 1855, Miss Lucinda Shriver, who was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, January 6, 1835. a daughter of Henry and Susan (Smith) Shriver, the former of whom was a native of Pennsyl- vania and a life-long farmer, his wife being also a native of the Keystone state, and both dying in Ohio, in the faith of the Lutheral church. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Danner has been blessed with three children, of whom Henry A. died in September, 1862, at the age of five years and eleven months; Clara F. is the wife of William H. Sutter, of Copley township, Sunmiit county, and Elva B. is the wife of George J. Butler, and living at the home of Mr. Danner. For some time after marriage, Mr. Danner worked in a machine shop, and in 1879 sold his farm near Canal Fulton and bought a house and lot in Fulton town, where he en- gaged in wagonmaking until 1890, when he moved to Akron, and entered upon wagon- making for hve months — a trade with which he had familiarized himself, among his other multifarious acquisitions in the mechanical arts, and which he followed, at the different places in which he lived, for a period, all told. of eighteen years in connection with that of cabinetmaking, and which he continued in Ak- ron three years, or until 1893, when he bought his present farm in Green township, which has e\'er since been his home. Mr. Danner has never been an office seeker, but has served on the school board si.\ years as a matter of pub- lic duty. He well remembers when wild deer were plenty in Stark county, and has in his possession the antlers of the last one shot, and which was killed by his uncle, David Danner; he likewise possesses a picture o\er 200 years old, that belonged to his grandmother's grand- mother, and a piece of money over 100 years old. He and wife are members of the Pres- byterian church, at Akron, Ohio, of which he was a trustee, and the}' are among the most respected residents of Green township. IRA O. FAIRCHILD, one of the prom- inent farmers and most respected citi- zens of Stowe township. Summit coun- ty, Ohio, is a man of undoubted integrity of character. Jonathan Fairchild, the grandfather of Ira O., was a farmer of Connecticut, where he married and became the father of Zera, Sher- man, Elam, Polly and Seth. Mr. Fairchild came to Ohio, but did not settle here, prefer- ring to go on to Hvansville, Ind., where he died a very aged man, both he and wife living to be between ninety and 100 years old. It is believed he was a soldier in the-Revolution- ary war. Elam Fairchild, father of Ira O.. was born in Connecticut, January 9, 1793. He became a carpenter and farmer, and married in Otsego county, N. Y., where, he went when a young man. Miss Lydia Wilco.x. Mr. Fairchild, soon after marriage, went to Pittsburg, Pa., and thence by Hat-boat to Evansvilie, Ind., and worked at his trade. About two or three OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 251 years later he came with ox teams to Paines- ville, Ohi(j, where he lived some time, and then moved to Mentor, Ohio, lived at Kirk- land when the Mormons built their temple there, and drew stones for the building. He owned a farm one mile south. He then moved to Chester, Ohio, where he lived five years, and then, in 1837, moved to Willough- by, Ohio; in 1840 moved to Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio; in 1866 moved to Kent, Ohio; one year later, in 1867, he moved to the farm now occupied by Ira O. Fairchild, buying fifty-two acres, ad here lived a few years, and then retired to Amherst, where he died, aged over eighty-nine years, December 22, 18S2. In politics he was a democrat and in religion an Episcopalian, while his wife was a Method- ist. He was a highly respected citizen and at Amherst was trustee, and was land ap- praiser in Lorain county. His children were Julia Ann, Martha, L\dia, Emily and Ira O. His wife was a very ambitious and energetic woman and of man}- virtues, and died eighteen years before her husband. Ira O. Fairchild was born July 28, 1827, and gained a good education in the public schools. He began life as a farmer, a pursuit which he has always followed. He came to his present farm with his father in 1 867 and bought him out in 1873, the farm consisting of fifty-two acres, and by his industry and thrift he has added to it, first buying si.\ty-six acres, and now has a fine farm of 195 acres, upon which he has excellent buildings, kept in good repair. In politics he is a democrat, is an honored citizen, and has served as justice of the peace fifteen years and township trustee and clerk two years. He has always been an industrious man of the greatest integrity of character and has always enjoyed the respect of all who know him, and stands high for his sterling worth. He is a public-spirited man and liberal to all sjood causes. ^V^ KV. JAMES J. FARRELL, pastor of I /<^ the church of the Immaculate Con- I^P ception at Ravenna, Ohio, was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, October 18, i860, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine Farrell, the former of whom died in 1879. The six children born to these parents were named Mary, Michael (deceased), James J., Margaret, Anastasia and John. The mother and three of the surviving children still reside in Ireland, Anastasia being housekeeper for her brother, the Rev. James J., our subject. Rev. James J. Farrell received his ele- mentary education in the national schools of Ireland and his literary and philosophical courses were taken at Saint Kiernan's college in Kilkenny. In 1882 he came to the United States and at once entered upon his theological studies at Saint Mary's academy in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained under discipline for three"years. In 1885 he was ordained priest by the Kt. Rev. Richard Gilmour, bishop of Cleveland (now deceased), and said his first mass in the Catholic church at Willoughby, Ohio. His first appointment was to the pas- torate of St. Patrick's church at Elmore, Ottawa county, Ohio, which he held until the fall of 1885, where he faithfully ministered to the spiritual wants of a small congregation and to those of the missions at Oak Harbor, Genoa and Woodville until October, 1885, when he was transferred to Hudson, Ohio, and given the pastorate of Saint Mary's congrega- tion, with whom he remained four years, hav- ing also under his care the missions of Cuya- hoga Falls and Peninsula, Ohio. About this time the Catholics of Ravenna were deprived of their beloved pastor, the Rev. John' T. Cahill, and the good and faithful service of Father Farrell being fully recognized, he was selected by the bishop as a fitting successor to the late brilliant and eloquent divine. In Sep- tember, 1889, Father Farrell came to Ravenna, PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and has here performed his duties with untiring zeal up to the present day, and much is due to him for the present flourishing condition of the conijregation of the Immaculate Conception. This consists of about 125 families, or 500 members, and supports two schools — primary and grammar, respectively — which are con- ducted by the Dominican sisters of Jersey City, N. J., three of the societ}' being sent to Ra- \enna for the purpose named. The fine church edifice is located at the corner of Main and Sycamore streets, and stands on a lot of 180 leet frontage on Main by a depth of 220 feet on Sycamore street, and the other property of the congregation comprises the parsonage and a residence for the sisters. Father Farreli is a profound student and has a well-stocked library; he is a delightful conversationalist, an eloquent pulpit orator, and, above all, a devout priest and servant of his church, and few can estimate the immense amount of arduous labor performed by him in promoting the spiritual welfare of his charge, who, indeed, lo\e him as a father. As a re- laxation from his onerous duties, in part, and the recuperation of his health, and in part to re-visit his beloved mother and family. Father Farreli made a trip to Ireland in the summer of 1896, and while there availed himself of visiting many points of interest in the Emer- ald isle, beside his old home. Since his return he has renewed his ministerial duties with in- creased vigor, being heartily welcomed by his people. EIKAM SILAS FALOK, a well-known citizen of Coventry township. Sum- mit county, Ohio, was born on the farm on which he now lives, March 22, 1829, and descends from one of the old pioneer families of the county, of German origin. Adam Fehler, as the name was originally spelled, was the grandfather of subject, was a nati\e of Germany, and was the founder of the present Falor family in Ohio. On coming to America he first located in Pennsylvania, re- sided in Reading a few years, and then came to Ohio. Here he lived in Stark county some time, then bought a farm near Wolf Lodge, now within the corporation of the city of Akron, but died a number of years ago in New Portage, Summit county. George Adam Falor, son of Adam Fehler, and father of Hiram Silas, the subject, was born in Lower Smithville, Northampton county. Pa., Jul)' 17, 1798, and in 1809 was brought to Ohio by his parents, and after having lived in Stark county about five jears, located on what was later known as the Thornton farm, and which now constitutes a populous part of the cit\- of Akron. He re- mained with his father until he was twent)- fi\e years of age, and then bought from the government what is now the well known Falor farm of eighty-two acres in Coventry township, at $1.50 per acre, which he cultivated many years, besides following his trade of stone- mason. George A. Falor was three times married — his wives being sisters, and named respectivel)-, Nanc}' McCoy, Rachel McCoy, and Mrs. Jane (McCoy) Wilson. To the first marriage were born four children, viz: Milo J., deceased; James M., deceased; Lucinda, now Mrs. John Gottwalt, and Hiram S., the subject. To the second marriage were born George W., now deceased; Oliver P.; Mary A., now Mrs. J. A. Long; Thomas J.; William W., deceased; Henry C, deceased, Martha E., married to Henry Acker; Lillie A., wife of George L. Adkins, and Perr}- T. To the third marriage no children were born. Mr. Falor was a captain of a militia compan}' and also a drum-major in a company which he had aided in organizing. In politics he was first a free- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 253 silver democrat and later a republican, and was a man of great influence in his commu- nity. Having acquired a competency through his good management, he finally retired to Akron, where he died of dropsy June 29, 1868, an honored and venerated pioneer. Hiram S. Falor, the subject, received a sound common-school education and early learned the trade of harnessmaker, a business he conducted for fifteen years with unqualified success in Akron. In i860 he went to Cali- fornia and for a time clerked in a wholesale store in San Francisco; worked for a brief period in the mines, and then established the pioneer harness shop in X'irginia City, Nev. In 1861 he organized the City guards, and, as captain of this company, tendered its services to the government at the outbreak of the Re- bellion, but, for the lack of means of transport- ation at that time, the tender was declined.' In 1863 Capt. Falor returned to Akron, and five years later removed to his present farm, of which mention has already been made, and which now comprises eleven acres just outside the corporation limits of x\kron, and also of si.\ly-three town or building lots. Capt. Falor has ever been a consistent republican and has faithfull}' and ably filled man}- offices of honor and trust, political and otherwise. For several years he was foreman of one of Akron's pioneer fire companies; was deputy village marshal two years; was secre- tary of the Summit county Agricultural society two years, and for two years its assistant sec- retary; he was a messenger in the office of State Treasurer Joseph Turney, at Columbus, from 1880 to 1884, and was a member of the police fcjrce in charge of Music Hall during the Ohio Centennial exposition of 1888; was census enumerator for Coventry township in 1890, and was a justice of the peace from 1893 to 1896. Fraternally, he is a royal arch Mason, and for thirty-fi\e years has been a member of Akron lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M. As an Odd Fellow he has filled all the chairs of Summit lodge. No. 50, but is now non-affiliating. Capt. Falor was first married, July 4, 1854, to Miss Bertha E. Agard, who bore him three children, viz: Benjamin ^tanton, who was born August 21, 1855, and died October 30, 1874; Claude Emerson, who was born De- cember 23, 1856, served in the regular army fourteen years, se\'en months and sixteen days, and was honorably discharged for disability; and Honora N., who was born January 18, 1859, and died January 27. 1865. Mrs. Ber- tha E. Falor died January 4, 1873, an ardent and consistent member of the Baptist church, and July 16, 1873, Capt. Falor married Mrs. Phebe A. Lutz, of Westfield, Medina county, Ohio, a daughter of Martin and Fanny Wright, and the mother of two children by her first husband — Minnie, who died May i, 1881, and Sylvester E. Lutz. To this second marriage of Capt. Falor have also been born two chil- dren — Hiram Garcelon, August 12, 1879, and Phebe Fanny, March 6, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Falor are members of the Main street (Akron) Methodist Episcopal church, of which the captain is a trustee, and toward the erection of which edifice he was a liberal contributor. He possesses to an unusual extent the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens and is universally recognized as one f)f the most pub- lic-spirited and useful members of the com- munity in which he has so long had his being. ^V'^AMD F. FELMLY, mayor of Cuya- I I hoga Falls, Ohio, for the past three /<^^_^ years, springs from sturdy Dutch an- cestrj-, and is the son of Jacob and Susannah (Paulus) Felmly, of old colonial de- scent. The grandfather of David F. was a native of Snyder county, Pa., was a farmer. 254 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and his childrrn were David, Jacob, Franklin and Mary. Jacob Felmly, father of David P., was born August 6, 1836, in Snj'der county, Pa., on his father'.s farm, and received but a Hm- ited common education. He came to Ohio when a young; man of twenty, in 1856, and married March 27, i860, in Sufficld township. Portage county, Susannah Paulus, who was born March 29, 1837, in Portage county, a daughter of David and Mary Paulus, of Penn- sylvania-Dutch stock. David Paulus was a farmer, and lived to the great age of eighty- six years. His children were David, Daniel, John, Peter, Henry, William, Elias, Abraham, Samuel, Mary and Susannah. Jacob Felmly, after marriage, settled on a farm in Suffield township, but now lives on his farm in North- ampton township, Summit county, and has always been a farmer. n politics he is a democrat, but voted for .\. Lincoln. Mr. Felmly is an industrious, hard-working man, respected by all. His children were named David I'., Charles H., Mar)' C Cora M., Ida J., Ewin E. , Lydia A., Miles E., Amy S. (died an infant), Nelly A. and Jacob L. — all now living except Amy S. David F. Felmly was born March 7, 1861, on the farm in Suffield township, and received his education in the public schools and in the college in Akron, Ohio. He taught school three years in Summit county, and then en- gaged as bookkeeper with Harry Thompson, in his sewer-pipe works. Mr. Felmly mar- ried, March 12, 1889, in Summit county, Emily Williamscjn, who was born November 13, 1865, in this county, a daughter of W. H. and Maryette (Starke) Williamson. Mr. \\' ill- iamson is a farmer of Summit county, and his children were named, in order of birth, George B., Amy, Emily and Frank (died aged five years). His ancestors and his wife's were of New England stock. He is a substantial farmer and a respected citizen and in politics is a republican. Mr. Felmly is a successful farmer. He has held, in Northampton town- ship, the office of clerk of township two jears; in Cuyahoga Falls he has served as clerk of the town, was a member of the council two years, and was elected mayor in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Felmly are members of the Disciples' church, in which Mr. Felmly has held the office of president of the board of trustees. He is also a knight of the Ancient Essenic order, K. of P., and a member of the Protective Home circle. Mr. Felmly stands high for his integrity of character, and is a popular official, having, in every office he has tilled, done his full duty. '^Y'UNIUS FENN, a deceased farmer of m Brimfield township, Portage county, m J Ohio, was born in Watertown, Litch- field county. Conn., October 7, 18 14, and was a son of Archibald and Mabel (Beech- er) Fenn, both natives of \\'atertown, in the same state. Archibald Fenn was a wagon- maker by trade, and to his marriage \\ith Miss Beecher, who was a daughter of Isaac Beecher, were born two sons — G. B. , who died Decem- ber 30, 1893, and Junius, whose name opens this sketch. Junius Fenn, attended the common or pub- lic schools of his native town until twelve j-ears of age, when he entered the office of the In- (]uirer, and for three years worked at the print- ind business, and then, for three years, was employed in a clock factory, after which he went to New York, and for a short time worked as a carpenter. In 1835 he came to Ohio and located at Cuyahoga Falls, Summit count)-, and September 22, 1839, married Miss Mary B. Nettleton, a daughter of Nathan and Eliz- abeth (Morris) Nettleton, and this union was blessed with two children — Eoline and Joseph OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 255 M. In 1840 Mr. Fenn came to Portage county and settled on a farm, in Brimfield township, on which his widow died July 21, 1897, and where his children were born. This place he converted into oneo the most productive farms in the county, and here he passed away June II, 1 88 1, a member of the Methodist church, and honored by the many friends he had made both in Portage and Summit counties for his strict integrity, charitable disposition, and for all the endearing qualities that so distinguished him as a husband, father, friend and citizen. Nathan Nettleton, father of Mrs. Fenn, was born in Bethany, Conn., September 24, 1 79 1, was a shoe dealer, and married, Decem- ber 25, 1 81 7, Miss Elizabeth Morris, who was born June 4, 1791, a daughter of Asa and Mary (Bisco) Morris, and to this union were born two children — Mrs. Mary B. Fenn, who was born September 15, 1818, and Elizabeth, who died in 1 83 1 , at the age of eight years and nine months. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Fenn was also named Nathan and was born in New Haven, Conn. ; he was a farmer by occu- pation, was for many years sheriff of his county, and married Miss Sophia French. Asa Morris, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Fenn, also a native of New Haven, married Miss Mary Bris- co, a daughter of Isaac Brisco, became the father of five children, viz; Asa, Alonzo, Na- than, Orville and Elizabeth, and died July 10, 1828, his wife surviving until August 3, 1840, when she died at the age of seventy-si.x years. The Nettleton family was of English origin, and the branch that settled in America came to the country about the year 1650. Mrs. Mary B. Fenn, who died at nearly four score years, retained her faculties to a re- markable degree, lived in the enjoyment of the esteem of all her neighbors, and was honored as a descendant of one of the oldest families of America and as being among the early pioneers of Brimfield township. aURTIS FENTON is one of the most substantial business men of Mogadore. and one of the best known and most highly respected men in Summit county. He is superintendent and treasurer of the Akron Standard Pipe company, of Mog- adore, and as a man of affairs and representa- tive of the business interests of the place i.-^ regarded very highly in the community. He is a son of Almos J. Fenton, who was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y. , a son of .^lonzo Fentun, a master potter. Almos Fenton inherited his father's trade as a potter, and for some years operated an extensive pottery plant in Cleve- land in partnership with H. Thorpe, to whom he finally disposed of his interests and bouglit the pottery plant at Mogadore. He was an excellent man and an upright representative citizen, and the town of Mogadore owes much to his energetic efforts at an earlier daj'. He was an" old-line whig, later a republican, but in his later years gave his personal support to the principles of the prohibition party. He was a constant attendant anil \alued contrib- utor to the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Miss Susan Lee, daughter of Alexan- der Lee, and the following children were born to them; Thomas H., William, Curtis J. il). deceased, and Curtis (II), our subject. The latter was born in Mogadore January 22, 1853. He receiveti an excellent common- school education, which he supplemented by a thorough course at the Cleveland Business col- lege. As his father and grandfather before him had done, he grew up in the pottery trade, with all the details of which, even to the mi- nutest, he is thoroughly acquainted. His ex- cellent business capacity makes him certainl\ the right man in the right place in his respon- sible position as superintendent and treasurer of the company, which annually handles $50,- 000 worth of pipe. In his business he has been successful, and is one of the most sub- '256 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD stantial citizens of the place. He enjoys good living and has one of the pleasantest homes in the place. In politics he is a republican, and takes a warm interest in the local affairs of his party. On January 7, 1875, Mr. Fenton married Miss Kate L. Ferguson, daughter of Dr. James C. Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson was a native of Summit county, born August 7, 1820, son of Samuel and Rosanna (Reynolds) Ferguson, of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a graduate of Cleveland Medical college and practiced in this county all his life. His wife was Mary \\'ard, daughter of Calvin and Lydia Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton have the following children: James T., Mary F"., Marjorie, Harry W., James T. (deceased, January 7, 1878), and Mary F. , the latter an accomplished mu- sician and graduate of the Cincinnati college of Music. <>^ MTEK FLATH, the fashionable cloth- 1 m ier and merchant tailor of Ravenna, ^ Ohio, is a native of Hessen Darm- stadt, German}-, was born September 17, 1829, and is a son of Philip and Catherine Elizabeth (Flath) I'lath, who were the parents of seven children, of whom three are still liv- ing, viz: Elizabeth, of (jermany, and Peter and George, now of the United States. Philip Flath, father of subject, was also a merchant tailor in his younger manhood, but later engaged largely in farming. He lost his wife in 1861, and his own death occurred in Germany in 1882, at the advanced age of more than eighty-two years. Both were de\oted members of the Lutheran church. The pa- ternal grandfather of Mr. I'lath was a wealthy farmer, had born to him si.\ sons and one daugh- ter by two marriages, and died at the age of eighty years; the matermal grandfather was a school-teacher. Peter Flath was educated in Germany and learned his trade under the instruction of his father. At the age of nineteen years he came to the United States, and after working at his trade si.\ weeks in New York city, came to Ohio, and for si.\ months worked in Ports- mouth, Scioto county; he then went back to the Empire state, and for nearly four years worked in Rochester; thence he came west again and was employed in Chicago, 111., until 1854, whence he returned to New York city, remained there seven or eight months, and then once more returned to Ohio and located in Cleveland. Peter Flath was married, in Cleveland, in 1856, to Miss Catherine Heimes, and this union has been blessed with one daughter — Mary Charlotte. On April 2, i860, Mr. Flath came to Ravenna, and here he entered the employ- ment of J. T. Green, as cutter. Five years and nine months later he bought the business from his employer. F"or two years, however, Mr. Flath had a partner in the person of L. W. Reed, who sold his interest to William L. Poe at the end of that time, but since April 23, 1875, Mr. Flath has been alone in the business. That he thoroughly understands this, is shown by the positions he has held as a journeyman — principally as cutter — and by the uniformly steady progress he has made smce he has been in trade on his own account. Mr. Flath is a master Mason fraternally, and in politics is a democrat. He stands well so- cially, and as a business man his reputation is without a flaw. ^^rj^ILLIAM KEAN FOLTZ, M. D., a MM I distinguished physician and surgeon Wj^il of Akron, Ohio, was born in Juniata county. Pa., a son of Moses and Sarah (Kean) Foltz, February 15, 1829. Dietrich Foltz, paternal grandfather of the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 257 doctor, was a native of Dauphin county, Pa., but whether of German or Swiss descent is unknown, but it is certain that his ancestors settled in America prior to the war of the Revolution. Dietrich was a wagonniaker by trade, but in later life bought a farm in Jun- iata county, on which he passed the remain- der of his life. Those of his children who grew to maturity were named Moses, George, Betsy (Mrs. Harris), Samuel, Benjamin, John, Joseph and Kebecca. Moses Foltz, eldest son of Dietrich and father of Dr. Foltz, was born in Juniata coun- ty, learned wagonmaking from his father, and married Sarah Kean, a daughter of William Kean, of Scotch-Irish descent, and also a native of Juniata county. To this marriage were born ten children, of whom eight grew to maturity, viz: William K., Joseph M., John K., Hiram H. , Abner E. , Heber M. , Caroline ( Mrs. Frank B. Clark), and George K. In 1831 Moses Foltz came to Ohio, located in Wooster, Wayne county, and for four or five years fol- lowed wagonmaking and then engaged in car- penter work. Nearly every winter, however, from 1834, he taught a term of school, as the inclement weather precluded his working as a carpenter, and this course of life he followed until his death, which occurred in Smithville, Wayne county, in 1864, at the age of fifty- seven }ears, a highly respected citizen. William Kean Foltz, our subject, was reared in Wayne county, Ohio, from the age of two years, and was educated at Heidelberg college. At the age of eighteen years he be- gan the study of medicine, entering the office of Dr. C. H. Stauber, of Wooster, and in February, 1869, was graduated from the Ec- lectic Medical college, of Cincinnati, where he had finished his medical education. He had previously practiced a year in Lafayette, Me- dina county, and then in Sharon Center ten years, following which he had a lucrative practice of ten years in Ashland, Ohio. In 1877 Dr. Foltz came to Akron, where he has ever since met with the most flattering suc- cess, standing now in the front rank of his profession. He is an honored and valued member the Ohio State Eclectic Medical so- ciety and of the National Eclectic Medical association; also of the Ohio .\cademy of Sci- ence and the Akron Scientific club. In politics he is a stanch republican. Dr. Foltz was united in marriage May 12, 1856, with Miss Carrie Lehman, daughter of John and Nancy (Bear) Lehman, of Wa\ne township, Wayne county, Ohio, and this happy union has been blessed with one child, Kent O., a prominent oculist and aurist. KIRAM H. FOLTZ, a prominent citizen .of Akron, was born in Wayne count}'. Ohio, June 20, 1837, ^l son of Moses and Sarah (Kean) Foltz, whose gene- alogy is given in a preceding paragraph. He attended public school until seventeen years of age, when he began learning carriage painting in Wooster, where he carried on the business until August 9, 1862, when he enlisted in com- pany I, One Hundred and Second Ohio vol- unteer infantry, served until May 13, 1865, and was honorably discharged on account of sickness, with the rank of corporal — his dis- charge being by special order of the war de- partment. He then worked at his trade in Wooster and in Medina county a few months, and in March, 1866, came to .Akron, followed his trade, more or less, until 1885, and then filled the position of superintendent of the .Ak- ron Transfer line for a year. In 1887 he was in the directory business at Zanesville, Ohio, and in 1888 was appointed canal collector for the port of Akron, which position he filled in a most satisfactory manner for six years. In 1894 and 1895 he was in the employ of the 258 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Foltz Jewelry company of Cleveland, and was also connected with the same company in Ak- ron during 1 895-96. As a republican he served as a member of the Akron school board four years, and it was during his incumbency of this office that the principal school-houses of Akron were erected. Mr. Foltz was joined in v.'edlock in March, 1862, with Miss Cynthia B. Hughes, daughter of William and Mary (Flora) Hughes, of Woos- ter, Ohio, the marriage resulting in the birth of three children — William, who died in in- fancy; Minnie (the wife of Frederick W. Davis), and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Foltz are members of the Disciples' church, and their social stand- ing is very pleasant, as they have a large circle of estimable friends, by whom they are very highly respected. (D KS. MARY FOSDICK, of Cuyahoga I'alls, Ohio, is the proprietress of one of the most attractive summer resorts in northern Ohio, situated at the l^ig Falls of the Cuyahoga river, at the cave known as the " Old Maid's Kitchen," and has for the past twenty-two years kept a fa- mous hostelry, well known to Cleveland and Akron people. She is the widow of David Fosdick, who was born in New York city, came to Ohio when a young man, located at the present place in 1874, and built the hotel, it being one of the first summer resorts on the Cuyahoga river. Mr. Fosdick died in 1893 and Mrs. Fosdick has since managed the hotel. They were the parents of four children, Marion, Myrtle, Arthur, and George (deceased, aged thirty-three years). Mrs. Fosdick has one of •the most attractive and romantic places on the Cuyahoga river, and makes a specialty of broiled chicken suppers for the best people of Cleveland and Akron, and also takes summer boarders. The Cuyahoga river, at this point, falls at a very rapid descent through a very rocky and picturesque glen, which it has worn through the solid rock to the depth of several hundred feet during countless ages of time. The rugged sides of this deep glen are covered with a great variety of native forest trees, and it is one of the most beautiful places in the whole west. In early times, this localit}' was a famous hiding place for the Indians and early hunters, and before the time of Boquet's expe- ditions, the sa\ages of the Cuyahoga secreted many white prisoners in its rocky nooks. The "Old Maid's Kitchen " is formed by the falling of immense blocks of sandstone from the walls of the glen, and well illustrates the powerful forces of nature. Mrs Fosdick is a lady of remarkable energy and strength of character and well calculated to manage her hotel, which is kept in the best of style. She caters only to the most respect- able people, and many come to this interesting place from all parts of the United States and other countries. Mrs. Fosdick is a notable cook and the fame of her viands has spread far and wide. She does her own cooking and concocts the daintiest of dishes, and her broiled chicken should be eaten to be appreciated. ^"^EORGE K. FOLTZ, the leading jew- ■ ^\ eler and optician of Akron, was born ^^^M in Madisonburg, Wayne count}', Ohio, December 14, 1849, and is a son of Moses and Sarah (Kean) Foltz, of whom men- , tion is made in the biography of Dr. William Kean Foltz, on a preceding page. George K. Foltz received a fair education > in the public schools of Wayne county, which he attended until fourteen years of age, wiien, in 1864, he entered the Beacon office in Akron , and was a "printer's devil" for about si.\ ' months. August 14, 1865, he began an ap- prenticeship at the jewelry business in the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. -'59 store of H. S. Abbey, served out the stipu- lated term, and remained as a journeyman until the death of Mr. Abbey, in 1872; later he continued in the employ of his former pre- ceptor's son, Henry E. Abbey, who subse- quently became one of the most famous theat- rical and operatic managers in the country. In 1875 Mr. Foltz formed a partnership with W. |. Frank in the jewelry business, under the firm name of Foltz & Frank, at No. 118 Howard street, and in the spring of 1876 this concern was consolidated with Wait, Dewey & Ct). In the spring of 1877 Foltz & Frank absorbed the entire business and continued under the latter name until 1891, when Mr. Foltz disposed of his interest in the concern to Mr. Frank and went to Georgia, where he em- barked in the same line of business at Thomas- ville, and conducted a prosperous trade from January 5, 1891, until February 12, 1892, when he had the misfortune to lose his wife. He then returned to Ohio and was engaged in business alone at Cleveland from 1892 to June, 1895, when he returned to Akron and became one of the incorporators of the Foltz company, for the purpose of conducting business as jew- elers and opticians, and opened trade in the same room in which he had begun his appren- ticeship thirty years previously, and of this company Mr. Foltz was the manager for two years. July 15, 1897, Mr. Foltz opened his present place of business, at 162 South Main street, under the firm name of the Foltz & Ewart compan}-, jewelers, opticians and deal- ers in artists' supplies. The marriage of Mr. Foltz took place Oc- tolier 27, 1874, to Miss Katie Gintz, daughter of Kasimer and Susan (Varrick) Gintz, of Ak- ron, of English and German descent — Varrick street. New York city, being named after one of her ancestors. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Foltz has been blessed with one child — Adelaide Louise. Mr. Foltz attends the Dis- ciples' church, to the support of which he con- tributes liberally, and in politics he is a re- publican. The F'oltz family, as may readily be supposed, are highly respected in the social circles of Akron. BREDERICK FOOTE, senior member of the well-known grocery firm of Foote & Reed, Kent. Portage coun- ty, was born in Wood county, Ohio, November 14, 1835, a son of Epaphroditu's and Charlotte M. (Smith) Foote, the former of whom was a native of Connecticut and the latter of New York — the genealogv of the Foote family having been traced back through generations in New England to the mother country, England herself. Epaphroditus Foote was born Jul\ 19, 1 79 1, was reared a farmer, and first married Miss Eunice P>i.\by, who, on dying, left four children, viz.: Joel, who died in 1896 in Wood county, Ohio; Mary, who was married to James Blinn, and also died in Wood coun- ty; Sarah Ann, wife of John Arnold, died in Alamakee county, Iowa, and Epaphroditus, who died, also, in Wood county, Ohio. The second marriage of Mr. Foote took place in the state of New York, November 2, 1830, to Charlotte M. Smith, and in 1827 Mr. Foote came to Ohio and settled in Wood county. The brother, P'rederick, however, died in Cleveland. The father first located on a tract of timber, intermixed with prairie, and this property he improved considerably, but later sold, purchased another farm, improved this to nearly its full extent, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying October 26, 1857, and his wife December 16, 1882. They were the parents of eight children, nearly all of whom attained mature years, viz: Leroy, a farmernear Ottawa, Canada; Oscar, a teacher, \\ho died at the age of eighteen years; Fred- 260 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD erick, the subject of this notice; Emily J., wife of Freeman Smith, of Fort Wayne, Ind. ; Eunice, married to John H. Matthews, of Wood county, Ohio; Martin V., a farmer of Benton county, Iowa; Josephine, who died at the age of seven years; and Harriet S. , wife of Frank Yost, of Wood county, Ohio. Frederick Foote, the subject, was reared on his father's farm in Wood county, and was educated in the common schools. Mr. Foote enlisted .as a member of company B, One Hundred and Forty-fourth O. N. G., and May 2, 1864, he was mustered into the United States service at Camp Chase, Ohio, and served four months, was at the battle of Mo- nocacy Junction, Md., at the time of Jubal Early's raid on the city of Washington. He was honorably discharged in September, 1864. In 1864, also, he went to Tontogany, Wood county, and commenced his mercantile life as clerk in a dry-goods store, remaining until 1 87 1, then engaged in the dry-goods trade on his own account in Haskins, in the same county, and in 1872 came to Kent, Portage county, and embarked in the grain and coal trade in partnership with E. A. Parsons. In November, 1873. he withdrew from this trade and became manager of the Kent Co-operative store until January i, 1882, when, leaving this concern in a most tiourishing condition, he formed a partnership with C. F. Sawyer, un- der the firm name of Foote & Sawyer and conducted a first-class grocery trade until 1884, when Mr. Sawyer retired and Rob- ert Reed united with Mr. Foote under the style of Foote & Reed, and this firm stands to-day among the foremost grocers in the county of Portage and is the leading firm in its line in Kent. The block in which its ex- tensive business is carried on is the property of Mr. I'oote. The marriage of Frederick Foote took place September 2, 1872, with Miss Alice A. Underwood, who was born in Brimfield town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, June 25, 1843. a daughter of Freeman and Mercy A. (Lincoln) Underwood, and this union has resulted in the birth of three children — Ernest U. (deceased). Mary L. and Carl Freeman. In politics Mr. Foote is a democrat, and has served as treas- urer of Kent and Franklin township two terms, as member of the school board two terms — being president one year and treasurer one year — and has also served as a member of the city council. He has always taken a deep interest in the affairs of Ivent and has used his best efforts, in or out of office, to pro- mote its prosperity. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason, and is likewise the worshipful master of Rockton lodge. No. 316. A. F. & A. M. ; he is also treasurer of the lodge of Royal Arcanum. In November, 1889, Mr. Foote was appointed a member of the Ohio Soldiers' Relief Commission, and still holds this position. Mr. Foote is respected as a gentleman of the strictest integrity, and his long business career is a proof that this re- spect is well founded. eLMER E. FRANCE, postmaster of Kent, Ohio, and a leading dry-goods merchant, was born in Portage county, April 22. 1863. a son of James and Martha (Littlewood) France, natives of England, who came to the United States early in the 'fifties, and later purchased a farm in Franklin township. James France was born in Yorkshire, Eng- land, in 1820, was a weaver by trade, was married in his native land, and on coming to America was comparatively a poor man, but by his industry earned the means with which to purchase his farm. After the close of the Civil war he sold his farm and moved to Hun- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 263 tington, W. V'a., where for a time he was in the dry-goods trade, then came to Kent, where he dealt in real estate for some time and then engaged in the dry-goods business, in which he continued until 1883, when he re- tired from business in the broader sense of the word, attending only to his limited duties as vice-president of the City bank, of which he was one of the founders. His wife, who was born in 18 19, passed away on the 15th day of April, 1893, and his own health beginning to fail, he made a visit to his daughter Emily, in Denver, Colo., where he suddenly expired January 8, 1894. He was a man of excellent judgment and decided views, but liberal and generous both in mind and purse; he was not a member of any religious denomination, but was strictly moral and led an unimpeachable life; in politics he had been a republican until the nonn'nation of Horace Greeley for the presidency by the democrats in 1872, from which time forward he acted with the de- mocracy. He had accumulated considerable business and residence property, which he di- vided between the three children who grew to maturity of the five that were born to him, these three being Rhoda, born in England, and wife of William McKeon, of Kent; Emily, wife of F. C. Kendrick, of Denver, Colo., and Elmer E., whose name opens this bio- graphical sketch. Elmer E. France was educated in the pub- lic schools of Kent, and at Eastman's Business college in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and began his business life as an assistant to his father in his dry-goods store, thoroughly learning the busi- ness. In 1883, with his sister, Emily, he succeeded his father in the business, and in 1886 became sole proprietor, and has now the finest and the largest and best selected stock of goods in his line in Portage county. He is an excellent business man, affable and obliging, just in his dealings, and knows how G to retain the trade of a patron to whom he has an opportunity of once making a sale. Mr. France was most happily united in wedlock, August 4, 1886, with Miss Cora M. Haymaker, daughter of O. F. Haymaker, and this union has been blessed with two children, viz: Carl H., born June 8, 1887, and Mar- jorie, born in January, 1891. In politics Mr. France for twenty years has been active in the ranks of the democracy, and April i, 1896, was appointed postmaster of Kent, which office he has filled with iiis usual business ability and to the entire satisfaction of the pub- lic. Fraternally he is a royal arch Mason, is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, and as a citizen and business man bears an unim- peached and respected name. a APT. HERMAN O. FEEDERLE. ' only son of Richard and Sophia (Speck) Feederle, was born at Akron, Ohio, May 15, 1866. Richard, the first born of Karl and Rosina (Stuckle) Fee- derle, was born at Hufingen Baden, May 23, 1833, and at the age of eighteen years he came to this "land of promise," accom- panied by two younger brothers. May 25, 1852, at Cleveland, Ohio, he married Sophia Speck, daughter of Xavier and Catherine (Smithers) Speck, also a natives of Baden. Ten children were born of this union, of whom five died in early infancy. The surviving children are Mrs. G. A. Pari- sette, of New York cit\-, Mrs. M. D. Brouse, Miss F. Feederle and Miss .\ntoinette Fee- derle, all of Akron, Ohio. In 1885 Richard Feederle removed with his family to the village of .\kron, where he was employed by Webster, Taplin & Co., with whom he remained until the tumult of war threatened his adopted country, which enthused him to stir up the patriotism of hi.-^ 264 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD German friends and company I, of the One Hundred and Se%'enth Ohio volunteer infantry, was the result, of which he was commissioned captain. However, after nine months of faithful service, he was obliged to resign on account of impaired health, and in 1867 went abroad to regain it, receiving much benefit from the mineral springs in Baden. On his return to Akron he opened a restaurant, at the same time conducting an agency for vari- ous German periodicals, and assisting in the editing of a local German paper. He was one of the charter niembers of the Akron Liedertafel and a singer of the male chorus of that organisation, serving as president at the time of his death; which occurred when he was again crossing the Atlantic in quest of health and to stock the German department of a book store he was about to open. He unfortunately was a passenger on the ill-fated steamship "Schiller" of the Anchor line, which, on May 7, 1875, ran out of its course among the Scilly islands, was. wrecked on Bishoff rock in a dense fog and fierce storm, during which 303 passengers went to the bot- tom, three only surviving to tell the tale. The bereaved widow and children con- tinued to reside at Akron, Ohio, where Her- man O. received a public school education, followed by a commercial course to qualif}' him for a business career, which he entered upon with R. R. Goodfellow, of Minneapolis, Minn., as clerk, and later as collector. This was followed by a position as salesman in the mercantile firm of Brouse & Co., of Akron, which position he occupied for five years, at the termination of which he engaged in the insurance and real estate business, becoming local agent of the New York Life Insurance company. The following year he formed a partnership with R. A. Myers, and the firm of Feederle & Myers continued for three years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Feederle continued alone as a leader in the life, fire and accident insurance business, combined with loan and real estate. He is identified as clerk' of the deputy state supervisors of elections for Summit county, and as a director of the Akron Salt company. In December, rS96, he was elected captain of company B, O. N. G. ;' receiving his commission January 25, [897. Politically Capt. Feederle has always been an active republican, and fraternally he is a mem-' ber of McPherson lodge, K. of P., of Nemo lodge, I. O. O. F., and of .Akron encampment- of the same order; he is also a member of thd Loyal Legions of the first class by inheritance, and is enrolled with the Sons of Veterans,. Akron camp, Ohio commander}-. Herman O. Feederle, was married to Delia Bowen Schoonover, daughter of the late Col. Jenas Schoonover and Mary Russell Schoonover, June 12, 1888. The union has been blessed with three children: Donna May, Carl Lamont and Dorris Lee. Together they reside at Rosedale place in the city of his birth. Capt. Feederle, it will be seen, has filled man\- positions of responsibility and trust, has always enjoyed, and still does enjoy, the entire confidence of his fellow-citizens, and well de- serves the high esteem in which he is univer- sally held. eZRA FOWLER, justice of the peace at Kent, was born in Portage countj', Ohio, May 7, 1840, a son of Abel and Ruth (Manning) Fowler, natives of Connecticut and early settlers in the Buckeye state. In the early part of the seventeenth cen- tury three brothers, William, Samuel and John Fowler, came from England, the land of their nativity, and settled in New England. Of these, William Fowler, the paternal ancestor of our subject, built a mill at Milford, Conn., OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 265 and the site is still occupied b)' a building erected for the same purpose and the seventh in the order of construction. It bears the in- scription "Ye Fowler's Mill," and is still operated by William Fowler & Son — descend- ants of the original immigrant, William. In the tower of the bridge which spans the litttle Wepowege river at that point is a burrstone taken from the first mill erected there, and is now used as a seat. Many of the descendants of the immigrant W'lliani reached distinction in the various walks of life, and among them was Jonathan Fowler, the famous Baptist divine of Providence, R. I. The parents of Ezra Fowler, the subject, were married in Milford, Conn., where the father was a mer- chant, and shortly afterward came to Ohio. They first located at Poland, then moved to Randolph, Portage county, where the father kept store and also bought furs, next moved to a farm at Charlestown, and finally settled in Ravenna, where he conducted a grocery store until his death, in 1854, at the age of fifty- si.x years; his widow surviv.ed him until 1885, when she died at the age of eighty-three. Mr. Fowler was a man of considerable intiu- ence in his day and had taken great interest in military affairs, being at one time colonel of a rifle regiment. To him and wife were born ten children, of whom eight grew to ma- turity. Of these, William was killed by the overturning of a mail coach between Allegheny and Cumberland, Pa. ; Amanda was married to I'rederick Caris, and is now deceased; Caroline is the wife of R. E. Patterson, of Garretts- ville; Mary was the wife of Rufus Thomas and died at Warren, Ohio; Manning, vvho was a major in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio volunteers, died at Kokomo, Ind. ; Nancy was the wife of W. H. Gibson, and died in Voungstown, Ohio; Lucy is the wife of Will- iam Collins, a resident of Parsons, Kan., and Ezra is the subject of this memoir. Ezra Fowler was four jears old when his parents moved to Ravenna, and there he at-i tended school until 1854, when he went to Warren, and li\ed with his sister Mary, and until 1857 attended the school of that town. For, three years he drove stage between Ra-; venna and Newton Falls, then learned the trade of carriage trimmer in Ravenna, and aft- erward was in the grocery business for a short time. -Early in 1862 he enlisted in company D, Seventy-second Ohio volunteer infantry, took part in the battle of Shiloh, and was then detailed as courier to Gen. R. P., Buckland, for whom he was also private secretary, and filled out a total service of three years. After the war he was employed as a clerk in a dry- goods store in Fremont, Ohio, ne.xt at Gar-r rettsyille, ne.xt in driying a saleswagon, \vith Warren as his headquarters, and in 1876 con- ducted the Poe House in Ravenna; in 1878 he came to Kent, and since has been engaged in the hotel business. November 12, 1869, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage with Miss Kate D. Taylor, who was born in Palmyra, Ohio, July 30, 1851, a daughter of Salmon and Mary A. (Calkins) Taylor. Mr.. Taylor was a well-known grocer of Ravenna and died in that city in September, 1862, at the age of fifty-four years, where, also, his widow died April 5, 1894. They were the parents of two children — Walter B., of Ravenna, and Mrs, Fowler. The latter was but three years of age when her parents settled in Ravenna; she was educated in the public schools and was a very apt scholar, became a teacher of music and also a church organist, and is to-day a highly accomplished and ami- able lady and an ornament to the social circles of Kent. Two children have blessed the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, viz: Mary Ad- die and Elizabeth J. , the latter the wife of John Arighi, of Kent. Mr. Fowler in politics was a democrat un- 266 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD til 1896, since which time he has been an ar- dent republican; is a member of the board of education, and in April, 1896, was elected a justice of the peace, which office he has filled with impartiality and to the entire satisfaction to the public and credit to himself up to the present hour. IRUMAN L. FIRESTONE.— As a commercial and manufacturing cen- ter, Akron commands a position which essentially calls for hotel accommoda- tions of good capacity and able management. In this regard the subject of this sketch will be found capable of maintaining a reputation equal to any other in the possession of a hotel that is unsurpassed in its accommodations. In support of this assertion, it is only necessary to visit the Windsor hotel, of which he is pro- prietor, to find it is not only one of the best hotels in northeastern Ohio, but of the entire state as well, in all that pertains to a strictly first-class hostelry. Ever since it has passed into the hands of Mr. Firestone, the ^^'indsor, has been regarded as not only one of the most pleasant and convenient resorts for the travel- ing public, but one of the most homelike and comfortable hotels in this or the adjacent states. Mr. Firestone descends from one of those sturdy German pioneers who were so promi- nent in the early settlements of eastern Penn- sylvania. Matthias Firestone, the great-grand- father of our subject, came to America about 1750, and served in the war of the Revolution and subsequently settled in eastern Pennsyl- vania. Jacob, his son and grandfather of our subject, settled in Maryland after he grew to manhood, locating in Frederick county, where he died at the age of fifty-five. He was a farmer by occupation, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in Fort McHenry when it was bombarded by the British. He married Mary Holt, a native of Maryland, and their family consisted of six sons. George W. , the fifth son and the father of Mr. Firestone, was born on the homestead in Frederick coun- ty, Md. , in 1 8 1 1 . He learned the millwright trade, and in 1835 settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where he followed his business until he was seventy years of age, erecting and repair- ing mills throughout the counties of Wayne, Stark, Homes and Ashland. He died at Fred- ericksburg, Ohio, in 1891, his wife having died in 1858. This lady bore the maiden name of Jane Hutchison, and was a daughter of James Hutchison, a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio shortly after the war of 1812. By this marriage the following children were born, Truman L., Eugene T. , and Mary J., wife of George Smith. Truman L. . Firestone was born January 26, 1846, at Fredericksburg, Ohio. After the death of his mother he went to live with his uncle, David Fir.estone, in Licking county, where he was raised upon his farm, receiving a common-school education,- and where he re- mained until June 4, 1863, when he enlisted in company E, One Hundred and Twenty- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for six months, and ser\ed until March 4, 1864. Returning home, he again enlisted, April 4, 1864, in company H, One Hundred and Second Ohio vol- unteer infantry, and served until his regiment was mustered out in 1865, when he was trans- ferred to the One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was stationed at Huntsville, Ala., and finally discharged in July, 1865. He participated in the following engagements: Cumberland Gap, Walker's Ford, and the three engagements at Decatur, Ala. After the close of the war Mr. Firestone located at Fredericksburg, Ohio, and learned the trade of a woodturner, serving an appren- ticeship of two years. In 1869 he located in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 267 Akron and was engaged at his trade and vari- ous occupations until 1882, when he returned to Fredericksburg and engaged in the planing- mill business for nine years. In 1890 he went to Cleveland, where he remained for two years, working for the Gobielle Pattern company and C. E. Taft company; at the expiration of this time he came to Akron and engaged in the planing- mill business, which he conducted nn- til 1896, when he purchased the Windsor hotel. Politically he is a republican, and is a member of E. M. Mast post. No. 302, G. A. R. , of Fredericksburg, Ohio. Mr. Firestone was married in Maj', 1874, to Miss Nellie, daughter of Peter and Eliza- beth (DeLashmutt) Hanson, and by this mar- riage they have had two sons — Cloyd W. (de- ceased) and George Forest. ^y'A AVID FRANK, a retired farmer, but I I still a dealer in agricultural imple- /^^_^ ments, pianos and organs at Copley, Summit count}', Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Wayne county, November 14, 1829. Peter Frank, father of David, was born in Burgettstown, Washington county, Pa., Jan- uary 23, 1789, was of German descent, was there married, at the age of thirty years, to Miss Nancy Ball, of English extraction, and soon after came to Ohio with a capital of $200; here he entered 260 acres in Wayne county, but this claim he disposed of and moved to Stark county, David, the subject, being then three years of age, and there the family lived for seven years, when they came to Copley township, Summit county. Here the mother died March i, 1864, and the father February 9, 1872. They had a family of eight children, viz: William, born May 15, 1826, died in infancy; Sarah, born in Wayne county. Ohio, January 7, [828, and now the wife of George Kuder, of Medina county; David, the subject, the date of whose birth has already been given; Hiram, born April 28, 1832; Mary E., born in Stark county October 31, 1834, and now the wife of Dan Collier, a Copley township farmer; Isaiah, born in Cop- ley township August 30, 1837, and now resid- ing in Wadsworth, Medina county; Henry A., born September 9, 1840, now a farmer of Copley township; Peter H., born May 20, 1844, and killed by a cyclone in Sharon, Medina county, April 8, 1890. David Frank and his elder sister were rocked in their infancy in a sugar-trough, cra- dles proper being a scarce article of furniture in the backwoods of Ohio at the time of their birth. He assisted his father until twenty-two years of age, attending the pioneer schools meanwhile, and then began working out on his own account. He commenced life with only sixty dollars in money, which he earned by working his father's ground, and has cra- dled many a day with the old-fashioned four- fingered cradle at one dollar per day. Octo- ber 15, 1857, he married Miss Melissa Wit- ner, who was born in Summit county Feb- ruary 3, 1837, a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Wortz) Witner, who were the parents of the following children; George, Sarah (deceased), Urias, Hettie, Lucy, Eliza, Harriet, Manda, Marietta, Daniel, Melissa, Abraham and Adelia. After his marriage Mr. Frank con- tinued to work on a rented farm for ten years, when he became able, by hard work and the assistance of his estimable wife, to purchase a tract of eighty-five acres, his cap- ital being added to, at the death of his father, to the extent of $3,000. By careful manage- ment and much self-denial, he has been able to add seventy-two acres to his holding, and this farm is now improved with new, modern, up-to-date buildings. Here Mr. Frank still makes his home, but some five years since re- >J68 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD linqiiished activ-e fanning and engagedin busi- ness in Copley; as previously stated-. His children are riamed Jennie, who was born February 12, i860, was first married to Wash- ington Jones, and, after his death, to A. Kuder, of Akron; Grant H., born March 16, •1864; who farms his father's place; Ze Delle, born February 6, 1869, and married to J. P. Hale, a jeweler of Akron, and Fiena, born De- cember 10, 1 87 1, and now the wife of E. Brunskill, a butcher* by trade, also of Akron. Mr. Frank is a democrat in politics and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk, and he and his wife are members of the German Reformed church. He has been a hard-working, upright man, has made his own fortune, and is now considered to be one of the substantial citizens of Summit county. He enjoys the confidence and respect of all \vho know him, and his well-spent life fully 1 entitles him to the esteem in which he is held. m AXWELL G. GARRISON, county treasurer of Portage county, Ohio, was born in Franklin township, this county, April 12, 185 i, and is a son of James and. Hannah (Walker) Garrison, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Summit county, Ohio, and were the parents of six children, viz: Will- iam )., who died in the army; Charles A., a veterinary surgeon of Ravenna; Alice, wife of William J. Grubb, of Kent, Ohio; Frances, married to H. I). Minnick, of Wellsville, Ohio; Majiwell G., the subject, and Edward F., a physician, who died of ^EORGL H. GREEN is one of the ■ ^\ most progressive farmers of Franklin ^^^W township, Portage county, Ohio, and in this township he was born on the parental farm November 26, 1S51, a son of Sen- eca and Mary A. (Holt) Green, relative to \vhom a digression may here be made. Seneca Green was born in Hampshire county, Mass., October 3, 1808, and was a son of Clark and Submit (Hastings) Green. He was reared on his father's farm until his fourteenth year, and was then apprenticed for six years at shoemaking. After learning his trade he worked for a year as a journeyman in North Lee, and then engaged in business on his own account in South Lee, Mass., and realized in this line considerable profit. In the autumn of 1836 he disposed of his busi- ness in South Lee and came to Ohio, pur- chased the farm in Portage county on which our subject, George B. Green, was born, and became one of the most prosperous and influ- ential farmers of Franklin township. He first married, October 3, 1832, Miss Sarah Spell- man, of Monterey, Mass. , but this lady was called away May (^. 1834, and February 29, 1836, Mr. Green married Miss Mary A. Holt, of Austerlitz, N. Y. This latter union was blessed wirh.six children, viz; Sarah, wife of H. L. Russell; Stephen, of Streetsboro, Ohio; Spellman, of Franklin township; Ann, wife of G. H. Taylor, of Lansing, Mich.; Mary A., married to A, A.. Ross, of Kent, Ohio, and George B., whose name opens this biograph- ical sketch. Mr. Green, in his politics, was a whig in his early days, but on the formation of the republican party became one of its most ardent supporters. Death took from him his devoted wife June 6, 1877, '^^ the age of sixty- eight years, and his own death occurred May g, 1887, at the age of seventy-eight. But few citizens of Franklin township ever attained a higher degree of esteem than this honored pioneer from New England, who used the best energies of his active life in the development of Franklin township. Clark Green, the father of Seneca Green, was born in Massachusetts, April 11, 1776, almost on the eve of the grandest and most successful revplutioriary event recorded in the, vyorld's history. To his marriage with Miss Submit Hastings were born nine children, of whom two still survive, Salome and Clara. The deceased were named Billings, who diec^ August 17, 1865, at the age of sixty years; David, who diec^ December 22, 1863, at the age of sixty-two; Eunice, whose death took place September 8, 1S52, aged fifty-three; Seneca, the date of whose death is given above; Porter, born May 9, 18 13, whose death took place in 1893, at the age of eighty, and Hannah, who died October 17, 1842, at the age of thirty-nine years; George, born June 19, 181 1. The father of this fam- ily passed away November 2/, 1848, at the age OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. L>77 of seventy-two years, and his wife followed iiini t(j the grave April I2, 1863, aged eighty- tive years. Morris Holt, the maternal grandfather of George B. Green, was born April 13, 176S, and Sallie, his wife, was born December i, 1770. Their marriage resulted in the birth of seven children, viz: Horace, February 14, 1794; Stephen, January 15, 1796; Betsey, April. I, 1798 — died May 4, 1858; Sallie, born July 29, 1800 — died April 9, 1865; Mercy, born June 29, 1802; Desire, born August 11, 1804 — died August 2, 1864, and Mary Ann, born July 13, 1809 — died June 6, 1877. All the above-named children have passed away, but in some instances, it will be perceived, the dates of death are not on record. Mr. Holt departed this life March 19, 181 5, at the age of forty-eight \'ears. George B. Green, the subject of this biog- raphy, passed his early life on the home farm, assisting his father until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when he engaged in farming on his own account. His marriage took place at Earlville, Ohio. October 21, 1874, to Miss Clara L. Haymaker, daughter of James and Mary (Olin) Haymaker, and this marriage has been blessed with three children, viz: Mabel A., James S. and Walter H. In conjunction with general farming, Mr. Green deals exten- sively in live stock, and ranks as one of Port- age county's up-to-date agriculturists. In pol- itics he is a rigid republican, in his fraternal relations is a Knight of Pythias, and his relig- ious dexotions are ])aid at the Universalist church. Mrs. Clara I^. (ireen, wife of George B. Green, was born August 30, 1850, in Earlville, and obtained her education in the district school- house near the "gravel bank," and after leav- ing school taught a term. Some sixteen years after her marriage she was taken seriously ill (in 1 890) and for a year or two was a confirmed invalid, and scant hopes were entertained for her recover}', but she eventually recuperated and is now enjoying excellent health. James D. Haymaker, father of Mrs. Green, was a son of Frederick and Rachel (Davis) Haymaker, and was bora in F"ranklin town- ship. Portage county. Ohio, September 2, 1809, in a little log cabin near the historical site of Brady's Leap. About ten days after his birth his mother died, thus leaving him to the care of his father, who took him to Pennsylvania, leaving him to the care of his grandfather, with whom he remained until he reached his tenth }ear, and then returned to his father, who had in the meantime married again, and was living in Beaver county, Pa. In 1823 his father returned to Franklin Mills (now known as Kent), Ohio, and there James D. obtained all the education he ever received. After stay- ing in Franklin two years, he entered a woolen factory to learn a trade ; after having four years' experience there, he embarked in the business of making wooden pails, tubs and wooden ware. This employment he followed for the next two years, and then removed to Fairport, Ohio, on lake Erie, where he opened a hotel, or, as it was then called, a "tavern." Here he con- tinued business for t\vo years, and then, re- turning to Portage, county, he purchased a farm, in 1834, on which he spent the remain- der of his life. It consisted of eighty-eight acres of new land, but Mr. Haymaker went bravely to work to prepare for himself a habi- tation, and on the 6th day of June, 1S35, his house and barn were raised — this "raising" bemg famed throughout this section as the first temperance, or "cold-water raising," that had been known. November 29, 1835, in the pres- ence of neighbors and friends, James D. Hay- maker and Mary Rosetta Olin took upon them- selves the vows of matrimony; thirteen children have been the fruit of this union, nine of whom survive, viz: Oscar F. ; Rachel, wife of Mc- 278 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Kendree Norton; Arvin; James; Clara, wife of our subject; Almira, wife of Theodore H. Kin- dice; Amelia, wife of M. G. Norton; William J., and Abbie, wife of E. W. Case. Those who have passed away were Franklin, who died in 1850, aged fourteen years; Cora, who died February 2, 1859, aged nine months; Mary R. , who passed away July 27, 1866, aged twenty years, and Ann, who died May 11, 1893, aged fifty years. James, fourth son of James Haymaker, Sr. , served in the Civil war, having enlisted January 12, 1865, in the One Hundred and Ninety-third regiment, Ohio vol- unteer infantry, at Cleveland, Ohio. James and Mary Haymaker celebrated their golden wedding anniversary November 29, 1885, when friends and neighbors, to the number of two hundred, gathered to congratulate the aged couple on having reached the zenith of half a century of wedded life. January 31, 1889, Mr. Haymaker laid down life's burdens to exchange "The cross for the crown. " He left to his posterity that priceless inheritance, an irreproachable character and a stainless name. Mrs. James (Olin) Haymaker is the daughter of Arvin and Betsey (Bennett) Olin, and was born in Perry, Wyoming coun- ty, N. Y. , February 22, 1820. She removed with her parents to Ohio, and here was mar- ried to James Haymaker. Arvin Olin, grandfather of Mrs. Green, was a son of Ezra and Ruth (Green) Olin. He was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., July 13, 1797; was married March 9, 1817, to Betsey Ben- nett, who was born in Bennington, Vt., Feb- ruary 6, 1 80 1, and to them thirteen children were born. Arvin Olin died June 7, 1870, and Mrs. Olin followed him January 5, 1872, aged seventy years and eleven months. Ezra Olin, great-grandfather of Mrs. Green, was born in Rhode Island March 23, 1772, the son of John Olin, Second. In the month of March, 1 79 1, he was married to Ruth Green, daugh- ter of Samuel and Ruth Green, who was born in Rhode Island November 10, 1770, and died May 19, 1847. To this union were born ten children. In 1848 Ezra Olin, married, for his second wife, Mrs. Booth, of Orangeville, N. Y., who died in 1855; Mr. Olin died November 5, 1 8 58, aged eighty-six years seven months and twelve days. John Olin, second, great-great- grand-father of Mrs. Green, was born in Rhode Island in 17 14, son of John Olin, first, and Susannah (Spencer) Olin. He was married in East Greenwich, R. I., to Susannah Pierce, daughter of Jeremiah Pierce, December 9, 1734. To them were born seven children. John Olin, second, died in January, 1797. aged eighty-three years; Susannah, his wife, died in February, 1S02, aged eighty-seven. John Olin, the first, great-great-great-grandfa- ther of Mrs. Green, emigrated to America from Wales in 1700, settling near Greenwich, R. I., and is said to have come to this country at the age of fourteen years. He was married, in East Greenwich, October 4, 1708, to Susannah Spencer, daughter of John and Susannah Spen- cer, natives of Wales. John Olin, the first, died at Newport, R. I., June 10, 1725, aged sixty-one jears. Here ends the genealogical record of Mrs. Green's family, on the maternal side of the house, as far as it is possible to trace it. So we will leave Mr. and Mrs. Green living in their comfortable home pleasantly situated on the road leading from Kent to Hudson, which is now known as the Hill Side Lawn farm. They are cheered by the presence of their three children, of whom Mabel A., born Au- gust 28, 1875, graduated from the Kent high school, in 1894, and has since been engaged in teaching. James S. was born May 5, 1880, is also a Kent graduate of the class of 1897, and Walter H., born February 26, 1889, is still attending school. Mr. Green and family are among the most respected of the residents OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 283 of Franklin township, and Mr. Green's repu- tation as a farmer and stock raiser is wide- spread and well deserved, while his business name stands without a blemish, and he is, at present, trustee of Franklin township. eDWARD HELLER, of Ghent, Ohio, is one of the most substantial and influential farmers in Bath township. He was born in Northampton county. Pa., May 23, 1826, son of Abraham and Eli- zabeth (Evenrider) Heller, the former a native of Bucks county. Pa., and the latter of Le- high count}', the same state. His father was a miller liy trade, and by his frugal and indus- trious habits accumulated considerable prop- erty, possessing large land holdings in connec- tion with his extensive milling interests, and operating largely in the timber aud lumber way. He died in 1852, his wife surviving him some years. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, Joseph, .\nn, Adleman, George, Edward and Poll}'. Edward Heller, the subject of this sketch, spent the early part of his life with his father in the mill and upon the farm, remaining there until he was past twenty-five. In 1851 he was married to Miss Julia A. Dutt, who was born in Northampton count}'. Pa., in 1827. The following year Mr. Heller and his bride came to this county and located in Copley township on a farm of sixty acres which they purchased. Mr. Heller cleared half of this tract and erected a comfortable home, where they resided for nearly twenty years. In 1870 he traded this farm for the mill prop- erty west of Ghent, the largest and best steam and water power grist and saw-mill in the western part of the county. He also bought a mill half a mile east of Ghent and twenty- one acres of hue land in the township. De- ciding to retire from the milling business he afterward traded his mill properties for the excellent farm of 1 54 acres upon which he now resides. This is known as the Hershey farm, from its former owner, A. Hershey. Mr. Heller has made large and notable im- provements upon this place in the way of modern buildings and up-to-date appliances, and has an admirable home. Mr. Heller comes from vigorous and hardy stock, it being a boast that the average age in his family is eighty years — a family, too, strongly grounded in its religious faith and rigid in its observance of its tenets. He is a member of the Evangelical church, and is a pillar in that denomination. During his resi- dence at Copley he was superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a man upright in his business dealings, consistent in his christian walk, courteous in his manner — a gentlenian who enjoys the unbounded confi- dence and respect of the entire community. A very sore bereavement to the Heller house- hold was the death, November 4, 1885, of of the wife and mother. Mrs. Heller was a noble woman, devoted to her family, and a practical, earnest helpmate. Her memory is cherished socially in the household and is not a thing that dies. Following are the children of this family: Ouintus A., Benjamin F. , Amanda E., and Emma D. '^VOHN GRETHER, ex-auditor of the ■ county of Summit, Ohio, was born in A 1 the Fourth ward of the city of Akron, February 21, 1857, and this has been his home since his birth. He is the eldest of the six children born to John G. and Barbara (Doersch) Grether, the other five being George, a blacksmith, in the employ of the Akron Salt works; Fred, receiving and shipping clerk for Strong, Copp & Co. , wholesale druggists of Cleveland; Emma, in Akron; Charles, druggist 284 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of Akron, and Amelia a stenographer, who was an assistant to her brother, John, when he was county auditor. Jcjhn Grether, the subject, was educated in the high school of his native city of Akron and also took a course in a business college. From the age of sixteen he assisted his father in his grocery until nineteen years of age, when he entered the employ of E. Steinbacher, wholesale and retail dealer in groceries, drugs, oils and paints, and during the six years and four months he was in the employ lost but twenty-one days. Mr. Grether then purchased the Palace drug store, which he conducted six years and eight months, when he disposed of the concern and turned his whole attention to the real estate business, having already made some investments in realty. In 1887 the real estate firm of Motz tS: Grether was formed at Kokomo, Ind., where they did an extensive business for three or four years, when Mr. Grether withdrew. In 1890 he organized the Kokomo luiameling works in that city, and in the same year organized the Globe Sign works in .Akron, of which he is president. This plant is in South .Akron, and furnishes oil-cloth and muslin signs for all parts of the United States. It is 40 X 160 feet, ground plan, and three stories high, and employs from sixteen to eighteen hands. In 1890, also, the Grether & Pfeiffer real estate firm was formed, and at once began making additions to the city of Akron — four on North Hill and three on West Hill — the entire acreage being sixty-three. The exten- sitjnof the Akron Electrical street-car railroad, from the Little Cuyahoga river and Howard street to the Cuyahoga Falls road, on North Hill, was largely brought about b}- Grether & Pfeiffer, they turning over their road to the .\kron street-car company, on condition that both be operated as one. In 1892, Mr. Grether was elected county auditor of Summit county on the democratic ticket and filled the office three years, proving himself to be in every way worthy of the trust reposed in him, and was probably one of the most efficient officers that ever served the peo- ple of Summit county. On leaving this office he resumed his real estate transactions. He is also the manufacturer of the Buckeye Cop- per Polish, which has a most extensive sale throughout the whole country; he was likewise one of the founders of the Marion Keely insti- tute of Marion, Ind., of which he is president. Fraternall}', he is a member of Atolia lodge, K. of P., No. 2 1 , as well as of the uniform rank; member of the B. & P. O. Elks, which he joined in February, 1897; also of the Red Cross, the Turnverein and other German societies; he is a director of the German- Amer- ican Building & Loan association, and has his office under the Buchtel hotel. His religion is found in the faith of the German Reformed church. Mr. Grether has been one of the most active of the business men of Akron and has done as much for the development of the city as probably any other of its native-born residents, and is in consequence duly honored by all. >Y*LDGE NATHANIEL PERKINS ■ GOODHUE, recently clerk of courts A 1 of Summit county, son of Hon. Na- thaniel W. Goodhue, and his wife, Nancy W., was born in Akron, Ohio, August 6, 1853, and was educated in the public schools of the city. From December, 1872, to July, 1878, he was deputy clerk in the United States court at Cleveland, Ohio; from September, 1878, until February, 1882, he was a traveling salesman for Kellar & Good- hue, wholesale dealers in boots and shoes, at Rochester, N. Y. ; from February 8, 1882, to Februar)-, 1891, he was deputy probate judge OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 285 of Summit coiint\', having read law under his father, and from February 8, iSyi, to August 2, 1897, served as clerk of courts of Summit county, having been elected on the republican ticket. April 4, 1883, Mr. Cioodhue was united in marriage to Miss Mary Kent McNaughton, daughter of Finley and Ella (Kent) McNaugh- ton, but no children have blessed this union. Mrs. (joodhue was born in .Akron October 31, 1858, her parents having formerly been resi- dents of this city, but now residing in Youngs- town. Ohio. Hon. Nathaniel W. Goodhue, father of Nathaniel P. Goodhue, was elected probate judge of Summit county in October, 1881, and acceptably filled the office until his sud- den death in September, 1S83, when his son and deputy continued to act in the same ca- pacity under Charles R Grant, who was ap- pointed by Gov. Foster to fill the vacancy of judge caused by the death of Nathaniel W. 1>4 PORTRAIT AND P^IOGRAPHICAL RECORD aURTIS A. HAT.I. springs from an old colonial lonnocticnt family of Scotch di-scont. tine of his ancestors, Ly- man Hall, was a signer of the decla- ration of independence, and the family were among the founders of Wallingford. Conn., where they lived for many years. Dr. .\ndrew C. Hall, grandfather of our subject, was born at W'allingford. Conn., mar- ried Lydia Cooke, who was a descendant of Francis Cooke, who came with the Pilgrims in the Mayflower in 1620. The children of Dr. Hall were .Andrew. P'ranklin B.. Alexander and Sarah. Dr. Hall was killed by an acci- dent, when a young man of thirty-tive years, at Wallingford. Conn. .Alexander Hall was born at Wallingford. lonn., 1809. He learned the trade of a tanner and first married, in Madison. Conn.. Matilda E. Wilcox. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hall settled in Had- dam. Conn., where they lived a few years and then moved to Wallingford and thence to Waterbury, Conn., where he was engaged in the iron business; thence to Philadelphia. Pa., where he was engaged with his brother Frank- lin in the manufacturing of britannia ware. He was burned out at the time of the great fire in Philadelphia, and lost all the property he had. His wife died in New Haven. Conn., and Mr. Hall moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he engaged in the drug business, and was afterwards in the foundry business. He came to Cuyahoga Falls in 1851. and moved, five years later, to Niles. Mich., where he kept hotel four years. He then returned to Cuya- hoga Falls, where he kept hotel four years, and died in December, 1S63. His children. by his first wife. were Sarah M. and Curtis A,, who lived to mature years. His second mar- riage was to Ann Douds, in Youngsfown, Ohio, and to this union was born one child -Anna W. Fraternally Mr. Hall was a Mason, and in religion was a member of the Congrega- tional church. He was a fine singer and led the choir in the Congregational church at Phil- adelphia for several years. He was a highly respected man. had many friends, and it was said, at the time of his death, that he had no enemies. Curtis .A. Hall, our subject, was born at ; Haddam, Conn.. .August ii, 1838. He at- 1 tended school in Philadelphia and the high i school at Youngstown, Ohio, and gained a very I fair education. He came to Cuyahoga Falls when he was fourteen years old, and when about eighteen went to Chicago, and worked I for a large oyster firm — afterwards for the I American Express company, and for an ice company, and was next in Michigan with his father at Niles for three years. In 1S61 he went to Chicago anil worked in a planing mill. June, 1862, he enlisted at Chicago in Capt. Judson Reed's company D, Sixty-seventh regi- ' ment, Illinois volunteer infantry, to serve three months. He served four months, however, and was hcinorably discharged, as fifth corporal, at Chicago, in September. His services were at Chicago guarding prisoners, at Camp Doug- las, where 10,000 rebel prisoners were con- fined, and it required 450 soldiers to mount guard every evening; he also did guard duty at Johnson's Island. He was also sent to Vicks- burg. Miss., to make exchanges, and says that the prisoners were healthy and in good condi- tion, with good clothing, which had been fur- nished by the United States government. They were in far better condition than the L'nion soldiers when they were returned. Mr. Hall married, at Liverpool. Medina county. Ohio. July 20, 1864, Miss Catherine Mahle (born at Liverpool, Ohio, December i, 1S43I, daughter of Gotleib and Catherine Mahle. Her parents were from \\'urtemberg. Germany, and were early settlers of Liver- pool, Ohio. Mr. Mahle was a farmer and died a joung man. His children were Frederick, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 295 Gotleib, Catherine and Louisa, and the family were Lutherans in religion. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hall settled in Cuyahoga Falls and Mr. Hall conducted the hotel there a short time. He then worked in a still-house, later at the butcher business and in iron works at different places, including Akron, Pittsburg, and Erie, and has now been janitor of the public schools of Cuyahoga Falls for the past fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents of William C, Charles ("died aged four years), Laura M. and Fred C. Mr. Hall is a member of the G. A. R. , Eadie post, of Cuyahoga Falls, and has held the office of junior vice-commander. Fraternally he is a Mason, has been secretary of Starr lodge and a member thirty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Hall at- tend the Methodist church and assist liberally in its support. Mr. Hall is in politics a republican, and at present is a member of the town coun- cil. He is a much respected citizen, and has led an industrious and temperate life, has been thrifty, and now owns his residence and four building lots beside. a leading farmer >^ACKSON A. HALL m of Norton township, Summit count}', A I Ohio, was born in the neighborhood of his present place April ii, 1847, ^ son of John \V. and Annie (Newlin) Hall, natives, respectively, of Buffalo, N. Y., and of the state of Pennsylvania. John W. Hall learned the carpenters trade in his native city and came to Norton town- ship when a single man. He here bought a tract of fifty acres of timber land, which he cleared up and improved and converted into a comfortable home, but which he afterward dis- posed of to John Thomas. He married Miss Newlin in this township, and to this union have been born the fqllowing children: Cath- erine, who was first married to Levi Heun- cicker, and after his death to William Fink; Mary, who was first the wife of David Cole- man, but is now Mrs. Peter Hoovler; Mary, deceased; Jeremiah; Lydia, wife of Jonas Bit- ner; Levina, wife of Benjamin Snyder; Sarah, wife of David Grub; Harriet, deceased at eighteen years; Jackson A., our subject, and Jacob L. The father of this family is a .strict member of the Lutheran church, in which he is an elder, liberally aiding in building the first church of that denomination in his township. In politics he is a Jacksonian democrat, and a hardworking and much respected citizen. Jackson A. Hall remained on the home farm until fifteen years old, attending the dis- trict school in the meantime, and then was apprenticed for three years to Mann Snyder, wagon and carriagemaker, and this trade he followed fourteen years. In 1876 he pur- chased his preeent farm of 108.65 acre?, which he has highly improved with a substan- tial dwelling and barn and out-buildings to cor- respond, chiefly planned by himself, and has. altogether, one of the most delightful homes in the township, which has been earned by his own personal labor. In religion he is a Re- formed Lutheran, was for six years a deacon, and has always aided his church in a most lib- eral manner financially. In politics he is a sound democrat, has served as township trus- tee six years, and fraternally is a member of Wadsworth lodge. No. 385, F. cS: A. M. August I, 1867, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Elmira Kemmorrer, who was born in Northampton county. Pa. , March 15, 1849, a daughter of Rudolph and Julia (Laubach) Kemmorrer. The father of Mrs. Hall, Rudolph Kemmorrer, was born in Northampton county. Pa., March 5, 1805. and his wife was a native of Lehigh count}-. Pa. In 185 I they came to Norton township. Summit county, Ohio, and settled on a farm where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father >96 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD dying in April, 1893. He was a prominent man in the township, a pillar of the Reformed church, and in politics a stanch democrat. He and wife were parents of the following chil- dren: Sarah, deceased wife of Rufiis Myers; Aaron W. ; Emeline C, deceased; Joseph T. ; Da\id, deceased; Richard, and Elmira — the last named being Mrs. Hall. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Hall was David Kemmor- rer, a substantial farmer of Northampton -county, Pa., a member of the German Re- formed church, and a democrat, and he, in turn, was a son of David, a native of Hobo- ken, Germany. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hall has been blessed with two children, viz: Ada ]., who died August 16, 1886, and Ellsworth. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are highly re- spected b\' the people of Norton township, and certainly a more worthy couple does not live within its limits. I V-T-'OSEPH W. HALL, one of the oldest M and most experienced farmers of Brim- /• 1 field township, Portage county, Ohio, is native here and was born June 11, 1829, a son of Jacob and Lydia (Osborn) Hall. Jacob Hall, father of Joseph W., was born in England and came to America in 181 2, ^ OBERT J. HARPER is a native of I /^ the Buckeye state and was born in M . r Trumbull, Ashtabula county, June 13, 1875, his parents being Robert D. and Theressa (Wintersteene) Harper, also natives of Ohio. When a mere boy, Robert J. Harper was taken by his parents to Cleveland, where he received his preliminary education in the pub- lic schools; he later attended the Spencerian Business college, from which he was gradu- ated in i89r, and then went to Chargin Falls, and for two years was employed by S. M. Armour as clerk, for which position his educa- tion had fully qualified him. At the conclu- sion of his faithful term of valuable service with Mr. .\rmour, Mr. Harper came to Ra- venna and here accepted a clerkship in the extensive grocery house of J. S. Smith & Sons, with whom he remained a little more than two years, when he returned to Cleve- land, where he was proffered, and accepted, a situation in the large clothing establishment of J. L. Hudson & Co., in the Wilshire block, on Superior street. With this firm he re- mained until the spring of 1896, when he caine back to Ravenna, and in April of the same year rented the spacious storeroom at No. 124 Chestnut street, opposite the court house, and opened an elegant billiard parlor. Mr. Harper is a member of the Methodist church, and his father, who is also a resident of Ravenna, affiliates with the Odd Fellows' lodge of the city. In politics Mr. Harper has always been a republican. Still young in years, Robert J. Harper has shown himself to be a shrewd business man, and his energy and keen perception of the affairs of life well en- title tiim to the high esteem in which he is held June I, 1897, he sold out his business and since then has been in the emplo}' of the A. C. Williams' iron works. Mr. Harper was married June 9, 1897, to Nina G. Bean. @EORGE W. HART, a retired farmer of Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio, and a respected citizen, is a descendant from an old colonial fam- ily of New England. Rufus Hart, grandfather of George W. Hart, was born in Litchfield county, Conn., and moved to Batavia, Genesee county. N. Y., at an early day. He was a major in the war of 181 2, but ranked as lieutenant at the bat- tles of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, and the burning of Buffalo. He was a farmer, came to Summit county, Ohio, in 1815, and pur- chased a farm one mile south of Akron, which he cleared up from the woods. Maj. Hart 306 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD had a good farm of 312 acres. In old age he retired on his farm, where he died at about the ape of eighty years, a member of the Uni- versahst church and the father of the follow- ing children: Clarissa, John C. , Lucretia, Lucinda and Edward. John C. Hart, father of George W. Hart, the subject, was born April 17, 1798, at Cornwall, Litchfield county. Conn. He was at the blowing up of the fort at Buffalo, in 1 8 12, at the age of fourteen years, and was engaged in carrying news from one point to another. He enlisted when but fourteen or fifteen years old in the cavalry service, and was with his father at Newark, Fort George, and other contested points. On the evacu- ation of Fort George he suffered great hard- ships, as they had no tents, no blankets, nor clothing, and slept on the ground. He was at Black Rock, and was employed as a bearer of dispatches, when the British attacked Fort Erie in 18 14. He came to Ohio in May, 181 5, with his father, and when they located in Mid- dlebury, East Akron, there were but three or four log houses in what is now a thriving city. When he was but twenty-one years old he went south for employment, and traveled on foot to Steubensville, Ohio, floated down the Ohio river on a raft, which lodged on an island, and made his way as best he could to Cincinnati, where he bought a skiff and paddled his way to Shawneetown, but, not finding employment, he boarded his skiff and went to St. Louis, and there worked in a mill two months and then in a brick yard, but, being taken sick with fever and ague, returned home the fol- lowing year, and purchased fifty acres of land south of Middlebury, built a house and barn, and cleared his land, and married, February 12, 1 83 1, Margaret A. Sterling (born Decem- ber II, 181 1), a daughter of John Sterling. They had six children: George \V., John S., Charles S., Elizabeth, Fannie, and Hiram J. Mrs. Hart died May 17, 1863, and Mr. Hart next married Mrs. Mary Sterling — a widow, whose maiden name was Tod. Mr. Hart prospered and bought more land, until he owned over 300 acres, and for manj- years owned and managed three difierent ho- tels at Akron and Middlebury, and was also a large mail contractor, and at his death left a large estate. He was a colonel in the old state militia, and was very highly respected among the pioneers, and his advice was much sought after. He died August 20, 1880, aged eighty- two years, four months and three days. George W. Hart, whose name opens this memoir, was born July 12, 1832, in East Ak- ron, Ohio, and received a common education. He married, August 18, 1853, in .\kron, Han- nah Anna Beardsley, who was born July 18, 1832, a daughter of Talmon and Temperance (Spicer) Beardsley. Talmon Beardsley was born December 15, 1799, at Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., a son of Daniel and Hannah (Bailey) Beardsley. Daniel Beardsley was born in Connecticut, of Welsh descent; first settled at Delhi, N. Y., and then came to Ohio, when an old man, settled in Licking county, but died at Akron, a member of the Methodist church. Talmon Beardsley came with his parents to Licking county, Ohio, and assisted his father to clear up his farm from the woods. He received a good education and walked to Middlebury, Summit county, the summer of 1818, and found employment in the old Cuyahoga furnace, owned by Lodd & Norton. In 18 19 he entered the employ of Henry Chittendon, a well-known business man, being a hotel keeper, farmer and canal con- tractor, and worked for him fourteen years. October 27, 183 1, he married Temperance Spicer, fourth daughter of Maj. Minor Spicer. and settled on seventy-five acres of land in Middlebury. This land he sold in 1833, and bought 100 acres in Coventr}' township, and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 307 which is now a part of Akron. Here he Hved until 1864, when he retired to Akron. His children were Hannah Anna, Emily (died aged twenty-onej, Mills H.. Avery S., Harriet D. and Louisa J. He held the office of township clerk, was justice of the peace about twenty vears and tried many cases, and was a well informed and very intelligent man. His death took place at the ad\anced age of ninety-two years. Maj. Minor Spicer was born at Groton, Conn., May 29, 1776, and there married Cyn- thia Allen in 179S, came on horseback to Ohio in 1 8 10, and bought 200 acres, where Akron and Buchtel college now stand. In J une, 1 8 1 1 , he sent for his family, who came by ox-teams, accompanied by Capt. Amos Spicer and Paul Williams. They arrived in 181 1, being the first actual settlers of Portage township. He built a small log cabin forty rods southeast of Spicer and Carroll streets, was one of the or- ganizers of the township, and a typical pio- neer, and was a justice of the peace many years. In the war of 1812 he \\as a major of the state militia. He was an active an honored citizen. His wife died aged fifty years, and he died September 11, 1855, aged seventy-eight years, three months and three days. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. George \V. Hart settled in Stowe township on 140 acres, partly cleared. They now have a fine farm — a famous summer re- sort, as it includes Crystal lake, a beautiful body of water, where they have a cottage for a summer residence. This property adjoins Randolph park. To Mr. and Mrs. Hart have been born the following children: Frederick C, Elizabeth, deceased at fi\e years, Emma F., Georgianna, died at twelve years, Clarissa, and Maggie M. (died aged three months). Clarissa Hart was married September 4, 1883, to l-ieuben D. Morgan, of Cleveland, Ohio, and to this marriage ha\e been born Anna Eouisa, June 24, 1884, and Lewis, October 24, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Hart are members of the Episcopal church, in which Mr. Hart holds the office of vestryman. In politics he is a re- publican and has served as street commissioner twelve years. In 1882 Mr. Hart removed to Cuyahoga Falls, bought a pleasant residence property on Newberry street, and is now retired. He is a member of Starr lodge, F. & A. M., Cuyahoga Falls, and belongs to a Masonic family — his father and paternal grandfather having both been Masons and likewise Mrs. Hart's grand- father. Maj. Spicer, was a gentleman of the old school — a man of great dignity of charac- ter and of fine appearance. Hiram [. Hart, brother of subject, was a soldier in the Civil war, company A, Nine- teenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he had enlisted for three years' service, and died from typhoid fever. He was the sec- ond man to enlist from Akron. He was in several battles, among which were Rich Mount- ain and Vicksburg. * m rf ENRY A. HAUSMAN, the genial, ■'''^V popular and successful hardware I P merchant, of Clinton, Summit county, Ohio, was born on his father's farm in Franklin township, this county, July 19, 1840. Henry Hausman, grandfather of subject, was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, was married in his native state to Elizabeth Mussen, a daughter of Philip and Catherine (Shuck) Mussen, in 1838 came to Ohio, and settled in Franklin township. Summit county. He was a charter member of the first Lutheran church at Doylestown, Wayne county, and in Summit county reared the following named children: John, Catherine, Christina, Jacob, Philip, Michael, Sarah, Annie, George, Mag- dalene, Andrew and Jonas, Of these, the fourth enumerated, Jacob, was the father of the 308 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD subject, was born in Franklin township, and married Catherine Brougher, about 1838. Henry A. Hausman Hved on the home farm until twenty years of age, receiving in the meanwhile a good common-school education, and then for a few years clerked in a store in Manchester. For the next ten years he car- ried on business on his own account, and in 1870 was appointed superintendent of the Franklin Coal Mine company, which position he filled very satisfactorily several years, or until 1875, since when he has been engaged in his present business in Clinton, carr3'ing an ex- tensive and well selected stock of general hardware. In 1862, Mr. Hausman was united in mar- riage with Miss Margaret Sisler, of Manches- ter, of whom further mention is made in the biographies of Dr. Adam and John Sisler, on another page, and to this marriage two chil- dren have been born — Nellie and Fannie. Mrs. Hausman was in her early womanhood a successful school-teacher, and, indeed, Mr. Hausman has himself had some experience in this vocation. In politics, Mr. Hausman is a stanch republican, and as a business man he is progressive, obliging, and fully abreast of the times, and most liberal in his ideas, as well as his actions. <>^HILIP HAWK, a successful farmer I, M of Suffield township. Portage county, J Ohio, is a native of the county, was born October 2, 1840, and is the son of Philip and Leona (Dock) Hawk, the father now deceased. The parents of Mr. Hawk were natives of Germany, the father having been born in Alsace January i, 181 5. He came to .America with his parents about 1835 and settled in Portage county, and here met his country- woman, Leona Dock, daughter of Frederic Dock, whom he married. To this union were born four children — Daniel, Philip, Frederick and Lewis. After farming in Suffield township fourteen years, Mr. Hawk removed to Spring- field township. Summit county, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred .\ugust 13, 1895, '" the faith of the German Reformed church, at the age of seventy-nine years and five months. His widow, now hale and hearty, at the age of seventy-two years, still resides on the home- stead in Summit county. Philip Hawk, the grandfather of subject, was one of the earliest settlers of Portage county, followed farming all his life, and reared a faniilj' of five children, of whom two are still li\ing — Daniel and Michael; the three deceased were named Abbie, Kate and Philip (father of subject). Frederick Dock, the ma- ternal grandfather of subject, was also a na- tive of Germany, and on coming to America lived a few years in Portage county, as a farmer, and then moved to Indiana, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their days. Philip Hawk, the subject of this biograph- ical notice, was reared to farming on his father's homestead and attended the public schools. At the age of twenty-fi\e years he began farming on his own account in Spring- field township, Summit county, but four years later removed to Talhnadge township, where he followed the same vocation for six years. In 1885, Mr. Hawk bought his present farm in Suffield township from John Pero, and in the spring of the same year took possession, and this has ever since been his home. The marriage of Mr. Hawk was solenmized in Stark county, Ohio, February 14, 1875, with Miss Elvina Ginder, who w'as born April 27, 1840, a daughter of Adam and Margaret (Keller) Ginder, and this union has been blessed with four children — Mary, Frederick, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 3U9 Maggie and Albert — all still under the parent- al roof. Adam Cinder and wife were both born in Cermany, and now live in Stark county; they have had born to them ten chil- dren, of whom four still survive, viz: Elvina (now Mrs. Hawk), Mary, Adam and Caroline (wife of Albert Moore). Mr. and Mrs. Hawk are members of the Reformed church and have fully lived up to its teaching;s, and in this faith they have reared their family. In politics, Mr. Hawk has given his allegiance to the republican party, and although never desirous of public office, has yet consented to serve his fellow- citizens as a school director a;nd as supervisor of his township. He has always been an in- dustrious husbandman and an excellent man- ager, and has one of the best-improved farms in Suifleld township, where he and his family enjoy the respect of a large circle of friends and ac(]uaintances. eUCENE A, HAWKINS, a well-known agriculturist of Copley township. Summit county, Ohio, is a native of this township and was born June 28, 1854. His grandparents, George and Ann Hawkins, came to the township in 18 14 from Vermont, and were among its earliest pioneers, and here the grandfather entered a farm, of which he cleared up 100 acres, and here reared a family of four children — Madison, Joseph, Andrew and George W. He at one time con- tracted to do some work on the canal then in course of construction, and while thus em- ployed was taken sick and died in 1825. George Washington Hawkins, father of Eugene A., was the first white child born in Copley township, the date being December 29, 1S15. At the age of fourteen years, four vears after the death of his father, he was placed in charge of the home farm, which comprised 100 acres, and which he managed until 1834, when his mother was married to Samuel Hawkins, a relative of her first hus- band, and this gentleman bought out the in- terest of the heirs. In January, i S40, George W. Hawkins married Miss Matilda Hubbard, who was born in Batavia, N. Y., No\ember 5, 1818, a daughter of Reuben Hubbard, and to this union were born five children, viz: Adelia, born June 4, 1845, died in infancy; Eliza, born June 4, 1845, was married to W. Miller, and died November 13, 1871; Alice, born September 14, 1847, is the wife of Dr. Huntley, of North Bloomfield, Ohio; George W., born September 2, 1851, died Novem- ber 30, 1876, and Eugene A., the subject, whose natal day is given above. Five \ears after his marriage, George W. Hawkins set- tled on a tract of forty acres he had purchased in 1844, improved his farm with comfortable buildings and placed it under a good state of cultivation. Here Mrs. Hawkins was called to her final repose, December 5, 1S86, dying a Methodist in religion, and January 5, 1891, Mr. Hawkins married Louisa .\verill. Mr. Hawkins was an active democrat, held se\- eral township offices, was public-spirited and generous, and died an honored man, May 2 1 , 1896. Eugene A. Hawkins has lived in Copley township all his life, and received his educa- tion in the district schools. January 1, 187S, he married Miss Juvie Colson, who was born February 24, 1858, a daughter of Oren and Vilucia (Clark) Colson, natives, respectively, of New York and Connecticut, and this mar- riage has been blessed with three childnn, viz: Jessie, born December 3, 1879; Mabel, January 17, 1882, and Ruth, .\pril 28, 1887. The two girls, Jessie and Mabel, are students at the Copley high school, and Jessie will graduate in the class of 1 899. 310 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have a beautiful home in Cople\' township, about nine miles from Akron. Their farm is well cultivated. At his marriage Mr. Hawkins purchased the old homestead, on which he has made numer- ous improvements. In politics Mr. Hawkins is a stanch republican and cast his first pres- idential vote for R. B. Haj'es, and for several , \'ears has been a member of the school board. He and wife are members of the East Granger Disciples' church and socially they stand among the leading citizens of Copley township. Mrs. Hawkins father was a native of Connecticut, and was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of a harness- maker and saddler. He emigrated to Ohio and died in 1878. The mother was a native of New York, and she is also deceased, dying in I 894. There were five children in the fam- ily. The eldest is Mrs. Hawkins; Lora is the wife of Fred Miller; Estelle is the widow of Dwight Moody, of Medina county; Homer is a resident of Summit county, and is married; Henry died in Michigan. Mrs. Hawkins was educated in the com- mon schools. Mrs. Hawkins has for years been connected with the \V. C. T. U., and has been an ardent supporter of all true temper- ance works. aHARLES J. HAZEN, real estate and loan agent. No. 120 South Main street, Akron, Ohio, was born in Sharon, Medina county, November 4, 1866, a son of Henry J. and Emma (Lyon) Hazen, of Elnglish and German descent re- spectively. The father is the son of a farmer and is himself a merchant, and to him and wife have been born two children — Charles J., and Nettie, the wife of C. Coddingham, of Sharon, Ohio. Charles J. Hazen was reared and educated in his native town and learned the butcher business under his father. For eight years the subject was a professional base-ball play- er, beginning with the year i888, and in this athletic pursuit made for himself a high repu- tation as third baseman and as an officer, as will be found in the following brief record of his career in this, the national game: His first engagement was with the Topeka, Kans. , team for one season; his ne.xt was with the Hutchison, Kans., club; in 1890 he became a member of the Akron, Ohio, team; in 1891 he joined the Jamestown, N. Y., team; in 1892 he was a member of the Mobile, Ala., team; in 1893 he was with the Akron, Ohio, and Johns- town, Pa., teams; in 1894, with the Hazelton, Pa., team; in 1895, was with the Fort Wayne, Ind., and Columbus, Ohio, teams, and in 1896 managed the Youngstown, Ohio, team until August. During these various engagements he was manager of the Akron and Youngstown clubs during his connection with them, and captain of the Hazelton, Johnstown and Fort Wayne teams while under engagements to them respectively, and always pla\ed as third baseman. In 1896 he retired from the base- ball field permanently, to engage in his pres- ent business. The firm of Willford & Hazen was formed in April, 1896, by Charles S. Willford and Charles J. Hazen for the purpose of handling real estate, and effecting loans in all parts of the county of Summit, city or country, or both realty and chattel security, but in December, 1896, Mr. Wilford withdrew from the firm. To revert to the personal history of Mr. Hazen, it must mentioned that he has made his permanent home in Akron since 1890; that he was here married, January 11, 1893, to Miss Lottie C. Berger, daughter of D. F. Berger, and that two children have blessed their union — Ruth and Harold. The residence of the family is at No. 141 Crosby street. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 311 • HEODORE F. HEATH, M. U., is one of the leading and is the oldest practicing physicians in Summit coun- ty, having practiced his profession here for the long period of forty-five years. He was born April 29, 1828, in Sharon, Conn., and springs from an old New England fam- ily of colonial stock — his remote ancestors on both sides having landed at Plymouth at about 1640. Thomas E. Heath, the paternal grandfa- ther of the doctor, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and the maternal ancestor, Isaac Chamberlain, was an officer in that war. Dr. Heath is a son of Stephen, who was a son of Thomas Heath, a farmer and blacksmith of Sharon, Conn., where he was born. Stephen Heath was also a blacksmith and farmer, and married Hannah Chamberlain, daughter of Isaac Chamberlain, a Revolutionary soldier. Stephen Heath moved, in i^OSEPH HEIGHTON, an experienced m and wi^U-known farmer of Franklin /• I township, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of Northamptonshire, England, was born February 4, 1827, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Goodes) Heighten, who, about the year 1828, came to the United States, lived about three years in Philadelphia, Pa., and in 1831 came to Portage county, Ohio, locating in Edingburg. The boyhood daj-s of Joseph Heighton were passed mostly in Edinburg, where he received a common-school education only, but at the age of twenty-three years was qualified to teach singing school, and at the same age was elected a school director and held the office many years. At the same age, also, he began lecturing on temperance, and in this field his services, for a long time, were in frequent de- mand. He has himself never handled nor tasted alcoholic beverages, nor has he used tobacco in any form. He was also, for about twenty-three years, a teacher of vocal music in Sumrriit and other counties of the state. In 1 863 he settled in Franklin township and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1879, when he abandoned his original farm and moved to his present place, where he has principally been engaged in fruit culture, in conjunction with general agriculture. The marriage of Mr. Heighton took place July 19, 1848. to Miss Olive Case, a daughter of Ariel and Minerva (Colton) Case, and this union has been blessed with four children, viz: Marius; Ann, wife of N. E. Olin, of Kent; Parker H. and Lloyd B. The parents of Mrs. Heighton were born in Tolland county. Conn. , the father, Ariel, in 1804 and Minerva, the mother, in 1805. .'\riel Case was brought to Portage county in 1 809 by his parents, who settled in Rootstown township, was reared a farmer, and was married December 7, 1824, and had born to him four children, of whom two still survive, viz: Olive, now Mrs. Heigh- ton, and .\shley M., who resides on the old Case homestead at Rootstown; the other two children died in early infancy. The father died May 21, 1884, at the age of eighty years, and the mother May 26, of the same year. aged seventy-nine. Ariel Case, the paternal grandfather of Mr. Heighton, also a native of Connecticut, and of Scotch descent, came to Portage county, Ohio, in 1809, settled in Rootstown township, . and later took part in the war of 1 8 1 2. He was J twice married, his first wife having been Betsey Porter, who bore eight children, viz: Porter. Horace, Ariel, .Augusta and Erastus (twinsj, Hibbard, Truman and Harvey. Mrs. Betsey Case died at the age of forty-one years, and for his second wife Mr. Case married Mrs. Persis Case, nee Steward, and to this union were born two children — Benjamin and Pt;rr\ . Ariel Case died at Rootstown in 1854, at the age of seventy years, and the death of Mrs. Persis Case occurred at the same place. Stephen Colton, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Heighton, was a native of Vermont and settled in Rootstown, Ohio, in 1805. was a farmer, and married Miss Mary Russell, who bore him eight children, viz: Chelsea, Roswell, Mernen, Warren, Josephus, Mar}-, Prosper and Alva. Mr. Colton was very popular in • his township and for a number of years held the office of township trustee. He and wife OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 'SIS were consistent members of the Disciples' ciiurch, and in this faith he died in 1845, at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife in 1 849, aged seventy-three. In politics Mr. Heighton is a republican and is very popular with his party. He has been successful through life, and stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. l^^^ILLIAM A. HELPER, the well- ■ ■ I known florist and proprietor of the mjL^ Imperial greenhtnise, Akron, Ohio, is a native of this city, was born July 24, i860, and is the son of George H. and Rebecca (Luce) Heifer. The grandparents of subject, Christopher and Lydia (Helman) Heifer, were natives of Pennsylvania of Scotch and German descent respectively, and in 1820 settled in Millbrook, Wayne county, Ohio, where, and in Congress township, Christopher Heifer followed his trade of shoemaking for about twenty years, and then purchased a farm in Congress town- ship, on which he and his wife resided the remainder of their lives. Their children were named Mena (Mrs. Royce Somerton), George H., Mary fMrs. Stephen Collins), Melinda (Mrs. Parker Campbell). Daniel, and Sophia (Mrs. Joseph Sharp.) George H. Heifer, father of subject, was born in Bellefonte, Pa., January 25, 1820, and the same year was brought, in a covered wagon, to Wayne county, Ohio, by his par- ents. He received a common-school educa- tion, and at the age of fourteen years began clerking in a general store, followed this calling until 1843, and then engaged in the dry-goods business on his own account in Congress township, as a member of the firm of Pancoast & Heifer. In 1847 he pur- chased his partner's interest and continued alone in Congress township until 1849, when he sold out his store and came to .\kron, where, as a member of the firm of Heifer & Sechrist, he embarketl in general business. In 1867, Mr. Sechrist sold his interest in this store to Clinton, a son of Mr. Heifer; the firm name was then changed to Heifer & Son. and so remained until 1877, when the father sold his interest to the son, who has since continued in the business alone. Mr. Heifer, the father, who was a stockholder in the Akron Iron company, now engaged himself with this concern as shipping clerk, and for twenty-one years filled this responsible posi- tion, when he retired from acti\e business. George H. Heifer was twice married. His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Mar}- Elgin, was a daughter of Walter and Eliza- beth Elgin, of Congress township, Wayne county, and bore her husband fi\c children, of whom the only survi\or is Clinton E., the popular druggist mentioned in the preceding pargraph. The second marriage of Mr. Heifer was with Miss Rebecca Luce, daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Luce, of Wayne coun- t\', Ohio, and to this marriage have also been born five children, of whom four still survive, viz: William A., Emma (Mrs. Clarence Ru- dolph), Edwin W., and Minnie B. (Mrs. Henry Adams). In his politics Mr. Heifer is a stanch republican, and, as may easily be inferred from the foregoing rectird, is one of the sub- stantial and most respected citizens of Akron. William A. Heifer was educated in the public schools of .\kron, his native cit)', and was here reared to manhood. As a young man, he entered the employ of the Akron Iron company as a workman, was promoted t<> the shipping desk, and later became general fore- man of the polishing department, remaining with the company five years. From 1885 un- til March i, 1897, he carried on a ver\' suc- cessful retail coal trade, but during this inter- val, in April, 1896, broke ground for the erec- .•514 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tion of his floricultural plant at Nos. 861-63-65 South Bowery. Having sold his coal office at the date named above, he has since given his whole attention to his greenhouse, which pos- sesses every modern appliance for the genera- tion and cultivation of floral and ornamental- leaf plants. This conservatory, however, be- came so popular, that in the spring of 1897 Mr. Heifer was compelled to extend its capac- ity, and it now consists of five divisions or houses, being the largest and most complete industry of its kind in Summit county. William A. Heifer was united in marriage, June 26, 1893, with Miss Hattie May Roth- rock, a daughter of William H. and Sarah A. (Messer) Rothrock, of Akron. Politically. Mr. Heifer is a stanch republican, and fraternally is a member of the Knights of Pythias. As a citizen he stands high in the esteem of the people of Akron and Summit count}-, and so- cially he and his wife mingle with the select circles of Akron. KASPAR HELM LING (deceased farm- er of Snftield township, Portage coun- ty, Ohioj. was born in Germany, July 9, 1834, a son of Peter and Margaret (Knapp) Helmling, was educated in the public schools of his native land, and in October, 1S57, came to the United States and settled in Summit county, where he found employment in a pottery, having learned the trade in Germany. After working at this art for three years he engaged in farming, and in 1864 settled on the farm where he passed the remainder of his life, d\ing October 5, 1896, at the age of si.\ty-two years, a devoted mem- ber of the Catholic church and a most highly respected citizen. In politics he was a demo- crat, had served as township trustee and also as a member of the grand jury, and his whole life was one of intelligent usefulness. The marriage of Mr. Helming took place in July, 1856, to Miss Sophia Adolph, daugh- ter of Enos and Elizabeth (Saul) Adolph, and born in Baden, Germany, September 22, 1837. The parents of this Iad>- came to America in 1845, ''"d settled in Randolph township. Port- age county, Ohio, where the father is engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Adolph had a family of ten children, seven of whom still survive, viz: Katherine, wife of Joseph Zeller; Sophia, widow of our subject; Adam, Elizabeth, Mi- chael; Mary, wife of D. L. Baldin, and Mag- gie. Those deceased were named Philip, Bal- zer (who died in the army), and one who died in infancy. Mr. Adolph, the father of this faiiiily, was called away in 1875, a member of the Catholic church, and later his widow re- moved to Ravenna, where she died, in the same faith, in 1884. To the marriage of Kaspar and Sophia (Adolph) Helmling, were born thirteen chil- dren, of whom ten are still living, viz: Adam; Lizzie, married to Frank Snider; Annie, wife of Nicholas Burnam; John; Clara, now Mrs. Adam May; George; Josephine; Maggie, wife of George Danber; Charles and Rosie. Of the three deceased, George died December iG, 1 86 1, aged five years; Otto died April 26, 1875, aged one year, ten months and twent)'- two days, and Louisa died at the age of two years, January 25, 1886. Mrs. Sophia Helmling still resides on the homstead, an honored lady and a de\out mem- ber of the Catholic church, in which all ihe family were reared. She is in comfortable circumstances and still keeps a supervising oversight over the farm, in the care of which she has the assistance of her unmarried sons, Charles, however, being her chief reliance in this respect. The entire family stand well in the eyes of the community in which they live and are well deserving of the high esteem in which thev are held. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 315 >Y*OHN HERSHEY, one of the most M prosperous farmers of Bath township, A J Summit county, Ohio, was born in Lebanon county, Pa., February 2, 1834, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Boltz) Hershey, who were respectively born in the same county, July 12, 1812, and December 25, 1812, were married in 1830, and four years later came to Ohio, locating, first, in Wayne county, where they resided until 1848, when they came to Bath township. Summit county, and passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1882, and the mother in 1883. Their children were five in number, and were born in the following order: Sarah, in Octo- ber, 1832; John, the subject of this sketch, the date of whose birth has been mentioned; Jacob, born in 1838, died in 1863; Abraham, born in 1844; and Henry, in 1846. Both the Hershey and Boltz families were of Swiss origin and settled in America in the colonial days, and in the war of the Revolu- tion the paternal great-grandfather of our sub- ject took an active part in securing the inde- pendence of the colonies. The grandfather of subject, Abraham Hershey, served in the war of 1812, came to Ohio in 1830, and set- tled in Wayne county, where he lost his wife in 1834, and where his own death occurred in 1850, leaving ten children, viz: Jacob, Re- becca, Abraham, Lydia, Benjamin, Sarah, John, Polly, Samuel and Henry. The eldest of this family, Jacob, began life a poor boy, but eventually became the wealthiest farmer in his county, owning 536 acres of good land. He was very liberal to his children and to re- ligious and educational institutions, and all his life was a devoted member of the German Baptist church, of which his wife was also a member. In politics he was a republican. John Hershey, whose name opens this memoir, passed his youth and early manhood in assisting his father on the home farm, and shortly after attaining his majority married, October 6, 1856, Miss Lydia Rice, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., February 22, 1836, a daughter of Sam and I'anny (Strick- ler) Rice. This marriage has been blessed with five children, born in the following order: Emma Alice, July 14, 1858, wife of Harry Swan, a farmer of Richfield township; Sarah Frances, July 26, i860, married to Edward Sprankle, a farmer of Bath township; LeRoy, who died in infancy; George W. , born October 2, 1863, and now managing the home farm, and Otto R., February 24, 1868, a merchant at Ghent. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey are both active members of the United Brethren church, in which he has been a class leader twenty-five years, and superintendent of the Sunday-school thirty-three years. In politics he is strongly republican, has served seven years as town- ship trustee, and member of the school board. The fine farm owned by Mr. Hershey com- prises 222 acres, is well cultivated, and is improved with substantial modern buildings — his new dwelling having been erected in 1 893 — and is located about seven miles from Akron. He has made a specialty of live stock, raising sheep and Durham cattle, but for the past three years he has taken no active part in the management of the farm, leaving that to his son, George W., and is now practically retired. He has endowed each of his children with $4,000, chiefly in land, and has been very liberal in his aid to all the worthy enterprises and charities of his township. He and his family are highly respected, and fully deserve the great esteem in which they are held. HBRAHAM HERSHEY, son of Jacob and Sarah (Boltz) Hershey, was born in W'ayne county, Ohio, October 18, 1844, and for antecedents the reader is referred to the memoir of John Hershey, :^16 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD elder brother, iinmediately preceding. His education was acquired in the common schools and farming has been his calling through life, having been reared to this vocation on his fa- thers homestead. February 23. 1864, Abra- ham Hershey was united in marriage with Miss Mary Baughman, who was born in Baughman township, Wayne county, Ohio, February 11, 1844, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Clapper; Baughman, who early came from Pennsylvania to Wayne county, Ohio, and in whose honor the township in which Mrs. Hershey was born received its name. To this marriage have been born two children ; John C, who resides with his parents, and Jessie M., the wife of Frank Rothtrock, of Cleveland. After his marriage, Mr. Hershey engaged in farming and in dairying, including cheese making, doing a very successful business. In 1895, he traded his farm of 145 acres, well improved with modern buildings, for the mill he now owns, one mile west of Ghent, in the valley of Yellowstone creek. This niill has excellent water-power and is also provided with steam-power, and it is the intention of Mr. Hershey to soon introduce the most ap- proved roller machinery for the production of flour, the mill having a very large local trade and being run to its full capacity under the old, or grinding, process. Mr. Hershey is a careful and diligent student of standard books and the better class of journals, and has greatly augmented the common-school educa- tion acquired in his youthful days, and the store of useful knowledge he has secured in his mature years has been invariably turned to practical use. Ostensibly a republican in his political views, Mr. Hershey is liberal in his opinions in this regard, as well as in religion, and has held numerous positions of honor and trust in Bath township, enjoying, as he does, the full confidence of his fellow-citizens. eDWARD A. HERSHEY. who was elected county clerk of Summit coun- ty, Ohio, November 3, 1896, on the republican ticket, is a native of Chip- pewa, Wayne county, and was born February 6, 1856, a son of Benjamin and Susan (Well- house) Hershe\, both now deceased. Benjamin Hershey was a Pennsylvanian b}- birth, but was brought by his parents to Ohio when but ten jears of age, his father, John Hershey, being also a Pennsjlvania-German. Benjamin grew to manhood in Wayne county and became one of the most extensive farmers and stockdealers in his part of the state, being a very large shipper of live stock and a solid business man in general. George W. Well- house, father of Mrs. Susan Hershey, was born in Germany, but came to Ohio when thirteen years of age, grew to manhood in Wayne county, and also became one of its most promi- nent citizens; he was a farmer, served his fel- low-citizens in the state legislature, also as associate judge for some years, and was a di- rector in the State National Bank of Ohio, and a substantial business man generally. To Benjamin Hershey and wife were born seven children, viz: Abraham, deceased; George, a resident of Chippewa, Wayne county; Rev. Simon B., of the Ashland, Ohio, Congrega- tional church; William, of Canton, Ohio; Mary, wife of W. Hemberger. of Akron; Ed- ward A., the subject, and Ella, wife of D. C. Leonard, of Toledo. Edward A. Hershey, whose name opens this biographical record, passed his early boy- hood on his father's farm and was educated at the Smithville high school. On attaining his majority, he succeeded his father in the live-stock trade, to which he devoted his at- tention, in connection with farming, until 1885. In March, 1886, he came to Akron and associated himself with T. W. McCue in the coal business, and later became general OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 317 manaf^er of the Superior Coal company, and still later was associated with the Loomis Coal company. A republican in politics, he was elected, in 1892, city clerk of Akron, which position he most ably filled for two terms. In 1896, Mr. Hershey was compli- mented by his party by being nominated as its candidate for the office of county clerk of Summit, and was elected by a handsome ma- jority. He has been a hard worker in his party's behalf and has served on the Summit county central republican committee, and for five years was committee treasurer. He has always been courteous and obliging in and out of office, and has won for himself a host of friends throughout the county and city. He has a splendid reputation as a business man and is a director in the Akron Savings bank, and also in the Summit county Agricultural society, and is an active member of Akron lodge. No. 547, I. O. O. F. The happy marriage of Mr. Hershey took place, in 1876, with Miss Josie L. Boone, of Sugar Creek, Wayne county, Ohio, and to this union have been born three children, viz: Bianche — who graduated from the Akron high school in the class of 1896 — Ella and Roxie. Mrs. Hershey is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the family have a delightful home at No. 301 Spice street, where is enjoyed an unusual de- gree of domestic happiness and comfort. ^^^EORGE HERSHEY, a thriving young ■ ^\ farmer of Bath township. Summit ^^^W count}', Ohio, is native here and was born October 2, 1864, a son of John and Lydia (Ricet Hershe)-, of whom full men- tion is made in a preceding article. George Hershey was reared on his father's farm, and is an expert husbandman. He received the ordinary common-school education vouchsafed to farmers' sons, and on reaching his majority married, December 17, 1885. Miss Kate Moore, who was born November 24, 1868, in Pitts- burg, Pa., and in 1878 came to Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, with her adopted par- ents, John and Loudisa (Morrell) Moore, who settled west of Hammond's Corners. Mr. Hershey owns a fine farm of eighty acres, which is thoroughly cultivated, tiled throughout, and made profitable; is improved with modern farm-buildings and a large brick dwelling, and, beside this farm, he cultivates the large farm owned by his father, which he leases for this purpose. In politics Mr. Her- shey is strongl}- republican and cast his first presidential \ote for Jas. G. Blaine, is an up- right and useful citizen, and with his wife is most highly respected in the social circles of Bath townshipi. OTTIS R. HERSHEY, a popular and promising young merchant and the postmaster of Ghent, Bath township, was born in this township February 24, 1868. He comes of a good old colonial family. His great-great-grandfather was a dis- tinguished veteran in the Revolutionary war, and his great-grandfather, Abraham, was a sol- dier in the war of 1812. His grandfather, Jacob Hershey, was born in I^ebanon county, Pa., July 12, i8t2, and was married in 1830 to Sarah Bettz, who was born in the same county December 25, 1812. Two years after their marriage they moved to Wa^'ne county, Ohio, where they resided until 1849, when the}' came to Bath township, where they passed the remainder of their days, Jacob dying in 1882, and Sarah in 1S83. They were the parents of the following children: John. Jacob, Abra- ham, Henry and Sarah. Both the Hersheys and the Bettzes were of Swiss descent and trace the coming of their ancestors from Switzerland 318 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD to America to colonial times. The Hershey family is noted for the longevity of its mem- bers and the size and strength of its men. The family lends its power and influence to the German Baptist church, and the republican party is gainer, by reason of the earnest polit- ical convictions of the men. John Hershey, the father of our subject, was the first born of his family, was born in Lebanon county. Pa., February 2, 1834. His youth and early manhood were passed with his father upon the home farm, and he was mar- ried October 6, 1856, to Miss Lydia Rice, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., February 22, 1 836. They are the parents of the follow- ing children: Emma A., Sarah F., George W. , Ottis R. and Le Roy, the latter dying in infancy. Additional details concerning this family are contained in the biographical sketch of John Hershey. Ottis Rice Hershey is one of the most pop- ular young men in this region. In his early youth he received the advantages offered by the excellent district schools of the township, and upon the solid foundation thus constructed built widely by passing supplemental courses at the Ada Normal school and at Buchtel col- lege. On December 11, 1S89, he married Miss Nellie R., daughter of Peter and Mary (Tiernan) Rees, who was born March 28, 1871. The year following his marriage Mr. Hershey engaged in the mercantile business at Ghent, and has been quite successful. In addition to his growing interests at this point he has an- other store at Codingville, in Medina county, in which he also does a thriving busidess. His services as postmaster at Ghent have given the utmost satisfaction to the public, and as a young man of affairs and promoter of the in- terests of his community receives a degree of consideration and recognition which marks him as one of the "coming" men of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hershey have a pleasant home, in which, however, there does not, as yet, fall the patter of infant feet. Mrs. Hershey was a member of the Disciples' church and was devoted to the good works of that body. Since this biography has been written Mr. Hershe\' lost his companion in life, she dying Septem- ber 15, 1897, and her remains lie interred in Bath cemetery. *-|-» lEUT. WINFIELD SCOTT KRAKE. I r who for ten years was prominent in I J the mercantile circles of Ravenna, Ohio, was born in Jefferson county, N. Y. , September 19, 1840, a son of James and Sallie (Wadsworth) Krake, also natives of the Empire state. The father, who was of German parentage, was a manufacturer of fan- ning-mills and was also for many years a cap- tain in the state militia. He and wife both died in La Fargeville, Jefferson county, in middle life, leaving the subject an orphan at the age of twelve years, he being the eldest of five children and being left the only survivor of the family. Mr. Krake received as good an education as the public schools could afford him at his age, and he early entered a general store, in which he was employed until August, 1862, when he enlisted in company M, Fifth New York heavy artillery, which consisted of three bat- talions — one recruited in Brooklyn, N. Y. , one in New York city and one in Jefferson and Lewis counties — in the latter of which subject enlisted. The regiment was assigned to the army of the Potomac and took part in the Shenandoah valley raid under Gen. Phil. Sher- idan, in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Creek, Monocacy and the lesser battles throughout the valley. In the second year of his service Mr. Krake had risen to the rank of second lieu- tenant, and with this rank was honorably dis- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 321 charged at the close of his three years' service — the war having also been brought to a close. Soon after leaving the armj- Lieut. Krake sought Ravenna as a home, and with this city he has been identified ever since. Here he first engaged in the dry -goods business, and later entered into the clothing trade. Being a republican in politics, he was appointed deputy postmaster of Ravenna during Grants first ad- ministration, and during the second Grant ad- ministration was commissioned postmaster. So ably did he perform the duties of this office it was thought proper to retain him there dur- ing the administration of Ha\"es. Garfield and Arthur, and for one year under Cleveland — a period of thirteen years — when political influ- ence was brought to bear to oust him from of- fice. .\fter being retired from the post-office, Mr. Krake took a years rest, and then in 1888 embarked in the business of dealer in grocer- ies and provisions, in which he controls the leading trade of Ravenna and gives constant employment to four clerks. July S. 1S61, Lieut. Krake was joined in wedlock, in Copenhagen. N. Y., with Miss Amelia U. Mitchell, a native of that town, and this union has been blessed with one child — now Mrs. B. P. Converse, of San Antonio, Tex., and the mother of a son, James, and a daughter, Florence. Lieut. Krake was one of the incorporators of the Portage County Building & Loan as- sociation and is a member of its board of di- rectors, and he is also prominently' identified with mo.'^t of the fraternal societies of the citj-. In 1873 he was made a Freemason, being init- iated in Unity lodge. No. 12, F. & A. M., of which he is past worshipful master; also of the Mystic Shrine, and the Knights Templar, and is a thirty-second Mason : beside filling many subordinate offices he has served as treasurer of the Blue lodge and chapter for many years. .\s an Odd Fellow he has passed all the chairs, 9 is the present representative to the lodge of Ohio, and is treasurer in lodge rand and encampment. In 1879 he was one of the Ra- venna council. No. 376, Royal Arcanum, of which he is now the collector, and also repre- sentative to the grand council of the state of Ohio. He was likewise a charter member of and is now past post commander of David Mc- intosh post. No. 327, G. A. R. , has been its delegate to several state encampments and na- tional assemblies, and was the delegate to the state encampment for the present 3ear. 1S97. Lieut. Krake is liberal m his religious views, and liberal in his support of churches and Sun- day-schools, but has never identified himself with any religious organization. .As a citizen he is enterprising and useful and is universally respected. m. 'ILLIAM A. HOLCOMB. a retired citizen of Ravenna. Ohio, is a na- tive of Westfield. Mass., was born September 5, 1804, and is a son of Roswell and Edith (Campbell) Holcomb, of whose six children — four sons and two daugh- ters — Mr. Holcomb is the only survivor. I Enoch Holcomb, the paternal grandfather ' of subject, was also a native of Westfield, Mass. , and descended from one of three ! brothers who were born in England, and to- gether came to America. Enoch was a large I holder of land, and beside farming kept a ! hotel or tavern and also operated a distillery, and died in his native town at the age of seventy-eight years. Samuel Campbell, the maternal grandfather of William A. Holcomb. was born in Southwick, Mass., was by calling a painter, plasterer and stonemason, and died in his native town at the comparatively early age of forty-four years, but his widow survived to reach the ripe old age of eighty- one years, and died at the home of her son in Rootstown, Ohio. 322 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD William A. Holcomb was reared and re- ceived his schooling in Westfield, Mass., and there learned the brick and stonemason's trade, also lathing and plastering. He first came west in 1821, walking in company with his cousin. Homer Campbell, all the way from Massachusetts with packs on their backs — Mr. Holcomb's pack weighing eighteen pounds — and reached Ravenna on the 23d day of .April. The country was all forest, yet the •wayfarers were never lost, although they ■were guided by blazed trees only. Returning to his native east, Mr. Holcomb was married, September 24, 1826, to Miss Lydia Olmstead. daughter of William S. and Annie (Wanzer) ■Olmstead — the ceremony taking place in Litchfield county. Conn. — and two weeks later Mr. Holcomb, his bride and her father, with the bride's sister and several others, started west, and on reaching lake Erie em- barked on the steamboat William Penn, and for three days passengers anri crew were at the mercy of a storm, but finally reached San- dusky, where the passengers were safely landed with their goods, and were conveyed in wagons to Rootstown, Portage county, where, for some years, Mr. and Mrs. Hol- comb lived in a log cabin and underwent all the privations of pioneer life in the woods. Their farm comprised 205 acres, and they also possessed a dairy constituted of twenty- two cows. After coming west Mr. Holcomb engaged in building depots, bridges, and in other rail- road construction work generally, in various jiarts of Ohio. His first work, however, was on the Cleveland & Pittsburg road, commenc- ing at Cleveland and working to Pittsburg, also worked on the P3rie, then called the At- lantic & Great Western railroad, superintend- ing, from commencement to completion, the building of bridges, depots, round houses, etc. During the summer of one year, from April i to October 3, he earned $455, but was excelled, in this respect, by his amiable helpmate, who, during the same period, made cheese by hand and disposed of it in market for $560 — a fact indicating, to some e.xtent, the industry and thrift of the early pioneers. This dairy Mrs. Holcomb continued to manage, with equal success, for seven years. Among the other tasks accomplished b}' Mr. Holcomb was the building of Hiram col- lege. He tore away the old rail fence that marked the site of the present edifice, dug the cellar, quarried the rock for the foundation, and erected the original building, to which, however, additions have since been made by other builders. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb were born ten children, five sons and five daughters, four of whom are still living, viz: Wanzer, of whom fuller details are given in a separate memoir; Edith, wife of A. S. Dun- ning, of Rootstown; Albert, of Springfield, Ohjp, and Lydia, wife of S. R. Freeman, of Ra\enna. Mrs. Lydia (Olmstead) Holcomb died in Ravenna July 23. 1884, a lady of most estimable characteristics and dearly beloved b}- her husband and children, and deeply mourned bj- them and a large circle of true and devoted friends. Mr. Holcomb, who is now in his ninety-fourth year, still has the appearance of not being over sixty-five, al- though he has led a life that has brought to them the endurance of much hard labor. But, on the other hand, he has led a life of sobriety and virtue, and thus has his reward. He is a fluent speaker, loves a good joke, even if it be at his own expense, is himself bright and witty, and his activity, at his great age, is simply wonderful. His great service in the development of the county are fully appre- ciated, and he is revered and truly honored by all throughout the length and breadth of the county of Portage. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 333 at •ILBUR F. HOLLOWAY, one of the prominent citizens of Cuyahoga Falls, and during the war a tele- graph operator of the army of the Potomac, descends from sterling English an- cestry. Joseph T. Hollowaj was the son of an Englishman, was born in Philadelphia and married in Williamsport, Pa., Susan Hawk, and their children were Josephus F. , Marj-, J. Wesley, Almira, Wilbur F., Louisa and Al- bert E. Joseph T. HoUoway was an early pros- pector of the west, traveling on horseback and visiting Missouri and other states. He finally located in Union Town, Ohio, where he lived a few years, and thence came to Cuyahoga Falls. He established a cabinetmaker's shop and em- ployed a number of men and carried on this business for a number of years. He also es- tablished a lumber yard and in his later life an insurance business. He was an honored citizen, a notary public and a justice of the peace for many years. His judgment was greatly respected by the people, and he was much called upon for advice. He was a local minister of the Methodist church and preached at Cuahoga Falls and the surrounding country. In politics he was a republican and was a stanch anti-slaver}' man. He was a success- ful business man and accumulated a compe- tency. He was a prominent man in Summit county and drew up many wills and business papers and married many people and preached many funeral sermons. He wrote a reminis- cence of the town as he was connected with it at an early day — but, unfortunately, this manuscript has been lost. He was at one time coroner of Summit county, was a stanch promoter of temperance and an earnest advo- cator of the cause; also president of a bible society. In his day Cuyahoga Falls was an enterprising business place. His first wife died and he married Celia Woodruff, but there were no children by this wife. He reached the great age of eightj-two years. Wilbur . F. HoUoway, our subject, was born in 1837, in Cuyahoga Falls, and is a son of Joseph T. and .Susan (Hawk) HoUoway. He was educated in the common school, at- tended the high school and learned, when young, the telegraph business and was em- ployed in the general office of the Pittsburg R. R., Cleveland, Ohio, for five years and in 1861 became telegraph operator at McClel- lan's headquarters — army of the Potomac — Washington, D. C, on Sixteenth street, the former residence of Commodore Wilks. and was here for several months. While he held this position, he frequently saw Presi- dent Abraham Lincoln, who came often to the telegraph office for information and spent much time there, frequently talking with the operators. He came at almost all hours, day and night, sometimes as late as twelve at midnight, and on one occasion at four A. M. of a rainy, dark morning and asked to see Gen. McClelian, went to the gen- eral's room, and talked to him as he lay in bed for about twenty minutes. Lincoln fre- quently told stories and would talk familiarly with the people about him. Here Mr. Hol- loway saw many distinguished men, such as Gen. McClelian, Gen. Scott, the two French princes Dejoinville, Due De Chartres, who were on Gen. McClellan's staff and many army officers. After this Mr. HoUoway served in the war department at Washington and at Newport News, Va,, arriving there a few days after the fight between the Merrimac and Monitor. From there he went to Norfolk, Va. , where he was under fire when Gen. Longstreet invested the town and was at one time shot at by sharpshooters from a distance. He served from the beginning of the war to the close. The telegraph operators were fre- quently in advance and many of them were 324 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD kilkd ill the perforinaiice of their duty. After the war, Mr. HoUoway was employed by the Western Union Telegraph company of Norfolk, Va., for ten jears, bi-inj; manager of the office and correspondent of the New York Asso- ciated Press. After his return to Ohio, he was master of transportation of the Valley Rail- road, stationed at Cleveland, Ohio, and since has resided in Cuyahoga Falls. During the war he invented a dictionary holder and reading-stand, which he still man- ufactures and which he has greatly improved. In 1892 he patented the Century Dictionary Holder and the Holloway Reading stand — untioubtedly the best of the kind in the mar- ket and in general use by literary people and libraries, and sold in all tlu- countries in the world. Mr. Holloway married Lucy Plum, of Cuy- ahoga Falls, a daughter of Henr\' Plum, whose biography appears on another page. In pol- itics he is a republican. He stands high as a business man, and is much respected for his strictly moral character, and the social rela- tions of himself and wife are most pleasant in every regard. at 'ANZER HOLCOMH, a retired con- tractor of Ravenna, was born in Rootstown, Portage county, Ohio, September 9, 1827, and is a son of William A. and Lydia (Olmstead) Holcomb, whose biographies are given in full in conjunc- tion with this memoir, which renders it neces- sary only to here record the current course of the life of Wanzer Holcomb himself, or, at least, its salient features. Mr. Holcomb was reared on his father's farm, which he assisted materially in improv- ing during his earlier days of vouthful strength, and also learned from his father his trade of brick and stonemason. He remained on the home place until sixteen or eighteen years of age, then tlexoted his time almost e.xclusively to his trade in ditierent parts of the county and state — four and one-half years having been spent in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, — until 1868, when he settled in Ravenna, and began rail- road contracting, doing all manner of con- struction until his retirement, and being suc- cessful with every contract. Mr. Holcomb was united in marriage, Sep- tember 25, 1851, with Miss Sophronia C. Stough, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Eatinger) Stough, the happy union resulting in the birth of three children, viz: Margaret Ann, William W. and Harry S. The eldest. Margaret Ann, has been twice married — first, to George T. Smith, and, secondly, to Hiram Bedell, and still lives to mourn the loss of both husbands; William W., book-keeper at Baldwin & Son's planing mill, married Mattie Rice, of Newton Falls, and has three children — Edna, Roswell and Calvin; Harry S., a furniture dealer of Montrose, Colo., married May Matthews, and is the father of one child — Marguerite. Mrs. Wanzer Holcomb is a devoted member .of the Disciples' church, while Mr. Holcomb holds prominent station as a societary member. High in Masonry, he is a member of Akron commandery. No. 25; he first became an Odd Fellow while a resident of Lucas count)', and there filled various chairs in his lodge; he is also a member the Royal Arcanum. Politically he is a republican, he has served three terms as county commissioner of Portage county. With the exception of the time passed in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and a few trips to the east, Mr. Holcomb has always resided in Portage county, and has witnessed its wonderful growth since he was old enough to observe anything, and has himself boi"ne no small part in its development; he can also re- call the time when he noticed, in his trips east- ward, that what is now Madison square, in the heart of New York city, was a mere farm, and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 325 that the railroad extended but sixt\' miles from that now commercial emporium of the United States. Mr. Holcoml) resides in iiis fine and com- modious mansion on North Chestnut street, Ravenna, where he is surrounded with genial and pleasant neighbors. He is himself a public-spirited citizen, a good-natured and pleasant gentleman, and, although sixty-nine years of age, would be taken anywhere to be aged about fift\'. He is a lover of relics, and has a vast variety of them in his librar}', or, what he calls, his "den." Although extremely liberal and generous toward all worthy objects, private or public, he has never been a prof- ligate, and still keeps an eye on business in his retirement, being a director in the Second National bank. His early efforts in promot- ing the welfare of Ravenna and Portage will never be forgotten, and he is still very popular with all classes. eLMER K. HOTTENSTEIN, M. D., the well known physician and surgeon of No. 226 South Main street, Akron, Ohio, has been a resident of this city since 18S6, and descends from an ancient Cerman family of nobles. The doctor was born in Berks county. Pa., in December, 1861, a son of Edward and Sarah fKnabb) Hotten- stein, who descended from families that date their residence in that county from the early part of the seventeenth century. The Hotten- stein family, generall}-, have followed profes- sional lives, but not all of them. Jacob A., the great-grandfather of subject, was a physi- cian, while the grandfather, William, was content with the peaceful pursuit of agricul- ture; Edward, the father of subject, became in turn a physician, and was the early teacher of the science to his sou, Ehner K. Edward and Sarah Hottenstein are the parents of nine children, born in the following order: Ida, wife of James D. Lang, of Berks county. Pa., Alice; Elmer K. ; lidward, physician of Kutz- town. Pa.; Sarah, deceased; William J., den- tist, of Akron, Ohio; Charles A., physician of Kutztown, Pa.; Deborah ("., at home, and Peter D., a student. Dr. Elmer K. Hottenstein was educated in the Keystone Normal school preparatorily and then entered Jefferson Medical college in Phil- adelphia, having also been prepared for this step through tuition under his father; he grad- uated from this institution in 1883, and then took a special course on the eye and ear at the Wills Eye hospital, and also a course in the Pennsylvania college of Dental Surgery, from which he graduated, but does not prac- tice dentistry excepting incidentally, although he had opened rooms for that purpose at Kutz- town, Pa., two years prior to his coming to A-kron. In fact, he has relegated that prac- tice to his brother, William J., as will be dis- covered in a coming paragraph. Dr. E. K. Hottenstein is a member of Akron lodge. No. 83, F. & A. M. ; f)f Summit lodge. No. 50, I. O. O. F., and of encamp- ment No. iS, same order; also of the Red Cross, No. 25. He was married December 2, 1 89 1, to Mi.ss Ida A. Bieber, daughter of Will- iam Bieber, and is now the happy father (jf two children, Clara B. and William E. The doctor and wife are members of Grace Re- formed church and have a charming home at No. 126 Carroll street. William J. Hottenstein, brother of Dr. Elmer K. Hottenstein, was born in Berks county, Pa., August 28, if?68, and was pre- liminarily educated in the common school and state normal schools; then read medicine under his father and next attended the Medico- Chirurgical college of Philadelphia, Pa. , and then entered the Jefferson Medical college of the same city, from which he graduated in 3->6 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1889. He then practiced medicine at home until the fall of the same year, when he entered the Pennsylvania Dental collef^e of Philadel- phia, from which he fjraduated in 1890, then returned to his old home and practiced both medicine and dentistry until the fall of that year, when he came to Akron and opened his dental parlors, and has since given his entire attention to dentistry. In August, 1894, his brother. Dr. Elmer K., and he opened their tine suite of offices on South Main street, in the Doyle block, where Dr. Elmer K. has a lu- crative medical practice and Dr. William J. has an eijualiy prosperous practice in dentistry in all its multifarious branches. Dr. William J. Hottenstein is a member of Granite lodge, No. 522, I. O. (). v., and also of Akron tent of Maccabees, No. 129; also of the Red Cross, and of the Akron Dental society. He was united in marriage. May 28, 1895, with Miss Amelia C. Von Alt, daughter of John and Frederica Von Alt, and they have their pleas- ant home at No. 119 Coburn street. Mrs. Hottenstein is a devoted member of the Trinity Lutheran church. In the early part of the .seventeenth cen- tury, three brothers of the Hottenstein family came to America from Esslingen and landed in Philadelphia. One of the.se three, Jacob, settled in Oley township, now in Berks county. Pa., and purchased large tracts of land, which still remain in the family. Jacob was the great- great-grandfather of the doctors Hottenstein of Akron, Ohio, who now stand at the head of their professions and are among the most re- spected residents of the city. EORACE M. HOUSER, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Akron Cultivator company, is a native of Reynolds, Schuylkill county. Pa., was born February 2, 1861, and is a son of Daniel M. and Catherine (Seiberling) Houser, of Ger- man extraction. The father, who was a teacher for six or seven years in the public schools, later engaged in the coal and lumber business, but died in 1870; his widow is still living, and is deeply beloved by her four chil- dren, who were born in the following order: Horace M. , the subject; Ida A., wife of Sam- uel R. Endy, Frackville, Pa.; Laura C, now Mrs. Charles Billing, of Tamaqua, Pa., and Sadie C. the wife of Alexander Bender, of Boston, Mass. At the death of Daniel M. Houser, subject was placed with his grandfather, who was an extensive farmer and also kept a hotel, and general store, was postmaster and ticket agent, and a thoroughly practical business man. Under this relative Mr. Houser learned teleg- raphy and received a general business and English education, so that, at the early age of fourteen years, he was able to pass examina- tion before the school board and was granted a certificate as teacher and given charge of the school which his father had formerly taught. During the winters of five years he there gave instruction, and in the summers attended the normal college at Millersville, Lancaster coun- ty. Pa., defraying his expenses from his own earnings, until he had reached the junior class. In January, 1881, he resigned his position as teacher and went to Oswego, N. Y., and there took a course in stenography, paying for his tuition by teaching penmanship. In August, 1 88 1, he was tendered and accepted a position as stenographer with the J. F. Seiberling company of .Akron. For eight years he was in the employ of this company as shorthand writer, shipping clerk and correspondent, and in 1889 associated himself with the Akron Tool company as stockholder and secretary, and so remained until the company sold out to the Akron Cultivator company. This, the Akron Cultivator company, with OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 327 its plant at Nos. 230 to 348 Union street, was organized in 1894, for the purpose, as its name partially indicates, of manufacturing ag- ricultural implements, and is to-day one of the substantial industries of the city. Its capital stock in $100,000, and its officers are: George W. Grouse, president; Horace M. Houser, secretary, treasurer, and manager. It gives employment to si.xty hands, and makes a specialty of corn cultivators and the Kraus Pivot-Axle Automatic Sulky cultivator, but of course the business of the company is not con- fined to the production of these implements only. Mr. Houser is a strictly self-made man, having educated himself and being the founder of his business prosperity. He has other in- terests besides those of the cultivator com- pany, and in every position he has held has been master of the situation, and during his last year with the Akron Tool company had entire control of the concern. His business success is the criterion of his intrinsic worth. While in politics a republican, he has never found it necessary to obtrude himself upon his party for official position. Mr. Houser was united in marriage, Feb- ruary 12, 1896, with Miss Julia M. Grouse, daughter of George W. and Martha (Parsons) Grouse, and with his wife affiliates with the Episcopal church. His residence is at No. 107 Arch street. aHARLES LEONARD HOWARD, president and general manager of the Railway Speed Recorder company, and conspicuous as a business man of Kent, Ohio, was born on a farm near Utica, N. Y., May 28, 1838, a son of Boyd and Mercie (Wood) Howard, and is of remote English origin, his paternal grandfather hav- ing been born in Dutchess county, N. Y., where the father of our subject was born and married, and whence he moved to Oneida county, where he died ten days prior to the birth of our subject, who was the youngest of a family of thirteen children. The mother subsequently married Ira Burdick, and seven- teen years later the family moved to Friend- ship, Alleghany county, where the mother ended her days. Gharles L. Howard lived on the home farm in Allegany county, N. Y., until nine- teen years old, attending school when not at work. He then became a clerk in a general store in Friendship, and before he had reached his majority became a merchant on his own account, purchasing his stock in New York city. He made his home at Friendship twenty-five years, being engaged in farming beside the mercantile business. He was pres- ident of the Allegany county Agricultural association for some time, ever taking an in- terest in all farm pursuits. He was also a promoter and director of the Allegany Cen- tral railroad — a narrow-gauge line through the oil fields from Friendship to Olean, N. Y. , and a director of the Allegany County Re- porter, the leading republican newspaper of the county. He was postmaster of Friend- ship for ten years and also filled various mu- nicipal offices. Becoming interested in the oil business, he came to Wood county, Ohio, and in 1887 to Kent, and purchased an interest in the Railway Speed Recorder company, of which he was chosen secretary and treasurer; six months later, January i, 18S8, was elected general manager, and in 1890 was elected president. The other officers are at present E. A. Parsons, treasurer, and G. M. Power, secretary. The capital stock of the company is $250,000, and it manufactures, beside the speed recorder, Hawkins' patent jack, caboose and shop stoves, sucker rod joints and other oil-well supplies. •.V2S PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD In politics Mr. Howard has always been a republican, but, being an advocate of and be- liever in a bimetallic circulation, supported the Bryan ticket in i8g6. His first office was that of township clerk in Allegany county, N. Y., and he also held various other local offices. He was appointed postmaster of Friendship by President Hayes and was re-appointed by President Arthur, but since coming to Kent has given very little attention to political affairs. Mr. Howard was united in marriage, in i860, with Miss Amelia C. Babcock, who was b(jrn in Cortland county, N. Y., a daughter of Simon Babcock, a merchant and farmer. This union has been blessed with three chil- dnni, viz: Hattie, who is married to B. ¥. Drake, of Friendsliip, N. Y., and has one child — Howard; Nora, wife of Milton Knifel, of Kent, and the mother of two children — Lawrence and Inez: Nina, now Mrs. Charles Powers, of Kent, and nK)ther of one child — Josephine Marie. Mr. Howard is a knight templar Mason, is a very pleasant companion and a thorough gentleman, and few persons in Kent are more highly respected. •^Y'OHN L. HOUSLEY, a substantial m farmer and a respected citizen of Stowe A J township. Summit county, Ohio, was born on his father's farm in Stark coun- ty, Ohio, December 21, 1846, and springs from English ancestrj-. Levi Housley, grandfather of John L., was born in New York state and was the son of one of three brothers, who came over from England and fought through the Revolution- ary war, in which one was killed. After the war, one brother settled in New York and one came west, and his descendants, later, settled in Maryland, where he purchased a farm, on part of which the battle of Antietam was fought. His log barn was chinked with mor- tar, in which the date of the building was marked 1765. He married, in Maryland, Mar}' Loman. Her mother's maiden name was Leidigh, and she came from Switzerland. Levi Housley and wife were the parents of five children, Leidigh. Katie, Barbara, Roseann and Levi. Mr. Housley had a good farm and home, but came to Ohio in 1805 to see the country, and when he passed through Canton it contained one log house and two Indian wigwams. Mr. Housley located a piece of land in Stark county and then re- turned home, making the journey on horse- back and traveling by a blazed trail. Failing to sell his place, he remained in Maryland until 1824, when he brought his family and settled on the land he had located in 1805, consisting of 160 acres covered by a heavy forest of oak, ash, and beech, but later moved to Lake township, in the same county, bought another farm of 160 acres and here passed the remainder of his days. He cleared up part of his first farm and all of his second, and had a goodly propert}- improved with good buildings. He was a substantial citizen and a member of the Presbyterian church, and as- sisted to found the first church in his part of the county. In politics he was an old-line whig. He was seventeen years old when the Revolutionary war closed, but, being afflicted with white swelling and lame, could not enlist as a soldier, but ser\ed as blacksmith, shoe- ing horses. His father, however, fought all through the war for independence. Leidigh Housley, father of John L. , was born in Maryland on his father's farm, Octo- ber 23, 1814, and was reared a farmer. He came with his brother and family to Ohio, in 1824, when ten years of age, and married, March 21, 1837. Nancy Thompson, a native of Stark county, and a daughter of John and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 329 Mary Ellen (Warner) Thompson, of English descent. Mr. Thompson came to Ohio about (S2i;, settled in Lake township, Stark county, and cleared up a farm of 200 acres. He was a Methodist in religion, a respected citizen and lived to be eighty-two years old. His children were Mary, Rachael, Eliza, Abbie, Nancy, Sally and Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Housley settled on the old Housle}- homestead and tJTerc passed all their remaining days. Leidigh Housle\' was a very industrious and respected man and prospered by thrift and accumulated a handsome property — a good farm of 230 acres. His children were Mar\', Elizabeth, Catharine, Nancy, John L., Minerva, Levi, Sarah, Daniel, Ethelinda, Alice and Jesse. Mr. Housle\- was an honored citizen and held the office of township trustee, was a member of the school board, and tilled other minor offices. He lived to be seventy-two years old and (lied in 1S86, September 5, a Presb\terian in religion and in politics a republican, beloved by all his family and much thought of by all who knew him. John L. Housley received a good common- school education, and a business education at Oberlin college. He went to the Pacific coast in the fall of 1868, via New York city and the isthmus of Panama. Having two sisters, Mary and Nanc\-, in Benton county, Oregon, he vis- ited them, rested from work, and trapped and hunted in the Cascade mountains one winter, and killed foxes, beavers, minks, otters and coons, and did a good business, making $100 per month. He returned home in the spring of 1870. He married, June I, 1871, in Stark county, Ohio, Nancy Hill, born October 2, 1848, in Stark county, daughter of Thomas and Ikirbara (Long) Hill. Thomas Hill came from Maryland as a pioneer and settled in Plain township. Stark county. His children were Daniel (died two years old), Catherine, Susan, William, Nanc\ , Richard, Abraham, Sallie and Elizabeth. Mr. Hill died on his farm when seventy-nine years old, April 8, 1883. He was a man of great ingenuity, un- derstood every kind of work, and was very handy with tools. He was very religious, was a German Baptist, was a kind and upright man. Mr. Hill was first married to Kate Worley, and they had Thomas, Samuel and David. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Housley set- tled on the old Housley homestead in Stark county, and lived there for some time, and came to their present farm March 11, 1873. Mr. Housley first bought 122 acres, and, by industr}' and thrift, has added to it until he now owns 142 acres of good land; he built a fine and tasteful house in 1893, and has it nicely furnished. Mr. Housley, aided by his faithful wife, has greatly improved his farm, on which are over 40,000 feet of tile drainage. Their children are Lewis E.,. Virgil M.. Mary E., Nannie B., Leidigh and Richard L. Mrs. Housley is a member of the German Baptist church and in politics Mr. Housley is a prohi- bitionist and free silverite. He has held the offices of supervisor, assessor, and member of the school board. The family is one of the best in the township and all the children are well educated. Virgil and Mary attended Buchtel college and are stenographers and typewi iters. Lewis E. attended Ashland uni- versity and also a business college, and is now receiving clerk in the Goodrich Rubber com- pany. The remainder are at home. * y ^ ENRY WILLETT HOWE, one of w^^ most prominent citizens of North- M. . r ampton township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in the adjoining town- ship of Bath, June 29, 1828, the eldest son of Capt. Richard Howe, a native of St. Mary's county, Md., born in 1799. 330 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Stanislaus Howe, paternal grandfather of Henry W. Howe, was one of the pioneers of Maryland, and his paternal grandmother, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Edward Willett, who was owner of a large estate near Upper Marlboro, in the same state, and grandson of Edward Willett. who was appointed clerk of the court of Prince George county, Md., in 1 708. The large Willett estate was devised to a trustee, who was authorized to sell and to divide the proceeds of the sale among the heirs, but no part of those proceeds ever reached the heirs of Stanislaus Howe, and the executor of the will was long ago released from his responsibility, and his sureties, or bondsmen, relieved from their liability under the statutes of Maryland. Roxana K. Howe, mother of Henry W. Howe, was the second daughter born to Maj. Sylvanus Jones, a native of Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y., while his wife, Phebe, was a daughter of Capt. Arden Sears, a family active in organizing the first Protestant Episcopal church in New England, and to this day counted among its most munificent benefactors. Roxana K. Jones was the pioneer school- mistress of Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, and also was one of the organizers of the first Sunday-school in Akron, of which she was a teacher for half a century, and a memo- rial window in the First Methodist church per- petuates her memory as one of its founders. Henry Willett Howe received an excellent education in youth and early manhood, and was graduated from Oberlin college with the degrees of A. B. and A. M. For ten years he practiced law in Akron and its vicinity, and for six years was a member of the board of educa- tion at the time that the Akron school Jaw was on trial as an experiment. During this period he was secretary of the board, did a full share of committee work and performed many of the duties that now devolve on the superintendent. and all without compensation; he also served two terms in the city council, which was like- wise an office of honor and not of profit. In his capacity as attorney he became interested in sev- eral agricultural implement patents, and after- ward became engaged in manufacturing, which afforded him relief from sedentar\- employ- ments that were undermining his health. In- heriting from his father's estate a farm, he granted a right of way across it to a railroad company, the consideration being that the company should build and maintain a station thereon, and then made his residence in sight of his birthplace — within easy reach of both Cleveland ami Akron. A post-office was also established at the same point by his request, and he was appointed postmaster, and still holds that office; he has also served as justice of the peace several terms — -an office for which he is peculiarly qualified — and has frequently settled the disputes of his neighbors without litigation; he has officiated at man)" weddings, and has not unfrequently conducted the services at the bfirial of the dead. As to politics, Mr. Howe had been reared to a belief in the prin- ciples of the whig party, which he had advo- cated up to the time immediateh' preceding his coming of age, but in 1848, on the nomi- nation by the whigs of a slaveholder for the presidencN' of the United States, he withdrew his influence from the old part\' and worked with vigor and enthusiasm for the establish- ment of the new, or republican organization; nevertheless he supported Bryan and the Chi- cago platform of 1896. For fifteen years he acted as secretary of the Pomona grange, P. of H , but declined promotion, as he had pre- \iously declined political honors. In religious matters, Mr. Howe was reared under gospel influences, but when barely out of his teens began to insist upon "interpret- ing" the sacred writings in the light of the belief prevalent at the time they were written. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. XM He has so much confidence in his judgment in this respect that he is willing to live by it, and to die by it. Mr. Howe was happily united in marriage, December 12, 1859, with Miss Isadora C. Bell, a native of Connecticut, and this union has been blessed with three children — Edward B., Frank R. and .\bbey B. For half a century he has been a contributor to agricultural and educational publications. His second son, Frank, since he became of age, has been occupied with educational work, and since April, i8g2, at Darfowville, in Sum- mit county, has published a monthly journal for the promotion of that interest. * w ^ ERBERT F. HUDSON, the well- 1^^^ known dealer in creamery supplies at M. . r Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, was born in the township of the same name April i, 1846, a son of James and Cor- delia A. (Rowell) Hudson. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer, came to Por- tage county, Ohio, with the pioneers, and died in 1876. in New York city, while on a visit; the mother, a native of New Hampshire, had died on the home place in 1874. These par- ents had three children, of whom subject is the youngest; Charles D. is a live-stock dealer in Chicago, and the sister, Mrs. Henry Sharp, resides on the old homestead. The family are of English e.xtraction, and of ante-Revolution- ar)' residence in America. Herbert F. Hudson was educated in the city schools of Ravenna and in the well-known Eastman Business college of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His first independent effort in business life was in buying and shipping live stock at Ravenna, but his main work has been in the line which now occupies his attention, and which was rooted in the industry which has led to it, which will easily be perceived by following his business career in detail. In 1867 he erected the Beech Woods cheese fac- tory in Ravenna township, and in the spring of 1870 constructed the .Springdale creamery and cheese factory at Rot^tstown, having re- moved from the former to the latter place after disposing of the Beech Woods plant. In 1882 he entered the employ of the DeLaval (cream) Separator company, of New York, in the capacity of salesman and general agent, and with this company he still holds his con- nection, and during the past twelve years has sold and established agencies in nearh' every state in the Union. This connection also in- volves the duty of supervising the erection of creameries on contract, and in this capacity Mr. Hudson has erected and equipped 1 54 creameries, beside making extensive sales to creameries that had already been established. Mr. Hudson was unite^OSEPH HUGILL, of Akron, Ohio, is ■ a native of Gunnersville, York county, ^•1 England, was born September i, 1834. a son of George and Isabella (Close) Hugill. The father of our subject was a son of (ieorge, who, in turn, was a son of George, who was a son of Edward, who was a son of John, and he a son of George, all natives of Yorkshire — the first three of whom were lead miners, and the latter three farmers. foseph Close, maternal grandfather of Joseph Hugill, the subject, was a carpenter and builder by tratle, and was a son of George Close, also a builder of Yorkshire. Joseph Hugill, the subject, left his native country at the age of seventeen years, landed in New York city July i, 1851, came thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed at stone and brick work, which he had begun to learn in the old country at the age of eleven years. In 1854 he left Cleveland and went to Canada, and worked at his trde for the Grand Trunk Railway company until 1856, and then began contracting for the Buffalo cV Lake Huron Railway company — now a part of the Grand Trunk system. In 1858 he went to California and engaged in gold mining, also worked at his trade one year, and in i860 went to Nevada, and worked on the Great Basin hotel, which was afterward purchased by the county for its own use. He next superintend- ed the stone work for the Gold •& Currie quartz-mill at Virginia City, at which he was engaged until May, 1864, when he returned east, and passed a year in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1865 he was employed in farming in Cuya- hoga county, and in 1866 settled in Akron, where he engaged in general contracting for stone and brickwork, which business he fol- lowed until 1895, when he was appointed city commissioner, which position he still ablv fills. September 28, 1864. Mr. Hugill Nvas unit- ed in marriage to Miss Sarah ^^^ells, daughter of Martin and Martha (Walpole) Wells, the latter a lineal descendant of Horace Walpole, at one time the renowned prime minister of England. This union has been crowned by the birth of four children, viz: William E., Frank W. and Miimie (twins, deceased), and Rhea W. Mr. Hugill is a thirty-second degree Ma- son in his fraternal relations, and socially he and family stand high in the esteem of the best people of .\kron. •^EORGE WHITFIELD HULETT, ■ G\ '*" ex-soldier of the Civil war and at \^^^ present a well-known dealer in agri- cultural implements, feed, etc., at Kent, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Chemung county, N. Y., October 13, 1842, a son of Asahel and Clarissa (Hulett) Hulett, natives of \'ermont. .\sahel Hulett was reared to manhood in his native city of Rutland, Vt., and at one time was warden of the Vermont state prison. He was married in the Green Mountain state, whence he moved to New York state, and in 1847 came to Ohio — making the journey with teams — and purchased a large farm in Frank- lin township. Portage county. He dealt ex- tensively in live stock, and before the advent of railroads drove his stock overland to the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 33;:J eastern markets. He also dealt largely in produce and was likewise engaged in gardening on an extensive scale. His large farm was well improved, but in an evil hour he went se- curity for friends and lost his vast possessions, with the exception of his home and seventy acres. He was a stanch democrat in politics and lived to be seventy-seven years of age, voting his ticket for more than half a century. He died in 1877, but his widow survived him eleven years and died at the age of eighty-six. Of their children, Rudolph died in infancy; Orison, a farmer, died in Kansas, leaving a family; Louise died unmarried; Harriet died in early life; John was a soldier in the Second Ohio cavalry, became a farmer after the war, and died in Kansas, unmarried; Esther is the widow of Horace Bester and lives in Kent, Ohio; Albert Rudolph, a soldier of the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, was killed in the battle of Franklin, Tenn. ; George W., the subject, was next in order of birth; Sarah M. resides on the old homestead in Franklin township: Ella Gertrude, who was married to Sereno Holdridge, died in Shalers- ville, Ohio, leaving two children, and Frank- lin D. died in childhood. George W. Hulett, the subject of this memoir, was reared on the Franklin township farm from the age of five years until nearly twenty, and attended the common schools in the interval. August 11, 1862, he enlisted in the volunteer service, and was mustered in, at Massillon, in company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio infantry, and had his first en- gagement at Covington, Ky. , then followed numerous engagements with the raider John Morgan in Kentucky; then the regiment crossed the mountains into Tennessee and was present at the capture of Knoxville, and fought at Cumberland Gap; then joined the Twenty- third army corps, marched with Sherman south and participated in the capture of At- lanta; then returned northward to Nashville, Tenn., to intercept Gen. Hood, and took part in the battle of Franklin, Tenn., in whicli liis brother, Albert Rudolph, was killed, and where our subject was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville. In this rebel pen Mr. Hulett was confined until March 2"] , 1S65, when he was taken to Vicksburg, Miss. , and paroled. He was one of the unfortunates who boarded the ill-fated steamboat Sultana for passage north. This boat had gone up the Mississippi river to a point beyond Memphis, Tenn. , when her boilers exploded, and of the 2,360 souls on board, over 1,600 lost their lives, Mr. Hulett being one of those who were spared, but not without injury. On returning to Port- age county, Mr. Hulett purcha.sed a farm and engaged in its cultivation, but dealing in live stock was his principal business until 1887, when he removed to Kent and continued deal- ing in stock alone until 1889, when he engaged in his present enterprise. In May, 1873, Mr. Hulett was united in marriage with Miss Thirsa Chapman, a native of Brimfield township and a (laughter of Henr\' C. and Alvira (Underwood) Chapman. In politics Mr. Hulett is a stanch democrat, but has never been a seeker after office. He has a clear record as a business man as well as a soldier, and stands high in the general esteem. @EORGE A. HUNTLEY, M. D., of Copley, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state and was born in North Bloomfield, Trumbull county, September 11, 1871, the son of Dr. A. O. and Alice (Hawkins) Huntle\', the for- mer of whom was born in Medina count}- in 1845, 'i"'^ the latter in Copley September 14, 1847, and were the parents of two children, viz: Josephine, who was born in 1868 and is now the wife of Lee Baldwin, of Washington, 384 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD D. C, and Dr. George A., the subject proper or this biographical notice. Dr. A. O. Huntley was reared a farmer and educated in the district schools of Medina county as a preparatory course, and then, after a still further preparatory course of medical study, entered the Stirling Medical college of Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated after finishing the course, and began practice in Cirangerburg, Medina county, but remained there a few years onl)-, when he went to North Bloomfield, Ohio, where he had a most successful practice, which ex- tended over a period of thirty years. Mrs. Alice Huntley, the mother of Dr. George A. Huntley, is a daughter of (ieorge W. and Matilda (Hubbard) Hawkins, the former of whom was the first white child born in Cop- ley, the date being December 29. 181 5. In January. 1840. Mr. Hawkins married Miss Hubbard, who was born in 181 1, a daughter of Kenben Hubbard, and this union resulted in tiie birth of five children, viz: Adelia. who rr'OHN H. INSANDE, one of the substan- ■ tial citizens of Cuyahoga Falls, an A J honored gentleman and the head of a respected family, springs from sterling German ancestry, and was born in Boston, Mass., March 19, 1833, a son of John Henry and Mary (Schlusemyer) Insande. He re- ceived but little education and began to work in a nail factory when ten years old. When he was thirteen years of age he began to work for Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, in his wire works at Trenton, N. J., continued in his employ for nine years and learned all the departments of the iron business, includ- ing iron rolling, and was also the first to make copper wire from ingots, to be used in making rivets for belts. He married. September 16. 1855, at Trenton, N. J., Sarah Bailey, who was born March 3, 1836, in Leicestershire, England, on a farm, a daughter of Samuel and Emily (Roper) Bailey. Mr. Bailey came to America, in 1845, bringing his family, and settled in New York city. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Insande lived in Trenton. N. J., for two years. In 1857 they came to Cuyahoga Falls, where Mr. Insande engaged in forging steamboat shafting and car axles for Cleve- land, and became foreman for the James forge. He finished learning the machinist's OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 335 trade with the Bill Bros., well known ma- chinists and inventors of Cuyahoga Falls, and continued with these two firms for eight years, and then bought a flouring and saw-mill at Brecksville, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, but soon sold it out and went to Newberg, Ohio, in 1865. He then became foreman of the Chis- holm rolling mill and remained with this firm four years. In 1868 he bought a rolling mill in Cuyahoga Falls, but soon sold out and bought an interest in a machinery company, and three years later he was one of the founders of the Falls \\'ire company, and managed this business for fifteen years. Throughout his long business career he has been successful. In his later years he is man- aging a dairy farm. He was one of the orig- inal republicans of this county and voted for Fremont and Dayton. He is an honored citi- .zen and has held the offic of town councilman several years, and is a member of the board of education. Fraternally he is a Mason, is a member of Starr lodge. No. 187, Cuyahoga Falls, and has filled every office in his lodge, including wor- shipful master, is now its treasurer, and as- sisted in establishing the Newberg, Ohio lodge. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and has filled the office of regent. Mr. Insande is a Lutheran in religion, and his wife is an Epis- copalian. To them have been born Charles H., Samuel B., Edward E., Albert W. , Annie Lottie, George F., Frederic J., Georgiana May and Mary Emma. Mr. Insande began life a penniless boy, and by his steady applica- tion and industry became a successful and well- to-do business man. Even in his youth he was a very skillful machinist and workman and could do almost anything with tools. John H. Insande, father of subject, was a soldier in Napoleon's army, and in the great battle of Waterloo when but fifteen years old. He was a blacksmith by trade. His children were John H., William F. (who went to New South Wales, and was afterward a soldier in our great Civil war) and Henrietta. Mr. In- sande died when our subject was a small child and Mrs. Insande next married John R. Wal- ser, an iron worker. Samuel Bailey, father of Mrs. Insande, was born in England. He was a farmer and came to America in July, 1845, in a sailing vessel from Liverpool to New York, being si.\ weeks on the passage. He located in New York, but five years later moved to Trenton, N. J., where he became a wire drawer, and died there aged fifty-two years, a member of the Episcopal church. His children were James, Sarah, Harriet, Georgi- anna, Samuel and John H., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Insande have reared an excellent family of children, who rank among the most respected citizens of Cuyahoga Falls. eRNEST A. JOHNSON, of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county, Ohio, and one of its most respected citizens, was born July 22, 1846, in Benton, Mich., a son of Nathan A. and Celestia (Davis) John- son, the former a son of Moses and Christina Johnson. Moses Johnson was born in Vermont March 10, 1777, of English descent, his remote an- cestors having early settled in Vermont. Moses was a carpenter, joiner and farmer. He mar- ried, November 2, 1802, Christina Born, who was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., May 7, 1788. They located in Rochester, N. Y., at an early day, then moved to North Clarkson, N. v., and in 1836 removed to Branch coun- ty, Mich., where Mr. Johnson cultivated a farm of eighty acres and worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner. There Mrs. Johnson died August 2, 1842, and Mr. Johnson August 31, 1850, their remains being interred at Tak- onsha. They were the parents of the follow- 336 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ing children: Betsey, Polly, Sibbillah, Evean, Levina, Rachael, Margaret and Morgan (twins), Christina, Nathan A., George, and Moses, Jr. Nathan A. Johnson was born October 24, 1 8 19, in North Clarkson, N. Y. He became a carpenter and joiner and married, at Char- lotte, Mich., November 12, 1844, Celestia Davis, who was born at Pompey Hill, N. Y., a daughter of Stephen and Martha M. (An- drews) Davis. Stephen Davis was born April -. '799> in Rhode Island, of an old family who settled in New York state, and married there June 14, 1823. Stephen Davis settled, in 1838, in Benton township, Eaton county, Mich., where he lived on his farm of eighty acres, but died at Charlotte, Mich., May 30, '893, aged ninety-four years, a man of excel- lent character, and the father of the following children: Celestia, Marion, Oscar, Helen, Robert, Oron, Martha, Mary and Edgar. Edgar Davis was killed in Kentucky, in 1863, in a skirmish with the southern cavalry. After marriage Nathan A. Johnson and wife settled in Charlotte, Mich., and there passed their remaining days. Their children were Ernest A., Alice, Inez, Charles, Clive and Ethel (twins). Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were mem- bers of the Universalist church, but very lib- erally assisted all denominations in theirtown, building the Universalist church at Charlotte. He was for many years a prominent business man, owning a planing mill and lumber yard. He was deputy sheriff, but performed the du- ties of sheriff, and later was a member of the first town council. Fraternally he was a Ma- son, belonging to the lodge at Charlotte, and was a member of the Odd F"ellows' lodge of the same place. He was a man of excellent moral character, well known for his sterling worth, and died February 10, 1894, at Charlotte— his wife February 4, 1896, at Denver, Colo. Ernest A. Johnson received a good com- mon-school education in his youth, and later attended Myhew's Commercial college at Al- bion, Mich. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he has since followed. He came to Ohio in December, 1880, although he had previously worked at his trade in many states in the Union, including the far west. He married, December 22, 1880, Hattie Hartle, who was born in Stowe township. Summit county, July 25, 1855, a daughter of Lotan and Diana (Buel) Hartle. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson lived in Akron ti\e years, but have resided in Stowe township since. Both are members of the Disciples" church, in which Mr. Johnson is treasurer and Sunday-school teacher. In politics he is a republican and fraternally is an unaffiliating Odd Fellow. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson one daughter, Hazel B., was born I^ebruary 15. 1885, at Akron, Ohio. Mr. Johnson is a man of wide experience and has erected many busi- ness buildings, including the Legget school- house at Akron. He is a skillful workman and a man of unblemished character. ^T^OHN KEMERY, a prosperous farmer ■ and dairyman of Bath township. Sum- /• 1 mit county, Ohio, is a native of Wayne county, and was born March i, 1842. Daniel Kemery, father of subject, was born in Pennsylvania January 27, 1797, came to Ohio in 181 5, and followed farming in Wayne county until his death, February 7, 1850. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Su- sanna Yergin, was born in Huntingdon county. Pa., December 6, 1811, and died in Wayne county, Ohio, April 23, 1883. She was a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Coble* Yergin, who were born in Washington county. Pa., April 30, 1788, and June 21, 1791, were married in 1 809, and had born to them a fam- ily of two sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Yergin came to Ohio in 1816, settled in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 339 Wayne county, and here Mrs. Yergin died November 13, 1852. Mr. Yergin, who was a well-to-do farmer, died June i, 1856. Daniel and Susanna (Yergin) Kemery reared a family of five children, viz: Catherine, deceased wife of Benjamin Alman, of Bath township; David, a farmer, of Pekin, 111. ; Caroline, wife of J. Sheldon, of Richfield township. Summit coun- ty, Ohio; Samantha, married to Silas Paine, also of Richfield township, and John, the sub- ject of this notice. John Kemery, the subject, at the age of nine years, was brought from Wayne county to Summit county by his parents, who rented a farm in Richfield township, which he assist- ed in clearing up, and on which he lived until twenty-two years old. He then started in life for himself empty-handed, and worked as a farm hand until 1875, when he bought fifty acres of farm land in the same township, which he cultivated until 1881, when he sold out and came to Bath township and bought the 160-acre farm on which he now resides. Here he at first cleared off fifty acres, erected new buildings and has since developed from his original acreage one of the best farms in Bath township. April 20, 1865, John Kemery married Miss Mary Ann Peach, who was born August 14, 1842, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Eby) Peach, the former a native of Virginia, born in 1807, and the latter born in Lancaster county. Pa., January 15, 1806. David Peach early came to Ohio, was reared to farming in Bath township, Summit county, and died in March, 1 88 1, at the age of seventy-four years. Eliza- beth (Eby) Peach died October 23, 1886, when eighty-one years old. To David and Eliza- beth Peach were born five children, viz: Lydia, born October 5, 1832, died in 1851; Sarah, born April 20, 1836, died in 1855; Rachel, born March 15, 1838, died in 1847; John E., born June 21, 1840, died in 1853; and Mary 10 A., born August 14, 1842, now the wife of Mr. Kemery. John Eby, a brother of Mrs. Elizabeth Peach, was born in Lancaster coun- ty, Pa. , July 24, 1823, early came to Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, married Har- riet Spade, and had born to him two sons and two daughters, all still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Kemery was born one child, Melvin Or- lando, August 31, 1866. He married, Janu- ary 10, 1897, Mi.ss Anna Snyder, and now resides, with his wife, on the Kemery home- stead. Mr. Kemery is engaged in general farming and dairying, and has some of the best live stock in the county. His farm is nicely lo- cated about ten miles from Akron, while hi.s dwelling is built on land commanding a view of several towns in the near and far distance. In politics he is a republican, but has never been a seeker after office. He is of generous disposition, and freely contributes to the sup- port of school and church, and very highl\" esteemed in the community in which he lives. Mr. Kemery has been a devotee of the public school system of our nation. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Kemery are true Christians, are peo- ple of integrity and honor, and are a credit to their neighborhood. nx ILLIAM CLOYD JACOBS, M. D.. one of the most experienced physi- cians and surgeons of Akron, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Lima, Allen county, Febru- ary 26, 1840, a son of Thomas K. and Ann (Elder) Jacobs. William Jacobs, paternal grandfather of the doctor, was a native of eastern Pennsyl- vania, a son of a Revolutionary soldier, of Welsh descent, and was a horticulturist by vocation. He was married in his native state 340 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD to Mary Williams, late in life came to Ohio and died in Lima in 1848. Thomas K. Jacobs, father of the doctor, was born in Pennsylvania January 30, 18 12, there grew to manhood and married Miss Ann Elder. In 1835 he came to Ohio, and for a year worked at his trade of tailor in Ashland. In June, 1836, he settled in Lima, where for about three years he worked at his trade. He rapidly rose to prominence in his new home and in 1840 was elected treasurer of Allen county, and re-elected at intervals until he had served si.\ terms in that office; in 1859 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and was an incumbent of that office until the breaking out of the Civil war. He was an extensive dealer in real estate, and died, a greatly respected citizen, November 12, 1884. His wife, who was a daughter of Noah and Ann (Alexander) Elder, of Pennsylvania, bore him nine children, four of whom grew to mature years, viz: William C, our subject; Matilda, now Mrs. Henry A. Moore; Clara, wife of John Brotherton and Thomas K., a physician of Lima. Dr. William C. Jacobs attended the pub- lic schools in Lima until sixteen years of age, when, in 1856, he was appointed a cadet in the naval academy at Annapolis, Md., but in March, 1859, resigned and returned home for the purpose of studying medicine. After due preparatory study he was admitted to the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, from which he graduated March 3, 1862, and on April i, of the same year, was commissioned an acting assistant surgeon in the United States army. He was at once dispatched to Nashville, Tenn. , and served in the hospitals in and around that city until July following, when he was tem- porarily attached to the Twenty-first Kentucky regiment of infantry, was placed in charge of the medical department until August, and was then assigned as assistant surgeon to the Fourth Ohio cavalry, in which position he served until October i, when he was injured and returned home on leave of absence. While on this leave, he went before the board of medical examiners of the state of Ohio, was re-examined, and was commissioned surgeon of the Eighty-first Ohio volunteer infantry December 23, 1862, thus attaining the rank of surgeon before he was twenty-three years of age. He joined his regiment at Corinth, Miss., January 9, 1863, and served with it under Gen. Sherman in the campaign against Atlanta, in the march to the sea, and in the operations from Savannah, Ga., to Raleigh, N. C, and after the surrender of Lee and Johnson he was mustered out of the service July 21, 1865, at Camp Dennison, Ohio. In October, 1865, he settled in Akron, where he has since been in the active practice of his pro- fession, and now stands not only in its fore- most rank, but in point of service is the old- est practitioner in the city. Dr. Jacobs has twice been married. The first marriage was consummated September 10, 1863, with Miss Huldah M. Hill, daughter of Luther and Maria (Gibbs) Hill, of Piqua, Ohio. This union was blessed with one son, Harold H., who was born February 10, 1866; this young gentleman graduated from Amherst college in 1888, and from the Ohio Medical college in 1891, and is now associated with his father in practice. The second marriage of Dr. Jacobs took place March 6, 1895, to Mrs. Mary H. Wheeler, daughter of Sheldon and Harriet (Speers) Brown, of Akron. Dr. Jacobs is a member of the North- eastern Medical association, the Ohio State Medical society, the Mississippi Valley Medi- cal association, and the American Medical as- sociation, to all of which he is a valued con- tributor of medical articles, and through which he keeps fully posted in and abreast of every advance made in the science of medicine. He OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 3-tl is also a thirty-second degree Mason, and is, beside, a Knight of Pythias, and member of the G. A. R. and of the Lojal Legion. In politics he is a republican, and has three times been elected as a member of the Akron school board. ,>^OBERT B. JOHNSON, M. D., the I /^T eminent homeopathic physician and 1 . P accomplished surgeon of Ravenna, was born in Stark county, Ohio, No- vember 14, 1839, and is a son of John and Esther (Halloway) Johnson, of whom the former was born in Pennsylvania; the latter is a native of Ohio, and is of Virginian parent- age. Of the two sons and three daughters born to these parents, the following are still living: Dr. Robert B., Nathan W., of Alli- ance, Ohio, and Sarah H., wife of Isaac Scott, of Warsaw, Ind. Joseph Johnson, the paternal grandfather of the doctor, was a native of Fayette county, Pa. , was a farmer, came to Ohio in March, 1822, and cleared up a farm in Stark county. He was a gentleman of considerable note in his township, served as justice of the peace several years, was of a genial disposition, and died November 5, 1874, aged eighty-one years, lacking five days. Aaron Holloway, the doctor's maternal grandfather, was born in Virginia, and in 1805 came to Ohio with his father, Amos Holloway, they being among the first settlers of Lexing- ton township. Stark county. The wife of Amos Holloway bore the maiden name of Hephzibah Stanton, and was born on the island of Nantucket, Mass. , but when a young girl was taken by her parents to Campbell county, Va. , where she was married, and lived with her husband, near Lynchburg. Aaron Hollo- way lived in Stark county, Ohio, until about 1850, when he removed to Kosciusko county, Ind., where he expired, at the age of eighty years, in the Quaker faith. John Johnson, father of Dr. Robert B., one of a family of nine children, was brought by his parents to Ohio in 1822, and was reared to farming in Stark county from the age of seven years until manhood. He then married and cleared up a farm, rose to local prominence, and for several years was a trus- tee of Lexington (now Alliance) township, having first been active as a member of the whig party and later becoming a republican. He and wife were both of Quaker origin, but in later years united with the Christian church, in the faith of which Mr. Johnson died August 3, 1895, aged eighty years, four months and five days, and the widow died on the old homestead, July 10, 1897, aged sev- enty-eight years, three months and six days, greatly venerated by her neighbors for her amiability and consistent piety. Dr. Robert B. Johnson was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the district school and in the high school at Alliance. In 1866 he studied medicine in that city, and iu 1867 entered the Cleveland Homeopathic Med- ical college, from which he graduated in Feb- ruary, 1869 — but during the interval between his leaving the high school and his graduating in medicine he had taught school with marked success. In March, 1869, he came to Ra- venna, where he now stands at the head of his school of practice. November 19, 1861, Dr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Lilley, daughter of Ellis and Elizabeth (Phillips) Lilley, and this union has been blessed with seven children, viz: Esther Lilley, who died when but nine months old; Nellie Louise, who is single and is living with her parents: Thad- deus Lincoln, a practicing physician of Po- mona, Cal., and married to Miss Eva McCaul; George Darsey, who died August 27, 1893 — a 342 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD little over twenty-one years of age, and within one term of finishing his course as a student of medicine; Mary Elizabeth and Ruth Phebe, at home, and an infant that died unnamed. Dr. Robert B. and Mrs. Johnson are mem- bers of the Disciples' church, in which he has served as an elder for ten years. Fraternally the doctor is a member of Ravenna lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. P., and is also a member af the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a republican, and for two years has been a member of the school board. He has been a resident of Ra- venna for over twenty-eight years, and for twenty-six years has had his residence and of- fice in one — and only one — place, on West Main street. He and family hold a very high position in the social circles of Ravenna, and his professional skill has won for him a reputa- tion equaled by that of but a very few practi- tioners in the county. >-7*AMES JORDAN, the popular young ■ proprietor of the Ravenna livery and ^J sales stables, was born near Millwood, Knox county, Ohio, June 11, 1867, and is a son of George and Matilda (Gerrin- ger) Jordan, natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of two children — James, the subject of this memoir, and Mattie, the wife of H. Swigart, of Walhonding, Coshocton county, Ohio. His paternal grandfather was George Jordan, who came from the Keystone state in an early day and located near Gann, Knox county, Ohio, but died in Rochester, in Co- shocton county, the father of two children. The maternal grandfather of subject was of Ger- man descent, was a farmer, and died in his native state of Pennsylvania. George Jordan, the father of James Jor- dan, came to Ohio in his early manhood, bought land near Gann, Knox county, farmed there for several years, and there served as justice of the peace and also followed agricult- ural pursuits in Knox as well as Coshocton county, until his death in Rochester, in the faith of the Disciples' church, of which his wife was also a member. This lady, after the de- cease of Mr. Jordan, married again, and is now the wife of Harry Misskimmons. James Jordan, of this memoir, lived in Knox county until ten years of age, and was then taken by his parents to Coshocton county. He was reared a farmer and was educated in the district schools, lived at home until twenty years of age, and then came to Portage county. He here first worked on a farm for Coit Broth- ers for about twenty months, and next worked for Samuel Alford for a year. He then went to Aurora, and made butter for Will Eldridge for about a year, and then found employment as a carpenter for fourteen months, and then for a year was superintendent of a farm for Jeff Towns. In 1888 Mr. Jordan came to Ravenna and worked for several months in Bob Widder's livery stable, and then formed a partnership with Mrs. Poe in the same line of business, and so continued for two years. He then sold his interest in the concern and bought a livery barn on North Meridian street, but ten .months later sold this and bought his present popular place on Main street, near the Colum- bia hotel, and this he has successfully con- ducted for three years. January 28, 1894, Mr. Jordan was united in marriage with Mrs. Julia Poe, widow of Simpson Poe and daughter of Seth D. and Maria (Witherell) Norton, natives, respectively, of Ohio and New York state, and the parents of six children, of whom four are now living, viz: Adelaide, wife of George F. Nichols, of Mantua, Portage county; Julia, now Mrs. Jor- dan; Lilla, widow of N. P. Catlin, and Emma, wife of Edward Clearwater. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Jordan was Thuel Norton, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 343 of French descent; he was an early settler of Ohio, was a farmer and lumberman, was the father of a large family of children, and was accidentally killed by a horse in his old age. John Witherell, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Jordan, was a native of New York state_ lived principal!}' in Watertown until he came to Ohio in early manhood, was a tailor by trade, and died in Hiram, Portage county, in middle age. Seth D. Norton, father of Mrs. Jordan, was born in Akron, Ohio, was a lawyer by profes- sion, and passed the greater part of his life in Hiram and Garrettsville, Portage county, but his business was conducted chiefly in Ravenna, of which city he was mayor for several years. He was quite a politician, and at first was a republican, but was a democrat at the time of his death, which occurred in 1892, at the age of sixty-eight years, in the faith of the Disci- ples' church. His wife had passed away in 1888, at the same age and in the same faith. Mrs. Jordan was reared in Garrettsville until four years of age, and thereafter in Ravenna, where, for five years, she was a teacher in the public schools. In 1872 she was married to Simpson Poe, a member of a very prominent family. To this union was born one child — Stella, now the wife of John W. Williams. Mr. Poe was a liveryman, and died in 1887. After his decease, Mrs. Poe continued the business in partnership with her brother-in- law, George F. Nichols, beginning in the spring of 1888, and continuing for three years, then conducted it alone two years; since her mar- riage with Mr. Jordan, this gentleman has re- lieved her of business cares. Mrs. Jordan is a member of the Congregational church; Mr. Jordan is an Odd Fellow, and in politics is a republican. Both families are well connected, and Mr. and Mrs. Jordan enjoy to a marked degree the respect of a large circle of friends in both the city and county. ISAAC M. KELLEY, a highly respected citizen and thoroughly practical black- smith of Ravenna, Ohio, was born in Caledonia county, Vt., July 2, 1828, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Moore) Kel- ley, the former of whom was a native of Boston, Mass., and the latter of the state of Vermont, where their marriage took place, and who were the parents of seven daughters and three sons; of these ten children, three are still living, viz: Sophia, wife of William King, and Russell D. Kelley and Isaac M. Kelley, the last named being the subject of this bio- graphical notice. Isaac Kelley, father of subject, was also a blacksmith, and came from Barnet, Vt., in 1836, worked in Cortland, Trumbull county, Ohio, for six months, went thence to Tall- madge. Summit county, and worked about a year, and thence moved to Cuyahoga Falls, in the same county, where he found employment for another period of nearly twelve months. In 1838 he came to Ravenna, opened a shop on his own account and carried on his trade until his death, which occurred in 1S72 or 1873, at the age of seventy-seven years; a year or two later his wife died at the age of seventy-six, in the faith of the Baptist church. Mr. Kelley had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and for his services was awarded a land warrant for 160 acres of government land. In politics he was first a whig, but later became a democrat, yet never sought nor held public office. The death of his father took place in Boston, Mass. , and that of his wife's father in Vermont. The latter, Dr. William Moore, was a physician of some considerable note in the Green Mountain state, was of Scotch descent and had a family of seven children. Isaac M. Kellej', whose name opens this memoir, was eight years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents, and ten years old when they settled in Ravenna, and still remembers 344 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the aborigines, who then were offering their beaded moccasins and knick-knacks for sale on the streets of the city. He was educated in the Ravenna academy, and at the age of fifteen years began learning the blacksmith's trade under the instruction of his father — serving until he reached his majority. He then studied civil engineering, became quite expert in this science, and followed the profession two years, in the course of which he assisted in making the preliminary survey of the Atlantic & Great Western railroad — now of the Erie system. A part of the year 1849 Mr. Kelley lived in St. Paul, Minn., following his trade, and part of the same year in Little Falls, in the same state, and in 1850 lived in New Phil- adelphia, where he conducted a clothing store. Since then Ravenna has been his home. September 23, 1853, Mr. Kelley was mar- ried to Miss Amelia Adams, daughter of Capt. Hiram and Jerusha Adams, of Revenna, and this union has been blessed with four chil- dren, born in the following order: Helen Amelia, Fannie Louisa, Julia Sophia and May Elizabeth. Helen is married to George S. Payne; F"annie L. is the wife of Ed- ward Hattield, a lawyer of Cleveland, and is the mother of three children — Margaret Stone, Edward Kelley and Gertrude May; Julia S. is the widow of Edwin Bush, and resides with her parents. Mrs. Kelley and the chil- dren are all members of the Protestant Episco- pal church, are devotedly attached to its doc- trines, and strictly observe them in their daily walk through life. Mr. Kelley is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a Jeffer- sonian democrat. For three years he was chairman of the county central democratic committee, and for four years was postmaster of Ravenna under Grover Cleveland's first presidential term. He has lived to see I^a- venna grow from a mere village to its present status as a city, and during his long residence here has maintained a character for strict morality as a citizen and an invulnerable rep- utation for rectitude as a business man. (D ILES KING, of Green township. Summit county, and an ex-union soldier, was born in Hubbard, Trum- bull county. Ohio, April 13, 1831, and is of English descent. George Todd King, father of subject, was a native of Maryland, early came to Ohio, and in Youngstown married Mary Starr, the union resulting in the birth of the follow- ing children: Miles, the subject; Margaret, wife of Harry Norton; Mary A., wife of Charles Wood; George, who was a soldier in the Sixth Ohio cavalry, and was found dead in his tent in front of Petersburg, Va., having died from either rupture or heart disease; Le- ander, who spoke nine languages and was quar- termaster of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania ca\-- alry during the Civil war; Edgar, \\ho served in a volunteer infantry regiment from Hudson, Ohio, was captured and confined in Libby prison, and was finally killed in the disaster to the steamer Sultana on the Mississippi river; William went out with an infantry regi- ment from Kenton, Ohio. The father of this family was a substantial farmer of Mahoning county, Ohio, near the Trumbull county line, was a well known citizen, and died in August, 1885, a member of the old-line whig party, and his remains were interred in Lackawanna county. Pa., by his brothers; his wife died in Rootstown, Portage county, Ohio, in the same year and month. Miles King was reared on his father's farm, received a good common-school education, and enlisted at Goshen, Ohio, in August, 1 86 1, in the Sixth Ohio volunteer cavalry, and served three years and nine months, with Sheri- dan and Kilpatrick in the army of the Poto- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 345 mac, and fought at Fair Oaks, Little Rock, White House Landing, Cedar Creek, South Side, Weldon, second Bull Run, Petersburg, Richmond, and was in raids and skirmishes unnumbered — doing some of the hardest cav- alry fighting during the war. He was cap- tured but once, and succeeded in making his escape the same night. He received an honorable discharge at Point Lookout, Md., in the fall of 1865, when he returned home and resumed farming for a short time. For fifteen years Mr. King was an inmate of the Soldiers' Home, and during all that period never received a black mark. He was a brave and faithful soldier, and as a slight recognition of his services the government allows him a pension of $24 per month. He is a stalwart republican, a member of the G. A. R., and of the U. \. U., of Kenton, Ohio. He is a zealous member of the Exangelical associa- tion, and stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens and associates in all the walks of life. ,>^ L:RNARD KINNEY, the late well- Ir"^ known capitalist of Ravenna, Ohio, ^<^^^^ was born in Corracloona, county Leitrim, Ireland, June 24, 1830, and there married Miss Mary Gilbride. They came came together to America in 1H55, at once found a home in Ohio, and two years later permanently settled in Ravenna. He became a section boss on the Cleveland & Pittsburg railroad and held the position about fifteen years, and during this period opened a gro- cery and provision store in Ivavenna, which was carried on by members of his family until within four years of his retirement from his railroad work. He invested his surplus earn- ings in real estate, purchasing tracts of timber land, which he developed and improved, and also bought largely of city property in Raven- na, including the old State Bank building. For a long time he was agent for three of the more prominent Atlantic steamship companies, viz: The Cunard, the Williams & Guion and the Anchor. He erected several buildings in the city, including a grocery for his son, and was one of the most energetic business men that it was ever the good fortune of Ravenna to harbor within its limits. He was a devout Catholic and was a leading spirit in establish- ing and building up that church in Ravenna, and in this faith his wife is also an ardent be- liever, and in faithful adherence to it their children were strictly reared. These children numbered ten, as follows: James, who died July 7, 1892; Mary Ann (sister Cammillus, of the Ursuline convent, Toledo), died February 2, 1892; John and Catherine, deceased; Rose, who was a teacher in the school and organist in the Catholic church; Sarah, who died Sep- tember 10, 1883; Bernard, Thomas, Agnes and Charley. The father of this family died November 7, 1889, most deeply mourned by the surviving members of his family and an in- numerable host of truly warm-hearted friends. Since the lamented death of Mr. Kinney, the business has been carried on by his widow, assisted by her sons. Mrs. Kinney now owns the property at the corner of Main and Merid- ian streets, on which is situated the first bank building erected in Ravenna; also a two-story frame business building adjoining and two dwellings facing Meridian street; also houses on Bowery and Third streets. As a matter of history, it may be stated that the second-old- est building in Ravenna township was removed from its original site (where the ^Etna House now stands) to property owned by Mr. Kinne\', where it was used as a barn. This old build- ing was erected by Gen. John Campbell, who, at that time (18 12), occupied it as a hotel, which was known on account of its peculiar color as the old "Yellow House. " It has re- 346 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD cently been demolished, to make room for modern dwellings. And it may be further re- marked that Mr. Kinney was one of the stock- holders in the Hibernian Insurance company of Chicago, and lost, through the destructive conflagration of 1871, stock amounting to $5,000. The Kinney family to-day stand among the foremost citizens of Ravenna, and Mrs. Kinney may be cited as being one of the most intelligent business women of the county. ^"V'AMUEL KINSEY, one of the best- •^^^k" known farmers of Suffield township, K^^^_^ Portage county, Ohio, was born in Pennsylvania, October 7, 1831, a son of Samuel and Susan (Rhodamel) Kinsey, who came to Ohio in 1833 and located, first, on a farm at Osnaburg, Stark county, where they resided eight years, and then came to Portage county and purchased a farm on the road lead- ing from Suffield to Kent, on which our subject was reared from the age of ten years, and where he still resides. Samuel Kinsey, the father of subject, was also a native of the Keystone state, was reared a miller, but usually followed farming as a vo- cation. To his marriage with Susan Rho- damel there were born ten children, six of whom are still living, viz: Elias, John, Sam- uel, Jacob, Joel and Leonard. Mrs. Susan Kinsey was called from earth in 1856, and her husband followed her to the grave in i860 both dying in the faith of the Dunkard church. Samuel Kinsey, the subject, assisted on the home farm until he reached his twenty- fir-st year, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. In 1865 he took possession of the old homestead, and June 15, of the same year, was united in marriage with Miss Louise Rhodes, a daughter of David and Candace (Johnsonj Rhodes, and this union has been blessed with si.\ children, of whom four are still living, viz: Candace, wife of Charles Warner; Ellen, wife of William Brown; Alice, wife of Ira Snodgrass, of New Balti- more, and David S. , who still resides with his parents. Mrs. Louise Kinsey was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 11, 1840, her parents having come from their native state of Pennsylvania in 1835. They lived in Stark county until 1846, when they came to Portage county. Here the father, who was a shoe- maker by trade, engaged in farming and also worked a while in the potteries, and in his latter years became a dealer in live stock. He was twice married, and by his first wife was the father of one child, Sophie, who died but a few years ago; by his second wife, Can- dace Johnson, daughter of John and Catherine (Steffa) Johnson, he became the father of six children, five of whom are still living, viz: Henry, John, Herman, Louise (Mrs. Kinsey), and Catherine. The deceased child was named Edwin. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes in early life had been members of the Reformed church, but before his death Mr. Rhodes united with the Universalist church, and in this faith he passed away in 1 860, at the age of sixty-three years. Mrs. Rhodes became a Dunkard in her latter years, and died in this faith in March, 1889, when she had reached the ripe old age of eighty-six years and six months. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Kinsey was a native of England and attained the patriar- chal age of 100 years; the grandmother, who bore the maiden name of Steffa, was a native of Germany. These grandparents were early settlers of Stark county, were members of the Lutheran church, and had born to them ten children, all now deceased. Samuel Kinsey is a stanch republican in politics; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Kinsey is one of the most successful farmers of Suffield township. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 347 has been an upright citizen, and is justly hon- ored for his morahty, industry and hfe of un- selfish usefulness. OSCAR C. KIRN, the well-known me- chanical engineer and millwright of Akron, Ohio, has his office at the corner of Broadway and Church streets. Mr. Kirn established an office in Akron in 1892, and does all kinds of mechan- ical engineering, especially that pertaining to factory and mil! construction for cereals and textile fabrics. Among some of the leading plants he has constructed may be mentioned the Illinois River Paper compan3''s strawboard mill at Marseilles, 111., the Pearl Barley mill at Milwaukee, Wis., and the oat-meal mills at Buffalo, N. Y. , for Edward Ellsworth & Co. Mr. Kirn had been well trained to the business he now follows and for seventeen years he was in the employ of the Schumacher Milling com- pany of Akron and was chief supervisor of the construction of the plant uf that company. Oscar C. Kirn was born in .\kron, Ohio, February 9, 1857, and is a son of John M. and Catherine (Augne) Kirn, natives of Ger- many. John M. was a carpenter and builder, came to America a single man and was mar- ried in Akron. He rose to considerable local distinction as a citizen and republican and for some time served as a member of the school board, and died in 1878, a member of the I. O. O. F. ; his widow survived until June, 1895, when she, too, was laid to rest. Their family of nine children were born in the fol- lowing order: Rudolph, now deceased; Julia, wife of Fred Horix, of Akron; Cotilda, wife of Jacob Keller, also of Akron; Oscar C, the subject; Mary; Martin J., millwright; Ulysses G., millwright and draftsman; Walter F., bookkeeper, and Susie L. , wife of Dr. Charles E. Norris — all these being also residents of Akron. Oscar C. Kirn received a very good educa- tion in the public schools of Akron, which he attended until fifteen years of age, and then for a time was employed by a civil engineer. In 1875 he entered the employ of the Schu- macher Milliiig company, with whom he learned miliwrighting and mechanical engin- eering, and for seventeen years was one of the company's most trusted employees. The marriage of Mr. Kirn took place in December, 1881, to Miss Mary K. Fuchs, of Akron, and two children — William R. and Raymond O. — now add sunshine to the happj' family home at No. 237 Carroll street. The parents affiliate with the Universalist church, and fraternally Mr. Kirn is a member of Ato- lia lodge, K. of P. As a business man, Mr. Kirn has achieved a success but rarely met with by a man of his years, and this success in so complicated a business is entirely owing to his unusual skill, strict integrity and inces- sant industry, which have gained for him an unwonted degree of respect and confidence wherever he has had transactions. Mr. Kirn now manufactures special oat- meal machinery, and recently has furnished an oat-meal plant for John Inglis & Sons, at Leith, Scotland. Mr. Kirn has been verj' suc- cessful in his business career, and is one of the leading business men of the city of Akron. eETER KLINE is a native of Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, where he is still a respected tiller of the soil. His birth occurred May 7, 1844, and he is a son of George and Elibabeth (Yaker) Kline, natives of Germany, who settled in this township in 1830, and of whom detailed men- tion will be made further on. 348 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Peter Kline, the subject, received a good common-school education in his native town- ship, pursuing his studies until his eighteenth year, and then assisted on the home farm until he attained his majority, when he began a three years' apprenticeship at carpentering under John Pero. After serving the stipulated term, he engaged in the trade on his own ac- count for two years, when he married and re- sumed farming. His first marriage took place May 5, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Luly, daugh- ter of Henry and Margaret (Shaffer) Luly, to which union were born seven children, in the following order: Henry, Leonard, Frank, George, Lawrence, Annie and Rosa. Mrs. Elizabeth Kline passed away, at the age of forty- two years, April 29, 1889, in the faith of the Catholic church, and Mr. Kline was next married, November 29, 1892, to Miss Eliz- beth Green. This lady was born in Germany and came alone to the United States in 1874; she was employed, on her arrival, by a farmer, who resided near Mr. Kline's home, with whom she remained ten years, and then be- came Mrs. Ivline. The parents of Peter Kline were both born in Germany, and the parents of the mother of subject were Anthony and Elizabeth Yaker. The children born to George Kline and wife were five in number, viz: John C, Barbara, Peter (subject), John C. and George A. — Bar- bara being the wife of Adam Rothermal. The deceased child, Mrs. George Ley, died in 1895, at the age of fifty. On coming to America, Mr. Kline, with his then small family, settled in Suffield township, and being an industrious and thrifty farmer, acquired a comjietency. His death took place August 19, 1870, at the age of fifty-eight years, and that of his wife occurred April 17, 1889, when she was seventy- five years old. Both were devoutly pious and died in the faith of the Roman Catholic church, and both were greatly honored for their un- swerving purity of character and kind-heart- edness, Peter Kline is a democrat in politics and has been supervisor of his township for four years, and still holds the office. In religion he is a true Catholic. He has prospered in his vocation as a farmer, and as a citizen and neighbor is highly respected by all the resi- dents of his native township of Suffield. HLBERT A. KOHLER, M. D., one of the most successful physicians and surgeons of Akron, Ohio, with his office in rooms Nos. 18 and 19, Doyle block, was born in Juniata county. Pa., Sep- tember 12, 1863, a son of Andrew and Sarah (Fisher) Kohler, of German and English descent. Andrew Kohler, father of subject, was a miller by calling, but was engaged in general merchandising in Pennsylvania prior to com- ing to Akron in 1870. Here he engaged in the grocery trade until his death, which oc- curred in 1885, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a member of the Lutheran church, a Freemason and Odd Fellow, and had been a member of the Akron city council. There were born to him seven children, viz: Charles F. , a business man of Wabash, Ind. ; Maggie, wife of F. L. Deibolt, of Cleveland, Ohio; John F., a miner and prospector of Rossland, B. C. ; William, deceased; Albert A, the sub- ject of this biography; Warren A. , farmer and hardware merchant of Leesburg, Ind., and James L., a grocer of Akron, Ohio. Dr. Albert Kohler was educated in the public schools of Akron, also at Buchtel col- lege in the same city, and graduated from the latter in 1887; he then read medicine under Dr. Thomas McEbright, of Akron, and in the fall of 1887 entered the Western Reserve Medical college of Cleveland, from which he OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 349 graduated in 1890, and has since been en- gaged in active and successful practice in Akron, at the address given above. Dr. Kohler is a member of the Celsus club of Akron, also of Summit lodge. No. 50, I. O. O. P., and of McPherson lodge, No. 63, K. of P. He was married November 27, 1894, to Miss Alice C. Slade, daughter of William H. Slade, of Columbus, Ohio. The doctor has his residence at No. 1083 South Main street, and in this cheerful home he and his wife are surrounded by a circle of warm and admiring friends, who delight in making their social visits. The doctor is a progressive young practitioner who keeps constantly abreast of the advances made by his noble profession, and, beside attending to his long list of pa- tients, found time to serve the city as health officer from 1890 till July, 1S94. In politics, he is a democrat. >T^OHN W. KREIGHBAUM, a substan- M tial farmer, of Green township. Summit A 1 county, Ohio, is native here, was born on his father's farm February 18, 1843, and is of remote Pennsylvania-German de- scent. The grandfather of subject, who also bore the name of John W., was a native of Lan- caster county, Pa., and there married Christina Weaver, by whom he became the father of the following children: Jacob W. , John, George, Elizabeth, W. F. , Sarah, Daniel, Christina and Jonathan. In 181 5, Mr. Kreighbaum brought his family, as then constituted, to Ohio, and bought a farm of 280 acres in the wilderness of Green township, which farm is now owned by his grandson, our subject. He had but few neighbors in those pioneer days, excepting, perhaps, the Indians and wild ani- mals, but he was industrious and succeeded in clearing up a good farm, on which he passed the remainder of his life. He was an elder in in the first Lutheran church in Union Town, and in politics was a Jacksonian democrat. George Kreighbaum, father of the subject of this memoir, was born in Lancaster county. Pa., February 17, 181 3, and was consequently but two years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared on the home farm, receiving his education in the pioneer schools, and first married Sarah Spade, daughter of John Spade, also a pioneer from the Keystone state. This lady died in Springfield township. Summit county, leaving two children — John W. (subject) and William B. Mr. Kreigh- baum next married Mrs. Rebecca Brubaker, daughter of Jacob Dillier and widow of Samuel Brubaker. To this marriage were born two children — Jacob and Irvin. Mr. Kreighbaum was the owner of 140 acres of good farming land, was a democrat in politics, a highly re- spected citizen, and died November 18, 1889, in the faith of the Lutheran church. John W. Kreighbaum received his prelim- inary education in the district school, and at the age of nineteen years entered the Greens- burg academy, which he attended seven or eight terms. He then adopted teaching as a vocation and was very successful, but when he had taught two terms in one district and five terms in another, failing health warned him to relinquish the profession and to resume agricult- ural pursuits. April 9, 1866, Mr. Kreighbaum was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Brubaker, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, March 7, 1844, a daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Dillier) Brubaker, the former of whom was a carpenter and joiner and a son of Jacob Bru- baker, a pioneer of Ashland county from Penn- sylvania. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kreighbaum have been born two children, viz: Cordia G. , April 16, 1867 (died November 22, 1884), and Lloyd C. , who was born March 2. 350 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1878, and attended the graded school at Union Town, and has also attended Buchtel college, and is now a student at Eastman's Business college, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Mr. Kreighbaum has a well-improved farm of 1 36 acres, but resides on a one-acre lot near Lake, in order to be close to business and the post-office. In politics he is a stanch demo- crat, and has been justice of the peace of Greene township twenty-one years, and is also a notary public, having been commissioned by Gov. Bushnell. He is a member of Apollo lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M., and is also a Roj-al Arch Mason. In religion his wife affil- iates with the Reformed church, while Mr. Kreighbaum is a member of the Lutheran church, which he aids liberally to support. He is a very popular gentleman as well as a substantial citizen, and he and family are a credit to the township. Mrs. Kreighbaum is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and was born March 7, 1844, at Mohican. Her father was born in the Key- stone state. He was a sound democrat in politics and a true Methodist. He was a man who was ready to advance the public good. He was born in 181S and died December 19, 1848. The mother was also a native of Leb- anon, Pa., was born in 18 18, and died in March, 1874. Mrs. Kreighbaum's grandpar- ents, Jacob and Elizabeth Brubaker, were Pennsylvanians by birth, and the former a farmer by occupation, and to their marriage were born nine sons and four daughters. BRANK KUNKAL, a successful farmer and a greatly respected citizen of Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of Belgium, and was born September 13, 1825. His father, An- drew Kunkal, was a farmer by occupation, and to him and his wife, Mollie Kunkal, were born two children, of whom John died at the age of fifty years, the other being Frank, the subject of this biography. The mother was called from earth in 1838, at the age of forty-eight years, and the father in 1855, when sixty-three years old, both dying in the faith of the Roman Catholic church. Frank Kunkal was reared on his father's farm, received a fair common-school education, and in 1851 came to America in a sailing ves- sel, landing in the city of New York, where he remained one year, when he came to Ohio. F"or two years he lived in Cleveland, where he met and married Miss Elizabeth Moledore, a daughter of Dominic and Catherine (Oluch) Moledore, the ceremony being performed June 10, 1855, and the marriage resulting in the birth of eight children, viz: Henry, born Sep- tember 13, 1856; Mary, born November 29, 1859, and now the wife of B. Weideman; Frank, born Jul}-, 1862; Jacob, who was born December 18, 1863, and died June 22, 1881; Sylvester, born January 11, 1866; Barbara, now Mrs. John Beasler, born January 14, 1870; Clara, born October i,. 1872, and married to Lewis Rothermal, and Dora, born Ma}' 12, 1876. Mrs. Elizabeth (Moledore) Kunkal was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, January 12, 1835, where her father died in 1838 and her mother in 1843, both in the faith of the Catholic church and the parents of six chil- dren, four of whom died in childhood, the two survivors being Henry and Mrs. Kunkal. This lady left her native land in 1853 and came alone to America. For a short time she lived in Randolph, Portage county, Ohio, then went to Akron, Summit county, and then to Cleveland, where she worked as a domestic until met by and married to Mr. Kunkal at the date mentioned above. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Kun- kal came to Suffield township. Portage county, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 351 and bought the farm on which he still resides, and on which his children, named above, have been born and reared. The farm is located about one mile west of Suffield Center, and fifty rods east of Suffield station, on the Cleve- land, Canton & Southern railroad, and Mr. Kunkal has made it one of the most product- ive and profitable in the township, his long experience having made him an e.xpert agri- culturist, as everything about his premises clearly indicates. In politics he is a democrat and for two years has served as township su- pervisor, doing his duty well, faithfully and satisfactorily. He and family are members of St. Joseph Catholic church, and are among the most highly respected residents of Suffield township. eLI LEONARD, a prosperous and now retired farmer and prominent citizen of Franklin township. Portage county, Ohio, where he was born February 5, 1825, is a son of Sewell and Sally (Bettys) Leonard, natives of Massachusetts. His ma- ternal grandfather, Nathaniel Bettys, was an early settler of Tallmadge township, Summit county, Ohio, at a point now known as Bettys Corners. He was a captain in the war of 1812, was an influential citizen, and died on his farm at the greatly advanced age of ninety- four years. Sewell Leonard, father of subject, came to Ohio about the year 18 18, being then about twenty-five years of age, and, being a farmer, soon settled, after marriage, on a farm near Lake Brady, where his death occurred March 5, 1852, and that of his wife in 1880. They were the parents of six children, viz: Fred- erick, a farmer, who died at Nashville, Tenn., while serving as a soldier in a Michigan regi- ment of volunteers; Nathaniel, who has been a business man at Bellefontaine, Ohio, for many years; Eli, the subject of this biography; Ives, who resides in Akron, Ohio; Lyman, who was killed in a powder-mill explosion in Bedford, Ohio; and Roland, who died at the age of twenty-six years. Eli Leonard was reared a farmer and this has been his life-long calling. He was a filial son and took good care of his parents, who were both crippled, the father by disease and the mother by an accident to her buggy while attending a county fair, which accident caused her to use crutches for many years. Mr. Leonard was married, in Franklin township, April 14, 1859, to Miss Antoinette Bull, who was born in Shalersville, Ohio, in May, 1840, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Freeby) Bull. Her father, Samuel Bull, or, rather, Buell, as the name was originally spelled, was born in Berks county, Pa., June 11, 1809, a son of Samuel and Barbara (Godfrey) Bull, who settled in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1826, and were the parents of eleven children. Samuel, Jr., was married November 14, 1833, to Catherine, who was born in February, 1809, a daughter of George and Catherine (Ecker) Freeby, of Coventry, Ohio, and to this union were born six children, viz: Henry Austin, who was killed while serving in the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry; Maria, who was married to Elisha Smith, and died in Kent; George W. , a school-teacher and farmer, who died in Denver, Colo. ; Antoinette, now Mrs. Leonard; Marvin, who died in infancy; and Samuel, a farmer of Brimfield township. Port- age county. The father of this family died in 1886, a member of the Kent Methodist Epis- copal church, as was also his widow, who died December 14, 1896. To Eli and Antoinette (Bull) Leonard have been born three children, viz: Eva, June 28, i860, now the wife of Li- nus Meloney, of Kent; Addie, April 19, 1865, died March 28, 1884; George, born August 7, 1868, a business man of Canton, Ohio, mar- 35'J PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ried to Lou Johns, and the father of one child, Helen A. Mr. Leonard, who still owns his farm, has for the past six years lived in retirement in Kent, where he owns, also, a pleasant resi- dence property. In politics he has always been independent, voting as suited his judg- ment, and has never held any office excepting that of school director. Mrs. Leonard has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Kent since 1859, and has always been faithful in her devotions, as well as faith- ful as a wife and mother. <>^ ALPH H. LODGE, proprietor of Sil- I /«^ ver Lake park, one-half mile from l^P Cuyahoga Falls, and an honored and respected citizen, was born near this city August 3, 1830, a son of George A. and Rebecca (Smith) Lodge. George H. Lodge was born fifteen miles below Philadelphia, on the Delaware river, in New Jersey, was a mason and farmer, and married, in Philadelphia, Rebecca Smith, of that city, daughter of Ralph Smith, an exten- sive builder. In 1829 Mr. Lodge came to Ohio and settled in Stowe township, where he bought a farm and lived on it sixteen years. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he engaged in mercantile business, beside con- ducting an extensive market garden for many years and sold immense amounts of his vegetables in his own store. He finally re- turned to Cuyahoga Falls, retired, and died here in 1880, at the age of eighty years. In politics he was first a whig, but became a republican on the organization of this party. He was a man of high character and of great integrity. His children were Ralph H., Emma S., George, Mary, Cornelia and Caroline. The Lodge family descends from French stock, and the name was originally spelled DeLodge. The founder of the family in America came from England in the same ship with William Penn and settled on the Delaware river. The old homestead is still in the family name. Samuel Lodge, grandfather of our subject, married Abigail Horner, of New Jersey. Her parents were from Germany, and their children were Isaac, Hannah, Benjamin and Elizabeth, Samuel and George. Ralph H. Lodge received his education at the public schools and went to Cleveland with his father when he was sixteen years old and was engaged with him in the business of gar- dening, and conducted this business after his father retired. He married, April 7, 1870, at Cuyahoga Falls, Julia A. Plum, born Janu- ary 7, 1847, at Massillon, Ohio, a daughter of Henry and Nancy (North) Plum. Henry Plum was born October, 18 14, in Middletown, Conn., of English-Puritan an- cestry, who came from England early in the settlement of this country. The Norths were of the same stock. Henry Plum married in Middletown, Conn., and moved to Ohio about 1836-7, and settled at Monroe Falls, where he established a shoe business. He afterward moved to Cuyahoga Falls and engaged in the same business and afterward went to Massillon, Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile business as early as 1857 and conducted this business nearly forty years, when he retired. Fraternally, he is a Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Plum are both members of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Plum is trustee and steward. Politically he is a republican, and was one of the founders of the party in Ohio. His children are Mary, Wilbur, Charles (died an infant), Lucy, William R. , Julia A., Emma, Lillian, Rose and Carrie. William R. Plum, one of the sons, is an attorney at law in Chi- cago, was on Gen. Thomas' staff during the war as telegrapher and afterward graduated at Yale with high honors. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 353 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph H. Lodge settled, after marriage, in Cleveland, where they lived six years, and came to Summit county in April, 1865, rented land, farmed until January 10, 1875, then bought 135 acres of land, con- trolling Silver Lake, for the purpose of making a summer resort. To Mr. and Mrs. Lodge have been born Ballard, Lillian, William, George, Lewis, Evelyn Anna, Mabel, Laura, Julia (who died six years old) and Ralph H., Jr. Mrs. Lodge is a member of the Methodist church and in politics Mr. Lodge is a repub- lican. Silver Lake park is one of the most beau- tiful summer resorts in the state of Ohio. Mr. Lodge has spent thousands of dollars in or- namenting and beautifying the grounds and providing many attractions for pleasure seek- ers. The lake is about three-fourths of a mile long and the water is as clear and pure as crystal. It is known to be a mammoth spring or many springs combined in one. In places it reaches a depth of over forty feet. Its bottom is comprised of sand and it affords ex- cellent bathing facilities. Many bath houses are provided and also a toboggan slide into the lake. The lake is surrounded by gently slop- ing grounds, well wooded, and the scenery is charming and diversified. In addition to the natural forests of oak, chestnut and hickory, Mr. Lodge has set out a variety of shade trees which in twenty years have attained a large growth and are from one to two feet in diam- eter, but the luxuriant hard and soft maple predominate. Excellent bathing facilities for 200 persons are provided, with commodious private drying rooms. A fleet of about fifty row boats, an electric launch, and a steamer afford plenty of boating facilities for those who enjoy boating. The extensive groves make pleasant camping grounds and as many as 300 people have camped here at one time. Tents and floors are provided, if desired, and all nec- essary camp equipments. Plenty of clear and pure ice is in store for the use of the estab- lishment. Mr. Lodge has a large experience as a caterer to the public, and a talent for amusing the patrons of his place. Among these attractions is a menagerie including three elks from their native forest. The stag is a splendid specimen of this animal, with wide, branching antlers. Two bear-pits — twenty feet in diameter — with caves and subterranean passages and trees for climbing, give comfort to six glossy, black bears, who live here con- tentedly with their cubs. The bears breed and rear their young as in a state of nature — tv^felve of them have been born here. Foxes, raccoons, wolves and squirrels live here in the park as in their native wilds. A very valuable addition is the tiger, or jaguar, from South America. They are a delight to the children and a curiosity to grown people. For the past fifteen years the raising of gold-fish has been a prominent feature of the park — as many as 40,000 being raised in one year. There are also birds of prey, such as eagles, owls, etc. ; a large merry-go-round, purchased at an expense of $3,500 with panoramic views, is another great attraction. So is the shell bazaar and photographic establishment — pavilions, with tables for the picknickers; also shooting galler- ies and billiard tables add to the amusements. Several cottages, built of logs, with huge old- fashioned fire-places, are rented to patrons who wish to stay for a week or more. About fifty attendants are necessary to care for the guests and provide for them during the busj' season, and as many as 10,000 people have been entertained in one day. The charges are mere nominal for the use of the grounds and popular prices prevail. Take it all in all, it is one of the most attractive places of sum- mer resort in the west, and it is conducted in the most orderly manner. No liquor is sold in the place or in the township, neither 354 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD are any disorderly people allowed on the ground nor is the park open on Sunday. Three electric tracks connect the park closely with Cuyahoga Falls, Akron and Cleve- land. A fine base ball and bicycle track, with grand stand seating 400 persons, add- to the pleasure of the patrons. A fine brass band and concert orchestra were employed last season at an expense of $1,600, not including the board of the musicians. The lake and park together contain 2 1 5 acres of woodland and water and thirty-five buildings of impor- tance have been constructed within its limits. A fine water supply is furnished by a large windmill, with pump, -and large tank at an elevation of forty feet. This gives abundance of water for the guests, and in addition there is a large reservoir, supplying twenty drinking fountains. Mr. Lodge has now had twenty years of experience in his line, and, aided by his excellent wife and family, has created probably the finest pleasure resort existing to-day in Ohio. ^ M ENAS KENT, of Kent, Ohio, was, at Jj^P the time of his death, one of the old- M M est citizens of Portage county, and almost, if not quite, the last of the business men who became identified with it in its infancy. He descended from the old Puritan stock, — his father having been a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war — and was born in Middletown, Conn., July 12, 1786. His childhood and early manhood were passed in Leyden, Mass. His educational advantages were necessarily meager, being those only of the common school ; but, limited as they were, he improved them to the best advantage. The arithmetic that he studied, a copy of Adams' old work pub- lished in 1802, is in the possession of his son. Marvin. Upon a portion of the leaves, left blank for that purpose, Mr. Kent worked out and proved every example in the book. When a young man he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, the same that his father had fol- lowed. At the age of twenty-five he was united in marriage with Miss Pamelia Lewis, a native of Farmington, Conn. The father of Miss Lewis was a Revolutionary veteran, and also a car- penter and joiner. With these peculiar coin- cidences in their family history the destinies of this happy pair were united, and ne\er went apart until soon after the anniversar}- of their golden wedding, when they were severed by the death of Mrs. Kent, October 21,, 1862. In 1 81 2 the father of Mr. Kent emigrated to Ohio and located in Mantua, where he died at an advanced age. Young Zenas accom- panied the family to these western wilds, but soon afterward returned to the east for his wife, and, coming west again, settled in Hud- son, then a township of Portage county. At Hudson, he formed the acquaintance and se- cured the friendship of Capt. Heman Oviatt. He also, while there, built a tannery for Owen Brown, and taught school in "the winter sea- son. In the summer of 1815, Mr. Kent re- moved to Ravenna, and went into business, Capt. Oviatt furnishing the capital for that purpose. The captain always regarded Mr. Kent with peculiar interest and friendship, and years afterward, when he was a prosperous merchant, the captain would refer with great pride to the fact that he " sot him up." In commencing his mercantile career, Mr. Kent erected a wooden store building upon the site now occupied by the Second National bank, working upon it with his own hands. This building, which at once became a store and a dwelling, was some years afterward moved to the south side of Main street, and stands in what is known as Little's block. ZEN AS KENT DECEASED. MRS. ZEN AS KENT DECEASED. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 359 The store building finished, the firm of Oviatt & Kent commenced operations. The partner- ship terminated in a few years, when the junior of the firm was able to repay the capital so kindly advanced by his early friend. Once more Mr. Kent undertook a building enterprise after he commenced trade, the only diversion of the kind he allowed himself, for other parties, dur- ing his long mercantile career. In 1826 he took a contract to erect the present court- house in Ravenna. This building was then the architectural wonder of the surrounding coun- try. Mr. Kent's mercantile enterprise proved a grand success, and in energy and persever- ance found a rival only in that of the late Cy- rus Prentiss. With all its increased facilities and manifold advantages, the present day does not give us so great a development of the tact and enterprise that characterised the pioneer tradesman. " What heroism, what perils then, How true of heart and strong of hand, How earnest, resolute, the pioneer man." From 1 83 1 to 1850, Mr. Kent had a store in Hudson, which was known as that of Kent & Brewster. It did a very profitable busi- ness. In 1832 Mr. Kent, in company with David Ladd, purchased five or six hundred acres of land in the township of Franklin, em- bracing a water-power of the Cuyahoga river at that place. lu the same year he erected Kent's flouring-mill, which for the third of a century enjoyed the highest reputation. The first flour shipped from northern Ohio to Cleve- land went from this mill, via the Ohio canal. The connection of Mr. Ladd with this property was temporary, and Mr. Kent be- came sole proprietor. In 1836 he sold the entire property for $75,000 to the Franklin Land company, which afterward became the Franklin Silk company. After Mr. Kent bought out Mr. Ladd, he arranged with John Brown — afterwards of Osawatomie fame — to 11 carry on the tanning business, a tannery estab- lishment having been previously commenced. In 1837 Mr. Kent built the large brick block containing a hotel, stores, etc., near the eastern bank of the Cuyahoga. In the wind- ing up of the disastrous affairs of the silk com- pany in 1843, most of the original property found its way back into the hands of Mr. Kent. In 1845 Mr. Kent sold his stock of goods in Ravenna to his sons, Marvin and Charles H. Kent, and, after a successful career of thirty years, retired from active business. After a fifteen months' business in Ravenna, the firm of M. Kent & Co. sold out to S. A. & R. A. Gillette, who also purchased the large brick store building of Mr. Kent, Sr. Subsequently the property adjoining this store, used as a residence, was purchased by H. L. Day, and with this transaction terminated the mercan- tile business identification of Zenas Kent with Ravenna. In 1849 the Franklin Bank of Portage county was established, and Mr. Kent chosen its president. This position he held until 1864, when the bank closed its business, and in its place was organized the Kent National bank, of which Mr. Kent was made president, which place he occupied at the time of his death. In 1850 Mr. Kent commenced the erection of a cotton factory, at the same time built a fine dwelling house for his own occu- pancy. When the latter was completed, in 185 1, he removed to Franklin, where his finan- cial interests had all become centered. In the spring of 1853, Mr. Kent was chosen treasurer of the A. & G. W. R. R., which position he retained until May, 1854, when he resigned, and E. P. Brainerd became his successor, and held the office until 1864. In April, i860, having previously built a city mansion on Euclid avenue, he removed to Cleveland, and in November, 1864, Mrs. Kent having died on the 21st of the preceding 360 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD October, he returned to Franklin, the name having been changed to that of Kent, where he passed the remainder of his Hfe. Mr. Kent was not marked by any brilHant or dashing characteristics. He possessed good common sense, to which were added in- domitable will, native shrewdness, and unflag- ging energy, and, better than all, an inflexible integrity, which gave him the confidence of all with whom he had dealings. As a tradesman he was more methodical than speculative, and his devotion to his busi- ness was almost unparalleled, and his manage- ment always safe and prosperous. It is related of him, as a sample of his caution, that in the early days of his store-keeping he once re- fused twenty bushels of wheat for a pound of tea, fearing that the former would not replace the latter when a new purchase should be made. As illustrative of his industry, it may be stated that upon one occasion, when in New York city for the purpose of purchasing goods, a representative of a silk house called upon him at his hotel, at the usual hour of commencing business, to solicit his patronage. Mr. Kent replied: " If you expect to sell me goods, you must get up early in the morning. I bought all my silks before breakfast." As a specimen of the spirit of his integrity, it may also be stated that when the Franklin Silk company tendered him the presidency of their banking department Mr. Kent required them to place in his hands the means to re- deem their issues, saying that he would place his name upon no paper without having the power to protect it from dishonor. The ar- rangement was made. The disastrous history of the silk company is well known, but their paper was all redeemed, dollar for dollar. Mr. Kent's entire business life was a grand success, and he left behind him an estate es- timated to be worth fully $300,000. In personal appearance Mr. Kent was tall, remarkably erect, of graceful carriage and dig- nified mien. He was not so much given to sociability as many, but was nevertheless pleasant and agreeable in all of his relations. Though popular as a tradesman for his fair- ness and honesty, he formed few intimate friendships, and fawned upon no man. His very firmness caused him, at times, when his confidence was abused, or when an injury was done him, to resent it with impulsive im- petuosity; still malice was no part of his com- position. Underneath a natural dignity, bor- dering at times upon austerity, he carried a warm and sympathetic heart. He never for- got a kindness done him, and the few friend- ships he formed were retained until the last. His personal habits were remarkable. He never used tobacco or other stimulant, and for thirty years never had an hour's sickness. Mr. Kent was blessed with a family of thirteen children, nine of whom were living at the time of his death, and of whom four sur- vive at this time, viz: Marvin, Frances E., Emil}' K. and Amelia L. Mr. Kent died sud- denly at his residence at Kent on the 4th of October, 1865, in the eightieth year of his age. His remains were interred in Woodlawn cem- etery — Cleveland's beautiful city of the dead. In a lovely spot overshadowed by the cypress and the willow, by the side of the wife of his youth and the companion of his mature years and green old age, reposes all that death left of this noble man. EON. MARVIN KENT, retired cap- italist of Kent, Portage county, Ohio, projector and ex-president of the At- lantic & Great Western (now forming the four western divisions of the Erie) railroad, was born in Ravenna, Portage county, Sep- tember 21, 1 8 16, a son of Zenas and Pamelia (Lewis) Kent, both of Connecticut birth and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTlfeS." 361' of 'ante-RevohitionaTy descent^ — the father of each having borne arms in the struggle for American independence. Hon. Marvin Kent, whose name opens this memoir, passed his early years in his father's store and in attendance at Tallmadge academy, E. T. Sturtevant, A. M., principal, and at Claridon academy, under Rev. Sher- man B. Canfield. In his nineteenth year he was dispatched to Philadelphia and New York to purchase a stock of spring goods for his father, with instructions to rely on his own judgment as to his investments, and the sagac- ity he displayed on this mission was very grat- ifying to the parent. The year after attaining his majority he was admitted into partnership with his father at Franklin Mills, now Kent, but precarious health caused him early to re- linquish this business. He then assumed the management of the tannery built by his father for John Brown, of Osawatomie fame, and while thus engaged married Miss Maria Stew- art, daughter of Col. William Stewart. In 1844 he resumed mercantile pursuits, and at the same time became largely interested in the manufacture of flour, continuing in the latter for nearly twenty consecutive years. In the history of Portage county it is writ- ten: In the early days the pioneers devoted themselves to the task of building up a town on the Cuyahoga river with remarkable energy; not, however, until the various enterprises were taken hold of by the master hand of Marvin Kent did theories of progress put forward by the old settlers assume practical shape. In 1850, in connection with others, he erected and put in successful operation the ex- tensive window-glass factory at Franklin Mills, and the same year entered upon the most important enterprise of his life, which has se- cured to him a business reputation co-exten- sive with the inauguration and completion of a great public transportation route between the!' east' and \vest — devising and projecting' the Atlantic & Great Western railroad, de-' signed to connect the Erie with the Ohio &' Mississippi railroad, thus forming a grand trunk' line, with uniform gauge throughout, from New' York to St. Louis. In 185 1 the necessary' legislation was procured, but in order to se- cure the charter he was obliged to subscribe for the full amount of stock required by law for the organization of the company, as well as to indemnify some of the first board of directors for the payment of one share sub- scribed by each to render them eligible for elec- tion, which fact furnishes a significant ilUustra- tion of the want of faith in the success of an undertaking of that magnitude at that time. The organization of the new company was completed and Mr. Kent made its first pres- ident. The position he filled with a success characteristic of his great business tact, en- ergy and ability, until the final completion of the road in 1864, save an interval of about three years. On the 21st of June of that year, he had the proud satisfaction of looking back over many years of unremitting labor and anxiety at last crowned with success, and also of driving home the last spike in the last rail. In his maiden speech on that occasion, he re- ferred to the fact that on the fourth day of July, A. D. 1853, he broke ground for the new road by removing the first shovelful of earth with his own hands. There were none then to withhold from Mr. Kent a most generous compliment for the completion of this road, which, uniting the Erie and Ohio & Missis- sippi railways, formed a grand continental line from New York to St. Louis. A meeting was called, on the completion of the Atlantic & Great Western railroad, at Dayton, Ohio, June 21, 1864. President Marvin Kent an- nounced the object of the meeting and T. W. Kennard, William Reynold, president of the Pennsylvania and New York division of the 362 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD road; H. F. Sweetser, general superintendent, and Mr. Kent proceeded to lay the last rail; the ceremony of spiking was introduced with considerable merriment, Mr. Kennard driving the first spike in the last rail at four sturdy blows. Others followed in succession, one or two driving home in three, but the major por- tion from four to a dozen sledge-hammer strokes each. Those who participated in the ceremonies are included in the following list: T. W. Kennard, engineer, vice-president and general manager of the A. & G. W. railroad; Marvin Kent, president of the Ohio division; William Reynold, of Meadville, Pa., president of the New York and Pennsylvania division; Jacob Crall, Jacob Riblet and O. Beach, di- rectors of the A. & G. W. railroad; H. F. Sweetser, general superintendent; William Lee, superintendent of construction; James Reynold, track master; F. W. Commins, master machinist; J. W. Tyler, secretary of the Ohio company; D. C. Coolman, resident engineer; R. J. Dukes, assistant resident en- gineer; C. E. I^lakesley, secretary of the gen- eral manager; R. M. N. Taylor, general superintendent of the dining department; R. M. Shoemaker, vice-president of the Dayton & Michigan railroad; Lieut. -Governor Charles Anderson, of Ohio; Maj.-Gen. A. McD. Mc- Cook, Valentine Winters, T. A. Phillips, R. D. Phillips and W. D. Bickham, (editor and pro- prietor of Dayton Journal); S. S. L'Homme- dieu; president, John W. Ellis; vice-pres- ident; D. McLaren, superintendent; F. H. Short, secretary; C. H. Hill and George T. Steadman, William Becket and John Young, directors of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day- ton Railroad company; Gen. William H. Clement, president of the Little Miami Rail- road company; Joseph C. Butler, director; Hon. M. R. Wait, Toledo; William Rietsel, editor of the Western Reserve Chronicle, Warren, Trumbull county; Paul F. Nichol- son, correspondent of the New York World; George C. Harding, correspondent of the Cin- cinnati Commercial; I. C. Bollman, corres- pondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer. At ten o'clock, A. M., President Kent took the sledge and addressed the company briefly as follows: Gentlemen: Before proceeding to drive the last spike, I desire to call your attention to the fact that on the fourth of July, 1853, in company with several warm friends of this en- terprise, we proceeded to the line of this rail- way, and broke the first ground; and as I had the pleasure of removing the first earth, it is especially gratifying to me to be present on the occasion of laying the last rail and driving the last spike; but, before performing this last service, permit me to express my obligation to the gentlemen who have contributed so largely to the success of this enterprise; I al- lude to T. W. Kennard and James McHenry, Esqrs. ; those gentlemen, by their energy, their perseverance and great financial ability, have achieved the great end which we had in view, and had it not been for the success that at- tended their efforts in prosecuting this great work, we would not be assembled on an oc- casion so important and interesting as this. Before closing these remarks, I should do great injustice to one other gentleman by omitting to acknowledge my obligations for the valuable service he has rendered. I refer to my friend here, J. W. Tyler, Esq., who has been my confidential legal adviser from the incipi- ency of the project, and who has ever been a steadfast and efficient co-operator in this work — I desire, therefore, that he should drive the spike preceding the last, deeming it befitting that, having commenced the work together, we should together conclude it. After which Hon. J. W. Tyler made the following remarks: Gentlemen: However undeserving the compliment conferred upon me by Mr. Kent, the president of the company, I must proceed to the accomplishment of the work. But before doing so, allow me to say that the early friends of the road have a right to congratu- late themselves upon the final completion of this great enterprise, connecting the tide ■''m-- ■ ;■-?'-? ^>^ i-^t^ ^^kj7'-t^~i^-i'^' .^^ MRS. MARVIN KENT. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 367 waters of the Atlantic with the Mississippi river; particularly has Mr. Kent, who con- ceived the project, cause for congratulation. He, to my knowledge, in the fall of 1850, was the first man to trace the line of the road on the map, and, having fully satisfied himself of its importance, drew the charter under which the company is now acting and which passed the legislature verbatim as submitted by him. On his first report he suggested the name which the company now bears, a name which it must be admitted is at least eminently proper. At first the people along the line in Ohio acknowledged its importance, gave it encouragement, and subscribed largely to its stock. But financial difficulties coming on, they generally became discouraged, and but few friends adhered to the enterprise. I recog- nize some here to-day who have risked their fortunes and reputations on the accomplish- ments of the great enterprise, conspicuous among whom is Marvin Kent, who risked his own means and those of his relations. Those, indeed, were the dark days of the road, even portending utter night. At that critical juncture Mr. Kennard, arriving in this country from England, saw at once its great advantages and immediately made favorable representations to European capitalists, secur- ing James McHenry, of London, as financial operator and contractor of the great work; since which there have been no great difficul- ties in financial matters, nor in the comple- tion of the main line and all its tributary branches. May the friends of this road live to see the day when this cruel war is over and and the country restored to new life, that the west and her thriving cities may yearn for greater facilities than the lines now con- structed can furnish, and this road require its double track; then, and not until then, will be fully appreciated what has been accomplished by those who conceived and prosecuted to completion this immense artery in the com- mercial world. We hope to make, not many years hence, the first trip to San Francisco over this road and the Union Pacific. At the close of these remarks Mr. Tyler accepted the sledge, and with four sturdy whacks he sent home his spike. Only one. an Irish track layer (James Reynolds), had yet sent home a spike in three blows, but this was professional ; President Kent, with nervy grasp struck straight — one, two and three — and the welkin rang with applause. The work was well done, and the last rail of the Atlantic & Great Western was laid and the last spike driven to the head. The construction of this road encountered, perhaps, more obstacles and greater opposi- tion than any other in the country. Yet Mr. Kent showed himself equal to any and every emergency, and with heroic faith and one pur- pose, he made success possible and victory a verity. The Portage County Democrat (now the Ravenna Republican) of June 3, 1863, contained this truthful tribute: The location of the shops at Franklin Mills is doubtless due to the position and influence of Marvin Kent, Esq., the president of the road, who resides at that point. If any man ought to be gratified and benefited by the lo- cation of the shops it is President Kent. He was not only the friend of the road, but, if we are correctly informed, he originated the idea of its construction. In carrying forward this great improvement to its completion, he has toiled and struggled for over twelve years amid doubt and discouragement, amid jeers and sneers and obloquy. While others hesi- tated, he stood fast; when the faint-hearted turned aside, he persevered with unfaltering nerve and courage; when timid friends forsook, he succeeded in raising up other friends, and in attracting capital to this great work; and thus, with a patience, a courage, and assiduity, and unswerving fidelity to a single aim that reaches the point of real heroism, he has held on his way through twelve laborious years of fluctuations, vicissitudes and uncertainties, neglecting or abandoning his private busi- ness, pledging or imperiling, or at least casting into the hazard of success, his large private fortune, for the benefit of his cher- ished enterprise. And yet he has labored all this time without general appreciation, the select few more intimately associated in official 368 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD relations with iiiin only knowing and appre- ciating his trials and his toils. But it is time the man to whom more than to any other the bountry is indebted for this great and leading road should be understood and appreciated, for every man and every community benefited by the construction of this road owes to Marvin Kent a debt of gratitude. He is to be congrat- ulated on the success which the intelligence, the ability and the fi.xed and resolute purpose which he has brought to bear on the enterprise have accomplished. The Kent Saturday Bulletin, June 26, 1880, had the following complimentary article re- garding this great enterprise: The "Broad Gauge" is no more. Its name and local characteristics no longer exist, but it has a history that ought not to entirely perish from the earth. The real original pro- jector of the road was our own distinguished citizen, Marvin Kent. In 1850 he conceived and inaugurated the project of building the Atlantic & Great Western railway, designed to connect the Erie with the Ohio & Mississippi railroads, forming a grand trunk line of si.x feet uniform gauge from the city of New York to Saint Louis. March 10, 1851, the charter was secured, which required a special act of the legislature, as it was under the old constitution, and this was among the last thus granted, since which time all incorporated companies are organized under the general laws of Ohio. In order to save the charter, a paid-up subscription of $20,000 was required, which Mr. Kent himself took. At that time no one had sufficient faith in the enterprise and courage to take more than one share; this was required and taken by a sufficient number to render them eligible as directors. From that time on in the varied history of its construction it became a heroic struggle to "sink or swim " with Mr. Kent. He shouldered the responsibility and went bravely in. He lifted the first shovel of earth and drove the last spike, and between these two events twelve long years elapsed, and they were years of unfaltering nerve and cour- age and fidelity to a single aim and purpose on the part of Mr. Kent, and which alone was the secret which crowned the effort with complete success. The construction of the road and location of the shops at Kent means a village now of over 3,000 people full of energy, push and enterprise, giving employment to hundreds of people, and more than doubling the value of every rod of land within a mile of the cen- ter of the town, and in many cases the increase has been a hundred fold. Beside what it has done for us, the road with its connections be- came one of national importance. We quote an extract from an editorial in the New York Tribune of June 19, 1864. It says: By the completion of this enterprise, now assured, Cincinnati, Louisville, Saint Louis, etc. , will be brought into more direct and easy communication with our city, while Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis and nearly the whole of Ohio and Indiana have received a new and in many respects superior outlet to the seaboard. The value of the Erie railroad to its stock- holders and to our city is nearly doubled by it (the A. & G. W.) as the rapid and vast ap- preciation of its stock for the past year sufficient- ly indicates. Ultimately the rapidly growing states of the central gold mining region, but especially that of Arizona and the head springs of the Arkansas, the Rio Grande and the Gila, will reach us in good part over the Atlantic & Great Western railroad. This city could well afford to pay the entire cost of this work rather than do without it; yet we think less than $1,000,000 in all have been paid by New Yorkers toward its construction. The more urgent, then, is the duty of honoring those by whose forecast, faith, energy and public spirit so magnificent a result has been noiselessly and frugally achieved. Among the prominent coadjutors of Mr. Kent in the enterprise we may mention James McHenry and T. W. Kennard, of England; Henry A. Kent, Dr. W. S. Streator, Henry Doolittle, E. P. Brainard and William Rey- nolds. Mr. Kent was the first president of the company, but in the varying vicissitudes of its subsequent history he sustained to the road no official relations. As an investment for the original stockholders the road has not been a success. For the development of the country and as a servant of the people it has been eminently successful. By a recent sale of the road and change of ownership a RESIDENCE OF HON. MARVIN KENT, OF KENT, OHIO. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. sm complete re-organization of the company was the adopted policy, the most conspicuous of which was the change of name; the reduction of the " broad gauge " to the standard of the roads throughout the country, the present very efficient management, however, to be retained. Preparations for narrowing the road have been going on along the line for some months, and on Tuesday, June 22d, the appointed day, at four o'clock in the morning, three thousand men began work, and at 6:25 A. M. an en- gine was run from Kent to Akron, and at 8:25 an engine came in to Kent from the Cleveland & Pittsburg road. At 11:10 A. M., engine No. 134, John Bull engineer, came in with baggage car and coach, bearing Chief Engineer Latimer. At 11:30 A. M., regular train No. 7, from > the east arrived, only one hour late, regular time. In six hours the entire line from Levittsburg to Dayton was narrowed up — the shortest time was made on the section between Urbana and Dayton, being two hours and fifty-five seconds — ^and we close as we begun: The "broad gauge" is no more. Upon the successful completion of this road, Mr. Kent substantially retired from active business, to the enjoyment of private life. Upon the death of his father in 1865, he be- came his successor as president of the Kent National Bank, which position he has held ever since. In October, 1875, he was elected state senator from the Twenty-sixth district of Ohio, and he served his constituents for two years with credit and ability. Mr. Kent is a gentleman of varied experince and of varied business qualifications — equally capable as an engineer or as financial manager to conduct a great public work. He has remarkable tenac- ity of purpose, and once resolved as to the value of an enterprise, no ordinary obstacle can prevent him from carrying it out. He is a man of liberal views and generous impulses, and has, in a great variety of ways, aided in advancing the material welfare of those among whom he lives. He has been a generous pro- moter of every business enterprise in the city of Kent, which bears his name. There are enduring monuments of his public spirit on every hand in the community in which he lives, such as public and private edifices, business blocks, mills and factories, and about them all there is an evidence of permanency and dura- bility, of exactness in details, and adaptability to the uses designed. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kent have been born two children — Henry L., the elder, is now deceased, leaving a widow and two children: Ella Southwick, wifeof John W. Reed, and Grace Emily, wife of Charles E. Curtis. The younger son, William S., is vice- president of the Kent National bank. The city of Kent is named in honor of Marvin Kent, and is one of the most thriving towns of Por- tage county; and it may well be said that the names of both are imperishable. ^y-w»ILLIAM V. ALFORD, lecturer, of mm I Garrettsville, Ohio, is a representa- mjL^ tive of one of the pioneer families of Windham township. The fam- ily is of English origin, and the first members that came to America were among the early settlers of the Massachusetts colony. The history of the family can be traced back only to Elijah Alford, who was born in Massa- chusetts, and was there married in 1725. His son Elijah was born in the town of Becket, Mass., where he became a prominent dea- con in the Presbyterian church. He also became a member of the co ony which pur- chased the tract of land now forming Wind- ham township. He reared a family of seven children — Elijah, Oliver, Levi, Ruth, Sally, Anna, and Olive. In March, 181 1, Elijah and Oliver went to Ohio to prepare a home for the family, which followed later, traveling the entire dis- tance with an ox-team. After being several 370 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD weeks on the road they arrived at their jour- ney's end in July and began the erection of a dwelling. This was a log cabin and was the first house built in Windham township. A momument has since been erected to com- memorate the place. Of the children of Eli- jah Alford, mentioned above, Levi, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Becket, Mass., in 1789, and on April 6, 1 8 14, was married to Edna C. Conant, who was born October 8, 1795. After his mar- riage he settled on a farm in Windham town- ship, and followed the occupation of farming the remainder of his life. He was an energetic man, always taking an active interest in public improvements, and working for the welfare of the community in which he lived. His character was so well appreciated that he was elected to many local offices of trust and honor. He died February 12, 1869. His wife followed him January 23, 1873. Their children were Elizabeth Olive, who was born January 8, 1815, married Ly- man Wright, resided in Nelson township, and died in October, 1896; Rebecca E., now Mrs. Henry Palmer, a resident of Windham township; Sidney L. is now an inmate of the Odd Fellows' Home, at Cincinnati, but was a resident of Portage county; Samuel Newell lived in Putnam county, Ohio, and died in Leipsic; Edward lost his life October 23, 1836, at the age of eleven, being con- sumed in a burning building; Elijah resides on the homestead first occupied by the family in 181 1 ; Darius M., father of the subject of this sketch, and the youngest son, was born Au- gust 3, 1832. He still lives on the farm whei^ he was born. He married Cathaline Brewster, a lineal descendant of the Elder Brewster who was one of the Pilgrims who came to America in the Mayflower in 1620. In the line of descent she is of the eighth gen- eration. Mr. AlforH has followed the business of farming all his life. In the Civil war he was in the 100 days' service. He is an ardent supporter of the principles of the republi- can party, with which he has affiliated since its organization. William V. Alford, the subject of this sketch, is the only son of Darius M. and Cath- aline (Brewster) Alford who has lived to at- tain his majority. He was born October 7, 1858. From infancy to manhood his home was on the farm. His education was of the character usually received by boys in the coun- try. After leaving the common school he entered the high school in Garrettsville, from which he graduated in 1879. After leaving school he became a civil engineer. He fol- lowed this business for several years, being engaged in railroad work in many states. In 1887 he went to Central America as as- sistant engineer on the Nicaragua canal. He was engaged in this work for a period of one year, when he returned home and began the study of photography, in which branch of art he prosecuted his studies for four years, be- coming thoroughly proficient in the business. In the autumn of 1895 he again returned to Central America, this time to obtain photo- graphic views of its ancient ruins, its strange aboriginal peoples, and its grand and romantic scenery. Of these he obtained about 1,000 views. He crossed the country from ocean to ocean fourteen times between Panama and the Mexican boundary. He climbed eight of the highest volcanoes and examined their craters, and enjoyed the novelty of sleeping in three of them. Without doubt he was the first white to visit certain of the aboriginal tribes, and was fortunate in obtaining many photo- graphs of these people. In his journeys he nearly always traveled alone, except when accompanied by Indians. The last 400 miles of his journey was made on foot. In the latter part of 1896 he returned OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 373 home and has since given illustrated lectures before colleges in Ohio and Pennsylvania. These lectures are instructive and ought to encourage the scientist to pursue his investi- gations, to induce the ethnologist to enter into a deeper study of the races and tribes of men inhabiting that country, and to prove an in- centive to the arch^ologist to a more thor- ough research among the relics and monu- ments of that ancient Indian civilization whose glory long antedated the arrival of the Span- iards in Central America. Mr. Alford was married August 23, 1883, to Libbie Barnes, daughter of Peter and Julia (Stone) Barnes. She was born in Crawford county, Pa., on April 7, 1858. Her father was a native of New Jersey, an agriculturist in Crawford county. Pa., a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a republican in politics. Mrs. Barnes was from Erie, Pa. , They had a family of five children: William died in Crawford county, Pa., from wounds received in the Civil war. He was a member of a Pennsylvania regiment and became a vet- eran; Francis, died in Erie, Pa., in 1896; Emily married James Proctor, of Crawford county, Pa.; Joseph died in 1895. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Alford have been born three children: Carrie, born Sep- tember 27, 1885; Marguerite, born February 27, 1888; William Brewster, born November 24, 1891. Mr. Alford is a member of I. O. O. F., and Mrs. Alford is a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family live in Garrettsville, where they are numbered among its most respected citizens. •HE KENT COURIER was founded in 1886 by Charles H. Scott, who conducted the journal until April, 1 89 1, when William S. Kent assumed the business management, with J. G. Paxton as editor, and with the exception of three months this arrangement has existed until the present day. The Courier is a six-column eight-page paper, is all home print, and in politics is emphatically republican. It has a large circulation throughout Portage and ad- joining counties, an extensive advertising pat- ronage, is ably edited, and under the manage- ment of Mr. Kent has been financially suc- cessful. William S. Kent, son of Marvin and Maria (Stewart) Kent, whose biographies will be found on an adjacent page, was born in Ra- venna, Ohio, August 24, 1847. He was pri- marily educated in the schools of Kent, then attended the preparatory department of West- tern Reserve college at Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, and concluded his studies at the Polytechnic institute of Philadelphia, Pa. His first business venture was in the grocery tra'de at Kent ; his second was in the hardware trade, which business he disposed of in 1886 and engaged in the dry-goods trade until 1893, since when he has devoted his attention to the management of the Courier and to banking, being now vice-president of the Kent National bank, of which full mention is made in the bi- ography of Marvin Kent. William S. Kent was united in marriage October 9, 1875, with Miss Kittie, daughter of W. C. North, of Cleveland, but Mrs. Kent died May 28, 1886. As will easily be inferred, Mr. Kent is strongly republican in politics. eDWARD G. LEWIS, farmer and ex- soldier, is a native of Brimfield town- ship, Portage County, Ohio, where he still resides, and is a son of John and Alphena (Bassett) Lewis. The father was a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio when a young man, engaged in farming, and 374 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD to his marriage with Miss Bassett were born six children, of whom four are still living, viz: Hannah, wife of L. Edson; Frank, Edward G., the subject of this sketch, and William. The deceased were named Maria and Mary, and of these Marj- died in 1871. The father of this family died in December, 1882, but had been preceded to the grave by his wife, who died in May, 1881, aged seventy-six years, both being consistent members of the Congregational church. Edward G. Lewis was born July 21, 1839, was reared on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-two years went to Illinois, where he was at work on a farm when the Civil war broke forth, when he enlisted, No- vember 20, 1 86 1, in the Sixty-fourth Illinois volunteer infantry, and performed faithful serv- ice for four years. At the battle of Charlton, 1862, he was wounded in the side by a shot, which disabled him for a short time, but he veteranized in the same company and contin- ued in the service until long after the cessa- tion of hostilities. He then went to Missouri, where he remained until 1870, when he re- turned to his native township, farmed a year, then went to Indiana, and for twelve years was engaged in the lumber business, and then finally returned to Brimtield township and set- tled on his present farm. The marriage of Edward G. Lewis took place February 17, 1870, to Miss Amelia Fenn, who was born November lo, 1840, daughter of Gibe B. and Jane (Wakeman) Fenn, which union was blessed with one daughter — Nellie June— a bright young sten- ographic graduate, but who has been teaching school the past four years. The parents of Mrs. Lewis were both natives of Connecticut, and her mother was a daughter of John and Ruhamah (Goodsell) Wakeman. Mr. and Mrs. Fenn had born to them one other daugh- ter, Mabel, who was educated a physician and is now the widow of Dr. Robert King; a son» Berry Fenn, died in infancy. Gibe B. Fenn was a clock-case maker, was a faithful mem- ber of the Episcopal church, and died Decem- ber 29, 1893, at the age of eighty-five years, his estimable wife having died October 22, 1870, when sixty-three years of age. Archi- bald Fenn, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, was a native of Watertown, Litchfield county, Conn., and was one of the pioneers of Portage county, Ohio. To his marriage with Miss Mabel Beecher were born two children. Gibe B. and Julia. To the marriage of John Wake- man, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, with Miss Goodsell were born seventeen chil- dren, of whom sixteen were reared to matur- ity, viz: Medad, Gideon, Elihu, Orman, .Aus- tin, Uriah, Amelia, Ellen, Adelia, Ruhamah, Maria, Jane, Susan, Henry, Ellen and Me- dad, Jr. Edward G. Lewis is greatly respected for his splendid military record, and his civil life has been such as to place him high in the es- teem of the community in which he was born and in which he still lives. m ILLIAM H. LOVE, a rismg young attorney at law, of No. 168 South Main street, Akron, Ohio, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 2. 1865, a son of Washington and Sarah (Hamil- ton) Love, natives of the north of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish descent, and who came after marriage to the United States, early in the 'fifties, residing in Brooklyn until 1867, when they came to Ohio and settled at Salem, Co- lumbiana county, where the father still resides. He is a republican in his politics and has al- ways been active in local party affairs. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Love were born ten children, four of whom are dead. William H. Love, who was an infant' when OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 375 his parents settled in Salem, Ohio, was reared in that town and educated primarilj' in its dis- trict school. He next attended Mount Union college, and after graduating passed some four years in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and other parts of the west, prospecting and teaching school. Returning to Salem, he read law with Hon. J. A. Amber until admitted to the bar in June, 1893, when he opened an office for the practice of his profession in Leetonia, Columbi- ana county, Ohio, meeting with the most flatter- ing success in his private practice, and where he was elected solicitor of the town, in which ca- pacity he served until August, 1896, when he resigned his office to come to Akron, where he has also met with abundant success. In politics Mr. Love is a stanch republican, and in the fall campaign of 1896 took a very active part, making many eloquent speeches in advocacy of the principles of his party and materially aiding its success. Fraternally, Mr. Love is a member of K. O. T. M., No. 289. Mr. Love was united in marriage, in 1891, with Miss Ella Bawman, of Wooster, Ohio, and one child — Ralph A. — has blessed the happy union. The residence of the family is at No. 807 South High street. Mr. Love has made his mark as a lawyer, and it is only a matter of time as to when he will stand in the front rank of the Summit county bar, as he has already manifested a superior knowledge of the technicalities of the profession which he has chosen to be that of his life. *-|-» EWIS MELVIN LONG, sheriff of I r Portage county, Ohio, was born in I ^ Elkhart county, Ind. , June 17, 1849, a son of John and Lydia Ann (Frank) Long, natives of Pennsylvania. The father, who was a farmer, was twice married, and to the latter marriage there were born, beside the subject, three children, viz: David, in 1851; Jacob H., in 1853, and Eva L. , now Mrs. Lot B. James, in 1857. Both parents died in Van- dalia, Cass county, Mich. — the father in 1886 and the mother in 1896. Lewis M. Long was educated both in the common and high schools of Bristol, Elkhart county, Ind., and at Vandalia, Mich., and after finishing his education became a teleg- rapher. In 1872 he was given employment, as a substitute, by the Michigan Southern Rail- way company at Dowagiac, Mich., and for two years filled the places of "regulars," during their temporary absence from their posts of duty. He then came to Ohio and for a short time worked in the wholesale grocery store of W. P. Southworth & Co., on Ontario street. Cleveland. In 1880 he came to Suffield, Port- age county, and was employed by the C. , C. & S. Railroad company as station agent and operator, also served as mail messenger, and later became a retail coal dealer. The marriage of Mr. Long took place April 6, 1880, in Sufheld, to Miss Mary Creque, a native of the village, born November 4, 1862, and a daughter of Ferdinand and Anna E. Creque, natives, respectively, of France and Germany. Mr. Creque died in Suflield in 1869, and there his widow died in April, 1897. Mrs. Long was educated in the common schools of her native town and in the graded school at Marlborough, Stark county, and for a time was herself a school-teacher. Two children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Long, viz: Evalena, born April 18, 1883, and Mabel, born May 5, 1884, both in Suf- field, and both now attending the high school in Ravenna. In politics Mr. Long is an active republic- an, served for some time as constable in Suf- field, and in the fall of 1896 was elected sheriff of Portage county by a majority of 124 over his opponent, Thomas Griffith, of Cyclone, Paris township. Fraternally, he is a member 376 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of Mogadore lodge, No. 568, Knights of Pyth- ias; in religion he and family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Since residing in Ravenna, Mr. Long has se- cured many warm friends, and he and family enjoy the respect and society of the best peo- ple of the cit}-. (D ARK G. McCASLIN, eminent as an attorney at law in Kent, Ohio, was born in a log house near Mer- car, Pa., November 8, 1S51. He passed his boyhood days largely in Mercer and Lawrence counties, but extensive details of his life career will be given further on. Andrew McCaslin, grandfather of subject, was born in the north of Ireland, of Scottish ancestors. He came to the United States early in the year 1 800 and settled in Venango county. Pa., where he followed mercantile pur- suits and also owned and operated an iron fur- nace, was elected sheriff and was, in many other ways, closely identified with the official, industrial and moral progress of the county. George B. McCaslin, father of subject, was born in Venango ceunty, Pa. , was there reared to manhood and married Eliza J. Gray, a na- tive of the same county, and shortly after this event moved to Mercer county. In April, 1 86 1, although then forty-five years of age, he offered his services as a soldier to do battle for the preservation of the Union, which were ac- cepted, and he was mustered into company B, One Hundredth Pennsylvania volunteer infan- try (Otherwise known as the Roundhead regi- ment), and was sent to the front. He died in the service, and his remains lie interred in the National cemetery, at Le.xington, Ky. ; his widow now makes her home in Kent, Ohio. To George B. McCaslin and wife were born nine children, of whom eight lived to reach the years of maturity, viz: William, a farmer and contractor in the state of Washington; Mary, wife of Sylvester Preston, of Cuba, 111. ; Angle, married to L. D. Harris, of Omaha, Nebr. ; Josephine, married and residing in Stockton, Cal. ; Mark G., of this notice; Eliz- abeth; wife of C. L. Whitney, of Walla Walla, Wash. ; George A., a lawyer, who died in But- ler county. Pa. , and Lydia Muse, now dead. Mark G. McCaslin was educated in the public schools near his home and in the acad- eni}' at Sewickley, Pa. He next read law under Hon. Joseph N. McClure, at Sharon, Pa., and then entered the Ohio Union law college at Cleveland, from which he graduated in 1872, receiving the degree of B. L., and was admitted to the bar at Mercer, Mercer county. Pa., at the September term of court preceding his arrival at his majority, and at once entered upon the practice of the legal profession in Mercer and Butler counties. He was licensed to preach in 1877, graduated from the Drew Theological seminary at Madi- son, N. J., in 1882, receiving the degree of B. D., and for a time filled the Methodist pulpit at Linden, N. J., and in 1880 was ad- mitted to the East Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and thencefor- ward devoted his whole attention to the preaching of the gospel until 1884, having re- ceived the degree of B. S. from the Wes- leyan university of Bloomington, 111., on ex- amination; in 1884 he withdrew from the con- ference and resumed the practice of law at Colville, Stevens county, Wash. The same year he received the nomination by the repub- lican party for joint assemblyman to represent Stevens and Spokane counties in the legisla- ture, but, although he ran ahead of his ticket, was defeated by forty-nine votes. This de- feat was occasioned, beyond all doubt, by his strict adherence to the cause of temperance, in which he had always been an earnest worker, and could not be swerved from his convictions of right, even through the reward OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 377 of an elective office. In 1886 Mr. McCaslin returned to Ohio and settled in Kent, where he has since largely devoted his time to law practice, with most flattering success. Since 1 89 1 he has somewhat modified his political views and has affiliated with the prohibition- ists — although he has always been independ- ent and never bound by strictly party ties — and in 1893 was the prohibition candidate for secretary of state of Ohio. He has ever sought to do the right and to aid the weak, and although the work of reform has been slow, discouraging, attended with financial loss and at times with danger, he has never faltered in his adherence to the cause of hu- manity. When he left the republican party he was township chairman of the republican committee and a member of the county com- mittee for Portage county, and' naturally in the way of political preferment, and when it was known he was about to leave the party this fact was ably urged upon him, but feeling it to be his duty to help the little band of pro- hibitionists in their battle against what he re- garded as the arch enemy of humanity, and his country, he cast all political ambition and personal considerations behind him and united with a party whose success he recognized to be very far in the future, if it came in his day or generation, thus laying all hope of prefer- ment upon its altar. Mr. McCaslin was twice married; by his first wife he had two children, Nellie, who lives in the west, and Paul, who is a student at Buchtel college, and is a very brilliant and promising young man. May 15, 1 89 1, Mark G. McCaslin was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Bradrich, daughter of Rev. I. B. Brad- rich, of Columbus, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with three children — Wendell Phillips, Mark Donald, and Edith Louise, all of lovely personality. at H. McCONNELL, M. D., physi- cian and surgeon of Brimfield, Port- age county, Ohio, was born in Wash- ington county, Md., June 6, 1831, a son of John and Ellen (Moore) McConnell, both natives of Pennsylvania and of Scotch- Irish descent. James McConnell, father of the doctor, was a blacksmith by trade, but later became a farmer in his native state. He married Miss Ellen Moore in Pennsylvania, and eleven chil- dren were born to this union. The father of this family reached the advanced age of nine- ty-eight years, and the mother attained the extraordinary age of 10 1 years. Both were life-long members of the Presbyterian church, of which the father was an elder. Dr. McConnell received his preliminary education in the district schools of his native county, subsequently attended Florence acad- emy, in the same county, and Hopetown acad- emy in Beaver county. Pa. In 1853 he came to Ohio, and read medicine with Drs. Day & Willson for three years, and then entered Jef- ferson Medical college, of Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1857, and at once lo- cated in Bolivar, Ohio, where he practiced one year; he then removed to Stark county, where he practiced his profession for twenty years. After a seven months' service in a hospital at Louisville, Ky. , during the Civil war, he con- cluded to go west, and sold out, with the in- tention of settling in Kansas, but, on account of the advanced age of his parents, decided to remain in Ohio, and the same year located in Ravenna, Portage county, where he practiced one year, and then came to Brimfield. The doctor was united in marriage, Novem- ber 5, 1863, with Miss Savilla Royer, the union resulting in the birth of three children, viz: Carrie B., wife of Merritt Russell; Clar- ence L. and Estella. In politics the doctor is a republican, and fraternally is a Mason and a 378'. PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD member of various medical societies. Socially he and family stand very high, and he is as much respected in society as he is esteemed in professional circles. HNTHONY McFARLIN, one of the most highly respected agriculturists of Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, wasbornhere January 24, 1835. John McFarlin, father of the subject, was a native of Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y. , born July 27, 1805, and when a young boy was brought to Ohio by his parents, who located in Sharon, Medina county, at first, but in 18 19 came to Bath township. Summit county, and purchased 165 acres in the wilderness, which the elder Mr. McFarlin cleared up and im- proved with substantial buildings. Here John McFarlin grew to manhood and first married Miss Azubah Lowe, who was born in Canan- daigua county, N. Y. , and came to Bath township in 1830. To this marriage were born five children, viz: Anthony, Adeline, Emily, Eliza Jane and Harriet, of whom Anthony, the subject, is the only survivor, and is living on the old homestead. Mrs. McFarlin was called away October 1 1, 1862, and on October 13, 1863, Mr. McFarlin married Mrs. Elsie A. Swan, of Medina county, who bore him one child — Jessie E., born February 20, 1865, and died March 21, 1869. Mr. McFarlin was a thrifty farmer and a public-spirited citizen, and was elected to several positions of trust and honor, among which may be mentioned that of justice of the peace, which office he held many years. He was also twice elected county commissioner — first, in 1858, for three years, and again in 1864, for the same length of time, and was a member of the board when the present extensive infirmary buildings were erected. He died September 14, 1877, at the age of seventy-two years, honored as one of the best citizens Bath township ever had. Anthony McFarlin was educated in the dis- trict schools and reared to manhood on his father's farm, which he now owns. Novem- ber 15, i860, he married Miss Frances M. Hurd, the third child born to Asa and Sarah (Beebe) Hurd, her birth occurring March 25, 1840. To this union have been born three children, in the following order: Corinne, July 10, 1864 — now the wifeof Jason Sumner, a prosperous farmer of Bath township ; May A. , May 30, 1869, and John H., December 20, 1871 — both residing on the homestead. Mrs. McFarlin is an active member of the Disciples' church, at East Granger, and in polities Mr. McFarlin is a stanch republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Honest Abe Lincoln. He has twice been elected township trustee, is at present a member of the school board, and for fourteen years has been a member of the Summit County Agricultural association. He is an upright, honorable gentleman in every respect, and no one in the township is more highly esteemed. The old family homestead is situated on the highlands in the western part of the township and contains all modern improvements and up-to-date buildings, and is one of the best cultivated farms in Summit county. Mrs. Sumner has been a student at Hiram college and at Buchtel college, at Akron, Ohio. Miss May was educated in Buchtel col- lege and at the old time-honored college of Oberlin. John was a student at Hiram col- lege for three years. Mr. Hurd, the father of Mrs. McFarlin, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., and was reared to the life of a farmer. He emigrated to Ohio about 1835, and died at the age of seventy-two. Politically, he was a repub- lican. Mrs. Hurd, the mother, was also a native of New York. She died at the age of seventy-three. In religious faith the Hurds OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 379 were Baptists. There were only four chil- dren, three sons and one daughter, in the Hurd family, and three of the four are living. ISAAC MADLEM, one of the most sub- stantial farmers and respected citizens of Springfield township, is of German descent. His grandfather, Thomas Madlem, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., where he married and reared a family, later moving to Lake township. Stark county, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was a leader in the German Lu- theran church, and a Jacksonian democrat in politics. The subject's father, George Mad- lem, was born in Lancaster county. Pa. He received a common-school education and mar- ried Catherine Hocker, who was born in that county in April, 1817. To Thomas Madlem and wife were born the following children: John, Isaac, Lena, Daniel, William, George, Susannah and Sarah. George Madlem moved to Stark county, Ohio, and after a few years' residence there located in Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, where their permanent home was made, the father dying at the age of forty-one years. The mother is still living at a hale old age. Their pioneer days were full of privations and hardships of which the present generation have little or no concep- tion, but they endured and braved all, and were fairly successful in the end. The father was engaged in the woolen manufacturing business, and was highly regarded as a man and as a citizen in the community in which he lived. He was a democrat in politics, and a member of the Reformed church. At his death the widow was left with four children, whom she reared as best she could, giving them the advantages of the rather limited common-school system of that day. Isaac Madlem, the subject, was born in Lancaster county. Pa., October 7, 1841. He was nine years of age when his parents moved to Portage county. He remained on the farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he was bound out to the carpenter trade, in which he became a competent craftsman, engaging in the same for two years before the war and for eight or nine years after his service in the army. Since retiring from his trade he has lived on his present farm. On September 30, 1 86 1, he enlisted in company G, Twenty- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served through the war, being mustered out July 13, 1865. He was a participant in some of the most notable engagements of the war. His regiment was engaged in Pennsylvania, Mary- land, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, New York and Indiana, and saw some very hard service, being in the main line of battle at Cedar Mountain and Chancellors- ville, where heavy loss was sustained by the regiment. At Gettysburg this regiment was in the right wing of battle and suffered heavily. At Gulp's Hill it was in the main line and met a heavy loss, and also at Buzzard's Roost, Ga. , where carelessness resulted in a large and unnecessary loss to the regiment. It saw service at the battle of Lookout Mountain, was in the campaign before Atlanta and marched with Sherman to the sea, and was distinguished as one of the finest in that host. Mr. Madlem was appointed corporal July i, 1864, and on the 23d of the same month was promoted to the position of sergeant. He is now a member of Hill post. No. 218, G. A. R. On November 12, 1865, Mr. Madlem was married to Catharine Royer, who was born June 15. 1846, the daughter of John and Hettie (Royer) Royer, both natives of Lancas- ter county. Pa., the former being born No- vember 12, 1808, and the latter January 3, 1809. John and Hettie Royer were married 380 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in that county and afterward moved to Stark county, Ohio, where they settled on a fine farm, which they improved highly. They were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, Martha, Maria, Daniel, Sarah, Catherine, Leah and Salina. Mr. Royer was an old-line whig, afterward a republican. Joseph Royer, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Madlem, was a native of Lancaster county. Pa., was an agriculturist, and he and wife were devoted members of the German Baptist church. He was one of the earliest advocates of republicanism. His death took place Feb- ruary 1 1, 1890, at the age of eighty-two years, two months and twenty-six days, and the in- terment of his remains was made February 14. His wife was also a native of the Keystone state, and died July 13, 1891, aged eighty-two years, six months and ten days, her interment taking place July 15. To Mr. and Mrs. Madlem were born the following children: C. Etta, wife of Alvin Wearstler, and residing on the Madlem home- stead; EmmaB., wife of Gustus Mishler, of Springfield township; and Dora May, at home and attending school. After their marriage they lived in Portage county for six years, and then moved to Spring- field township, buying their present farm of sixty-six acres, the larger part of which is well improved, and on which there are very valua- ble deposits of fine potter's clay. These clay banks, covering about thirty-five acres, have been developed until at present Mr. Madlem is taking out about 3,000 tons per year. He is a stanch republican politically, and cast his first presidential vote for " Honest Abe," and takes an active part in the affairs of his party in this county. Officially Mr. Madlem has been director of the schools of his district for years. He was township trustee for one year, and also treasurer of his township for three years. His wife is a member of the German Baptist Brethren church, and is a great help in that body. They are well-known and highly respected people. <>^ETER LEPPER, a wealthy and hon- 1^ M ored citizen of Springfield township, ^ Summit county, Ohio, and a success- ful farmer and live-stock raiser, and a self-made man of business, was born in Mil- ton township, Trumbull (now Mahoning) coun- ty, Ohio, October 7, 1826, and is a son of John A. and Magdalena (Stine) Lepper, of whom mention will be made in full toward the close of this biography. At the age of three years, Peter Lepper was taken by his parents to Suffield township, Portage county, where, his parents being in somewhat indigent circumstances, and the country covered with forest growth, he began, at the age of twelve years, to make his own living by chopping wood and by assisting the neighbors in clearing up their lands. He next engaged as a driver for a canal-boat for three summers, and in 1840 went on the Mississippi river as a cabin boy, and in the fall returned to Suffield township, where he attended school three months, and in the spring of 1841 re- engaged in boating on the canal, as bowsman, under Capt. Woodard, filling the position throughout the summer. Being yet a boy, he thought himself fortunate when he had ac- cumulated sufficient cash to buy himself an ax and saw, which he took to what is now the city of Akron, and for two years went from house to house, sawing and chopping cord wood, and in this way earned enough money to pay for a two-horse team, and for two years en- gaged in general hauling. In 1845 he sold his team and for the following two years employed himself in peddling groceries, cigars, etc. About this time an elder sister started a gro- cery store in Suffield, and induced Mr. Lepper C-<3^;^^feI^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 385 to form a partnership with her, he to do the purchasing, in conjunction with his peddling, and she to manage the store. In 1847 Mr. Lepper bought a tract of forty-seven acres in Suffield township, ad- jacent to twenty-six acres owned by his parents, who, however, were well advanced in years and their property under mortgage. The son began cultivating his land, and also made an agreement with his parents, conditional on the transfer of their property to himself, to re- lease the mortgage and to care for the par- ents the remainder of their existence — condi- tions he faithfully complied with, clothing them and providing them with every neces- sary until their decease. Mr. Lepper con- tinued farming, also dealing extensively in live stock, in Suffield township, until 1855, in the meantime marrying, May 20, 1848, at Hartsville, Stark county, Miss Catherine Sausaman, daughter of Isaac and Catherine (Jarrett) Sausaman, the union being blessed with seven children, viz: John H., who is conducting a large grocery in Brittain, Summit county, and is married to Miss Anna Kling, daughter of George Kling; Louisa, still at home; B. Frank, unmarried and proprietor of a large sheep range in Montana; Margaret A. , wife of Henry Swartz, a farmer of Edin- burg. Portage county, Ohio; Mary Elizabeth and Jefferson, twins, Jefferson having been twice married — the first time to Ollie Smith, daughter of Orren Smith, but who died January i, 1890, the mother of one son; his second marriage was to Maria Adams, daugh- ter of Horace Adams; Catherine is the wife of Frederick Hawk, who resides on a farm be- longing to Mr. Lepper, in Brimfield township, Portage county. Mr. Lepper, while still a resident of Suffield township, in addition to farming and stockraising, also ran a threshing machine for fourteen years, and after a residence in that 12 township of nearly forty years came to Springfield township in 1869, and purchased the farm of 255 acres, then known as the Philip Kramer farm, and situated on the road running from Mogadore to Akron, and now one of the finest farms in the county. Here Mr. Lepper has lived ever since, and has princi- pally but not entirely devoted his attention to general farming and sheep raising, and is to- day one of the largest shippers of stock in this section of the country. For twenty-five years he has handled farm machinery and agricult- ural implements, and for many years has been a member of the Agricultural society, of which he has served as president, director and superintendent of stock. In politics Mr. Lepper is a tariff democrat, and in the affairs of his party takes an active interest, and, although not an office seeker, has filled, as a matter of public duty, several important local offices, such as township trustee and assessor of Suffield township, and in 1890 was elected real estate appraiser of Springfield township, and has been a member of the school board for many years. He is a member of the Reformed church of Suffield, and while a resident there filled the office of deacon. In this faith his wife died July 9, 1896, her death being a sad blow to himself and the surviving members of the family. She was a loving wife, a kind mother, a true Christian, and a woman possessed of many rare virtues. Their daughter, Louisa, is now managing the household for her father, and manages it well. The parents of Peter Lepper were natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. John A. Lepper, the father, was born in June, 1779, was a miller by trade, and married, in 1803, Miss Mary Magdalen Stine, who was born in April, 1780, a daughter of Henry and Louisa (Von Writtenhousen) Stine. To John A. and wife were born the following children, of 386 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD whom Peter Lepper is the only survivor and the only one born in America. The deceased were Elizabeth, who died an infant on the ocean; Adam, died at the age of seven years in New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio; Philip, who owned a farm in Missouri, was shot dead in the Civil war, in 1864, at the age of fifty-one years; Goodhart died, at the age of fifty-two years, ten months and twenty- one days, January 11, 1865; Catherine died the wife of Joseph Crase; Louisa, the wife of Philip Hommel, died in Germany in 1893. On the eve of embarkation of the Lepper family from the port of Bremen, Germany, after the passage to America was paid, which amounted to about $510, and whilst the colony of emigrants were waiting, a man by the name of Philip Damm found a bullet, about the size of a small walnut, in the street, and gave it to the third child of the Leppers, Philip by name, who, boy like, attached a string to the bullet and was swinging it in a circle, when the string broke, and the bullet flew at a tangent and crashed into a large mirror, valued at $400. This was unfortunate for Mr. Lepper; the company owning the building imme- diately attached the passage money, which caused great consternation in the minds of the family, for Mr. Lepper had determined to come to free America. The pieces of the mir- ror were gathered up and many of the colonists purchased pieces, paying a goodly sum, which greatly aided Mr. Lepper in liquidating the damage, but the balance yet amounted to over $200. The family were in a peculiar condition. The captain of the outgoing vessel had taken a liking to Mr. Lepper, since he was an educated German, and would have been very useful on board, should an insurrection arise during the voyage. He however said to Mr. Lepper, ' ' Sir, I am very sorry for your mishap, but I cannot take you at all, unless the balance of your passage is made up and you will be compelled to remain." The old gentleman said — "No, sir; I am going to America," and seeing the decision and candor in the person of Lepper, he said, "Come back in a few days and I will decide whether I will take you across, and upon what conditions." Upon the the return of Mr. Lepper, the captain said, "Lepper I will take you to America with this understanding, hard as it may seem to you — that upon the arrival of our vessel at Balti- more, you and family be placed on the block and be sold for the balance of the passage money." Mr. Lepper immediately answered — "I accept the proposition," and when the ship reported at Baltimore, the sale of a family for passage across the Atlantic was promulgated through the streets, and the daughter Catha- rine, a maiden of fourteen years of age, was put up and sold at the stipulated price, to re- main in a family till her majority, twenty-one years of age, the family then resuming their westward bound trip to Northumberland county. Pa. , where the father soon secured em- ployment in his trade, that of a miller. The people were in great sy mpathy with the Leppers, so a subscription was taken up, the requisite amount raised and a messenger sent to Balti- more to secure the release of the daughter, but he being a villain and a dishonest man, hypoth- ecated the money. Another subscription was taken and a citizen and merchant of the village was then delegated to Baltimore to bring the daughter Catharine home, which was accom- plished to the delight and unsurpassable joy of the family. This incident is presented to show the determined will of the Leppers, which is still apparent in the life of Summit county's honored citizen, Peter Lepper of this sketch. The family reached America in 18 19, be- ing ninety-one days on the water, during forty-one of which they never saw daylight, and at the termination of this tempestuous voyage disembarked at the port of Baltimore, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 387 Md., whence they went direct to Northumber- land county, Pa. , where the father followed mill- ing three years, and then came to Ohio with his family. Here for three years he followed his trade in New Lisbon, then at Milton one year, and then for one year at Tinker's creek, near Cleveland; he next came to Akron, worked two years, then came to Springfield township and worked one year at Millheim, and then bought twenty-six acres of land in Suffield township, and also took charge of the Ran- dolph flouring-mill, his family working the farm until it was transferred to his son Peter, as mentioned in a preceding paragraph. At the age of seventy years he retired from active work, and died at the home of Peter, in Suf- field township, December ii, 1868, a faithful member of the Lutheran church. His widow survived until December 11, 1871, when she passed away in the same faith, also at the home of her son Peter, who had come to Springfield township. John A. Lepper, grandfather of Peter Lep- per, our subject, was also a native of Hesse- Darmstadt, was a miller, and was the father of eleven children, of whom three served in the German army — John A., father of Peter, having enlisted at the age of fourteen years and serving ten years, and John and Anthony, who were members of the same regiment with John A., and who were both killed on the field of battle. Henry Stine, maternal grandfather of Peter Lepper, was also born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, was a sutler, a wealthy man, and to his marriage with Miss Louisa von Written- housen were born four children, of whom Mrs. Lepper was the eldest; the others were named Catherine, Margaret and Goodhart. Isaac Sausaman, father of Mrs. Peter Lep- per, was born in Union county, Pa., was a sad- dler by trade, and on coming to Ohio, about 1842, located in Union township. Stark county. where he followed his trade many years, and then purchased twelve acres of land in Suffield, Portage county, where he passed the remain- der of his life. To his marriage with Miss Cath- erine Jarrett, daughter of John Jarrett, were born nine children, of whom four are still liv- ing, viz: Henry and Frederick, twins, residing in Fulton county, Ind. ; Amelia, wife of Joseph Dickerhoof, of Akron, Fulton county, Ind., and Isaac, of Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio. The deceased were named John; Dan- iel; Esther, who was married to Aultman Hein- man; Lydia, who died in Indiana, the wife of David Long, and Mrs. Peter Lepper, who was born September 25, 181 8, and died at the date mentioned above. Peter Lepper has done an immense amount of work toward the development of Springfield township, morally and temporally, and has given a helping hand to many of his less fortu- nate fellow-citizens. A man of most generous impulses, he has lost thousands upon thousands of dollars in saving others from ruin, or in helping them to repair their shattered fortunes, although he was but a poor boy himself when he began his business career, becoming through his own industry, sagacity and temperate life one of the wealthiest men in the county. He has given, and will yet give, with an open hand and cheerful heart, to those in distress, and the people of Springfield may well feel proud, as well as grateful, that they have in their midst so munificent a philanthropist. ^V^ ENJAMIN F. MANDERBACH, chief l/"^ of the Akron, Ohio, fire department, J^^J was born in New Berlin, Stark county, Ohio, January i, 1844, and is a son of Jacob and Anna (Davis) Manderbach. The earliest paternal ancestor of whom the subject has any knowledge was his great- grandfather, who was stolen by gypsies in 388 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Germany, brought to America, and reared to manhood in Lancaster county, Pa. Martin Manderbach, grandfather of subject, was born in the county named, and there died. His son Jacob, father of subject, was born in the same county in December, 1816, came to Ohio in 1842, and kept a hotel in New Ber- lin, Stark county, and later at Union Town, in the same county, until the breaking out of the late Civil war, when he engaged in distill- ing, an occupation he followed until 1865. He then came to Akron with his son Benjamin F., and was here engaged in the flour and feed trade, under the firm name of Manderbach & Son, for fourteen years, when he retired. Of his four children two still survive — Benjamin F. , the subject, and Hattie E. , the wife of William H. Miller. Benjamin F. Manderbach was reared in New Berlin and Union Town, Ohio, attending public school until about seventeen years old, when he enlisted, September 30, 1861, in company G. Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and was discharged in December, 1863, to veteranize in the same regiment. He par- ticipated in the first battle of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Va, , and Gettysburg, and was then transferred to the western army, where he took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Dug Gap, Resaca, Pine Knob, Dallas, New Hope Church and Kenesaw Mountain, and in the last named was wounded in the head, June 27, 1864. He was a brave, faithful and true soldier, was pro- moted from private to corporal and to first sergeant, and, January 15, 1865, was com- missioned first lieutenant, with which rank he was honorably discharged July 4, 1865. On his return to Ohio he united in business with his father in Akron, as related in the foregoing paragraph. Since 1868 he has been a mem- ber of the Akron iire department, and since 1883 has been its efficient and able chief. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. , K. of P., G. A. R. and Loyal Legion, and in politics is a republican. As a useful citizen, enterprising business man and sagacious disciplinarian of the fire brigade of Akron, he has won and deserves the respect of the public, and this is freely accorded to him. eDWARD A. MONTENYOHL, M. D., a native of Akron, Ohio, was born June 5, 1873, and is a son of Henry L. and Mary E. (Atwood) Montenyohl, at present residing at No. 137 Bluff street, with an office at the southwest corner of Main and Exchange streets. The father is in the employ of the Standard Hardware company, and has spent twenty-five years in the hard- ware business. Dr. Montenyohl was educated in Akron and graduated from its high school; he then entered the office of Dr. J. V. Cleaver, under whom he read medicine until prepared for a higher course of study. He then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical college of New York city, re- mained there during the years 1892 and 1893, and then entered the Medical college of Ohio, at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in the class of 1895. and later took a special course in the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear, and then, after passing a competitive examina- tion, was appointed house surgeon of the Jewish general hospital at Cincinnati, where he spent one year, and while there became a member of the Hamilton county Medical so- ciety and was appointed a clinician in the department of the diseases of children in the Medical college of Ohio. The doctor is a ge- nial, whole-souled gentleman, well fitted by nature for the profession he has adopted as his life pursuit, as he carries, as it were, sunshine into the sick chamber, and it is a well-known physiological or spiritualistic fact that a ra- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 389 diant countenance, working on the sympa- thetic patient, accoinpHshes as much, at times, as therapeutics. The doctor tceeps thoroughly posted on the advances made daily in his science, and both as a practitioner in general medicine and as an oculist has met with more than or- dinary success for one of his age. The doctor is now a member of the Union Medical society of Northeastern Ohio. -^Y* ULIUS D. MARSHALL, of Cuyahoga m Falls, Ohio, springs from an old colo- /• 1 nial New England family, of Scotch descent, and was born September 2, 1828, at Bolton, Conn., son of Samuel and Mary (Cook) Marshall. Julius D. Marshall was but three years old when his father came to Ohio in 1831, located in Twinsburg, Summit county, but later re- moved to Cuyahoga Falls, and here sub- ject received his early education. He went to Michigan with his father when about fifteen years old and attended school in Berrien coun- ty. He married, when twenty-one years old, in Saint Joseph county, Mich., Julia A. Camp- bell, who was born in Canada, and to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall were born two children — Will- iam R. and Freddie E. Mr. Marshall returned to Cuyahoga Falls in 1861, learned the car- penter's trade, and here enlisted, March 28, 1864, in battery D, First Ohio light artillery, Capt. James J. Cockerell, to serve three years or during the war, but was honorably dis- charged, on account of disability, September, 1864. His services were at Nash\ille, Tenn. , but he was taken sick at Kno.xville with chronic bronchitis, caused by e.xposure, and was in hospital one week there. He was then in Cumberland hospital, Nashville, two months, when he was transferred to New Albany, Ind., and remained four weeks, and was then trans- ferred to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he re- mained until discharged. After his return, Mr. Marshall followed his trade of carpenter, and resided some time in Cuyahoga Falls. His first wife died in Ber- rien county, Mich., and he next married Jo- hanna Bennett, and they had one child — Charles G. Marshall. The second wife also died in Berrien county, Mich., and he next married Harriet Clement, and they had three children — Anna B., Nellie E. and Hattie V. The third Mrs. Marshall died, and he next married Sarah H. Beckley; she died, and his fifth marriage took place June 3, 1884, to Anna B. Staufer, born June 16, 1850, near Lancaster, Pa., a daughter of Ephraim and Sarah (Kurtz) Staufer, of sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and Mennoaites in religion. Mr. Staufer was a tailor by trade and settled in Stark county, Ohio, in 1856-7, there passed his remaining days, and died aged thirty-nine years. His children were Martin K., Anna B., Emma and Elizabeth. Mr. Marshall is a member of the G. A. R., Eadie post, Cuya- hoga Falls, in which he has held the office of post commander. In politics he is a stanch republican. Mr. Marshall is greatly disabled and has not followed his trade for eight years, but previously was always an industrious, re- spected citizen, and still stands high in his community. Samuel S. Marshall, father of subject, was born in Connecticut and early left an orphan. He became a shoemaker, and married in Con- necticut Mary Cook, who, like him, was early left an orphan. Their children were Libbens R. , Julia A., Elizabeth L., Esther A., Laura, Gilbert R., William G. and Julius D. Mr. Marshall was a soldier in the war of 18 12, a member of the Presbyterian church, an up- right and industrious man, and in politics a whig, and died in Michigan at the age of seventy years. He had two sons, Julius D. 390 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and William G., soldiers in the Civil war. William G. was in an Ohio infantry regiment, served two years, and was at one time guard- ing prisoners on Johnson's Island, Lake Erie. Julius D. Marshall's sons are named as fol- lows: William R., who married Ella Camp, of Cuyahoga Falls, where he is in the grocery business and has one child: Frederick E. mar- ried Dora Ulmer, is a street-car conductor, resides in Cleveland and has two children; Anna B. married F. E. Polhamus, a tinner, has one child and resides in Cu3'ahoga Falls; Nellie E. married Nathan Rook, a barber, of Cuyahoga Falls, and has seven children; Charles E. married Nellie Lockwood, has one child and resides in Michigan. >^OHN SPENCER MARVIN, of the firm m of Robert Smith & Co., lumber dealers ^y of Ravenna, Ohio, was born in Lan- caster, Erie county, N. Y. , sixteen miles east of Buffalo, May 30, 1831, a son of John C. and Lydia (Phillips) Marvin, both na- tives of the town of Saybrook, Litchfield county, Conn. , where the Marvin family were among the first settlers, long before the Revo- lutionary war. To John C. and Lydia Mar- vin were born three children, viz: Sarah Ann, widow of Cyrus H. Norcut; John S., the sub- ject, and Franklin Norton Marvin, of Rock- ford, 111. Joseph Marvin, the paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, was a soldier in the Revolution, and was a carpenter and builder by trade. He married a Miss Hutchinson, reared a family of four sons and seven daughters, and died in his native state at the age of sixty-five years. The maternal grandfather of subject was also a native of Litchfield county. Conn., was a farmer by calling, and died in middle life. John C. Marvin, father of John S. , the subject, was a carpenter and builder, and was extensively engaged in contract work. He was first married to Lydia Phillips, and with her passed a few years in the west, and it was during this period that subject was born; and during which, also, that Mrs. Marvin died in Lancaster, N. Y. , in 1835. Mr. Marvin, how- ever, always considered his native state to be his home, and after his bereavement returned thereto, married Maria Thomas — by whom no children were born — and died in 1875, at the age of seventy-three years, a member of the Methodist church, to which denomination his family also belonged. John S. Marvin, whose name opens this biography, was reared in Litchfield county, Conn., from the age of four until nineteen years, having been placed in charge of an uncle after his mother's death. While yet a boy he was bound out to a shoemaker and worked four years for his board and $20 per annum, from which sum he paid for his clothes. His schooling was obtained at night. He then went to New Haven, Conn., learned cutting, receiving $4 per week the while, and later was paid $25 per week after he had at- tained proficiency. He then spent four years in New York, and afterward went to Balti- more, Md. , then to Morris county, N. J. , and in June, 1855, came to Ra\enna, Ohio, and here worked as a journeyman on the bench for a year. In 1856 he went to Tennessee and to Kentucky, and in 1857 returned to Ra- venna, formed a partnership with Ira W. Enos in the shoe and leather trade, which was con- tinued for about ten months, after which Mr. Marvin conducted the business alone for about twelve years, then sold out and bought a farm, which he cultivated for four years, and in July, 1874, returned to Ravenna and engaged in his present business, which has since received his entire attention. Mr. Marvin was united in marriage. No- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 391 vember 20, 1859, with Miss Sarah M. Wood- ruff, daughter of Chauncey and Paulina (Bray) Woodruff, and this union was made the more happy by the birth of eight children, viz: Anna L., Fannie C, Paulina L. , Charles L., John C, Edward W., Roland H. and William B. Of these, Anna L. and Paulina L. are still living with their parents; Fannie C. died in infancy; Charles L. , a paper-hanger and decorator, married Miss Minnie Gushing, and is the father of four children — Earl Faxter, Raymond, Harold and Lilah; John C. is rate clerk for the American Cereal company of Chicago, 111., and is married to Miss Maud Kaylor; Roland H. died January 4, 1895; William died September 26, 1895, thus leav- ing Edward W. as the sole survivor, who mar- ried Elizabeth Hartlerode, and now resides in Wooster, Ohio. The mother of this family was called away February 2, 1895. She was a lady of infinite worth and truly a helpmate to her husband; a loving mother and a warm- hearted friend, she was mourned alike by her bereaved family and a large circle of acquaint- ances. Mr. Marvin is in politics a republican, and is a master Mason fraternally. He is a shrewd business man and knows thoroughly the ins and outs of the lumber trade, as he before knew the shoe and leather business. Strictly conscientious in all his transactions, a customer, once secured, never quits him. Personally he is pleasant and agreeable in his deportment, and since his residence in Ravenna, now of some forty years' duration, he has drawn to himself many devoted friends. ^V^ AVID LESLIE MARVIN, of Akron, I I one of the most eminent young at- /^„^ torneys of Summit county, Ohio, was born in Kent, Portage county, No- vember 17, 1862, and is a son of Hon. Ulysses L. and Dorena (Rockwell) Marvin, of Enghsh extraction. Ulysses Marvin, grandfather of David L., was born in Lyme, Conn., April 11, 1801, was a chairmaker by trade, as well as fuller, and on attaining his majority established a woolen mill in his native town and operated it several years. In 1829 he came to Ohio and cleared up a farm in Stowe township. Summit county, and died at the age of eighty-six years. He had married, in Connecticut, May i, 1822, Miss Elizabeth Bradley, daughter of Arba and Esther (Chamberlain) Bradley, of Middletown, Conn., and to this union were born six chil- dren, viz: Arba B. ; Jane E., wife of S. C. Weeks; Sophronia, married to H. C. Wilcox; Asahel M. ; Chloe B., now Mrs. Milton C. Danforth, and Ulysses L. The mother of this family, after a married life of over sixty- two years, passed away in 1884, at the age of eighty-four years. Ulysses L. Marvin, father of David L. Marvin, was born in Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio, March 4, 1839, was educated at Twinsburg institute and Franklin institute, and was admitted to the bar in i860. In i86i and part of 1862 he held the position of prin- cipal of the Kent union school, and in August, 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fif- teenth Ohio volunteer infantry. He was at once detailed as clerk in the judge advocate's office in Cincinnati, and served until July, 1863, when he was commissioned first lieuten- ant of a company in the Fifth United States colored troops, and was promoted to be cap- taiij during the siege of Richmond. April 29, 1864, he was wounded at Newmarket Heights, one of the defenses of Richmond, and on his return to duty, two months later, was assigned as adjutant-general on the staff of Gen. G. W. Shurtleff, and at the close of the war was brevetted major for gallant and meritorious services, and appointed judge advocate on the 39'2 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD staff of Gen. C. J. Paine, in which capacity he served until mustered out in October, 1865. On his return from the war, Major Marvin engaged in the practice of the law in Kent for two years, and in November, 1867, came to Akron. Here, in 1869, he was elected pro- bate judge of Summit county by the republic- an party, and filled the office six years. In May, 1S83, he was appointed common pleas judge, which office he filled six months. Since then he has served as judge of the circuit court, Eighth judicial circuit of Ohio. In 1884, also, he was elected presidential elector for the Twentieth congressional district of Ohio, and cast his vote in the electoral college for Blaine and Logan. In March, 1895, he was re-elected circuit judge for the full term, and still fills the office. The marriage of Judge U. L. Marvin took place November 24, 1861, to Miss Dorena, daughter of Hon. David L. and Mary L. (Palmetter) Rockwell, of Kent, and this mar- riage has been blessed with four children, viz: David L. (subject), George U., Charles A. and Francis R. David L. Marvin was reared in Akron from the age of five years, was educated in the pub- lic schools of this city, and in Kenyon college, and was graduated from the law department of Columbia university, Washington, D. C. In November, 1882, he was appointed an ex- aminer in the United States pension office at Washington, and was the youngest man ever appointed to that position, but resigned in June, 1884, to engage in newspaper work dur- ing the cotton exposition at New Orleans, La. He passed the year 1885 in Chicago, 111., then returned to Ohio, and February 9, 1886, was elected assistant engineer of the public works of Ohio, and was re-elected in 1888 and 1890. During his incumbency of this office he read law during leisure hours, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1889; February 15, 1891, he resigned his office as assistant state engineer and returned to Akron, where he has ever since been employed in the active and successful practice of the legal profession. On his res- ignation of his position as assistant state engin- eer, the superintendent's board adopted a res- olution, expressing their regret at parting with Mr. Marvin "both as a friend and officer," and stating that he had discharged his duties with marked ability and fidelity, and that he had manifested uniform courtesy in all his re- lations with them. Mr. Marvin was most happily married May 16, 1888, to Miss Frances Saxe Fish, daughter of Cortes F. and Helen (Carlisle) Fish, of Shelby, Ohio, this union being made the more happy by the birth of one child, March 24, 1892, who bears the euphonious name of Helen Dorena. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin are con- sistent members of the Episcopalian church, and fraternally Mr. Marvin is a member of the Loyal Legion, and Iota chapter of Psi Upsilon collegiate society. He is a stanch republican in politics, but has never been an office seeker. Professionally Mr. Marvin has made a most marked success, and his social standing is de- cidedly with the best in the city. y'^V'DGAR W. MAXSON, one of the fore- ■ I most attorneys at law of Ravenna, ^^^^ was born in Geauga county, Ohio, February 3, 1844, a son of William and Salina C. (Mumford) Maxson, natives of Connecticut and New York respectively, and parents of two children — Edgar W. and Victor R., the latter a resident of Hiram, Ohio. Joshua Maxson, paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, served in the war of 18 12, and died at Hiram, Ohio, at the age of eighty-four years, a deacon in the Baptist church. William Mumford, the ma- ternal grandfather, was born in New York, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 393 was a farmer, and died in Troy, Ohio, aged seventy-seven years. William Maxson, father of Edgar W. , was about twelve years of age when brought to Ohio, in 1825, by his parents, who settled in Hiram township, Portage county, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm, and later followed farming on his own account. He died in 1876, at sixty-two years of age, his widow surviving until September, 1894, when she died at the age of seventy-four. Edgar W. Maxson received his preliminary education in Hiram in the Western Reserve Eclectic institute, afterward Hiram college, and at the age of fifteen entered Hiram col- lege; he next entered Michigan university, at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated, in 1865, in the literary and law courses, following which he spent five years in Springfield, 111. , as a school-teacher, and then traveled three years as state agent for the New York Underwriters' agency, an insurance company. In 1870 he commenced the practice of his profession in Garrettsville, Portage county, Ohio, where he found active employment for his talents until 1886, when he came to Ravenna, where his field for practice would have a broader scope. The first marriage of Mr. Maxson took place November 7, 1867, with Miss Elizabeth C. Mull, of Galesburg, 111., a daughter of B. S. and Harriet (Voorhis) Mull, of Otsego county, N. Y., and this union has been blessed by the birth of one daughter, Maud M., who is a graduate of the Cleveland School of Music, and a teacher of music in Ravenna. Mrs. Elizabeth C. Maxson was called from earth September 10, 1875, and on the 14th day of December, 1876, Mr. Maxson united with his second life-companion. Miss Dora E. Lockwood, a daughter of Philander and Mary (Voorhis) Lockwood. Mr. and Mrs. Maxson are consistent mem- bers of the Congregational church, while Mr. Maxson is a member of Tyrian chapter, No. 91, royal arch Masons, and of Unity lodge, No. 12, F. & A. M., of Ravenna; he is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and is regent of lodge No. 376, of Ravenna. Po- litically Mr. Maxson is a stanch republican, and served as prosecuting attorney of Ravenna from 1887 until 1890. As a lawyer he has achieved an enviable reputation, and as an official his name has never been tarnished by the slightest suspicion of dereliction in duty or corrupt practices. Socially his standing is very high, and his wife ^njoys, with himself, the esteem of all with whom they exchange the courtesies of life. HEODORE R. MASON, of Portage county, Ohio, is a native of Ithaca, N. Y. , and was born May 16, 1836, a son of Rufus I. and Amelia (Root) Mason. Rufus I. Mason was born in Castle- ton, Vt., and Amelia Root was a native of Watertown, N. Y. Their marriage took place in Ithaca, and in 1840 they came to Ohio, settling in Franklin county, where they lived for ten years. Of their three children, one son died in infancy; their daughter, Mrs. Seraph C. Young, resides in Hiram, and the third, Theodore R. , will be duly referred to a little further on. The Mason family is of English origin, and the American branch was founded in New England prior to the Revolution, in which the great-great-grandfather of subject served as a soldier; the paternal grandfather of subject was a drum-major in the war of 1812, and other ancestors were active in the early Indian wars. In fact, the Mason family may be con- sidered as Americans for more than two cen- turies, as many of its members were instru- mental in founding the settlements of the country at the east as well as in the west. 394 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Theodore R. Mason, the subject, secured a good common-school education in Ravenna, and then was engaged as clerk and salesman until the breaking out of the Civil war aroused the patriotic spirit he had inherited from his ancestors. He enlisted in Cleveland in Sep- tember, 1862, and served in Com. Porter's fleet on the lower Mississippi river, for awhile on board the gunboat Mamora, on which he was steward, and then as steward of the receiv- ing boat at Cairo, 111., for two months; then again on board the Mamora as steward, was promoted to be paymaster's steward, and served until December, 1863, when he was discharged, having served three months over the term of his enlistment. He returned to Ravenna, and in September, 1864, enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Seventy-sev- enth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. In this arm of the service he was placed as clerk in the quartermaster's department, medical directory, army of the Ohio. At the surrender of Gen. Johnston's army, subject was detailed to take account of the rebel camp equipage, etc., and to write the paroles of the Confederate pris- oners — a task that required two and one-half daj's of constant labor. He was ne.xt detailed to take account of the camp and garrison equipage of the Third brigade. Third division. Twenty-third army corps, and then, this duty ended, came his discharge as clerk of the med- ical directory of the army of the Ohio, as noted above. On his return home from the war, Mr. Mason was employed for about ten years as a. commercial traveler, after which he was ap- pointed as a railway postal clerk, but, the position being uncongenial, he resigned shortly afterward. He ne.xt served five years as marshal of Ravenna, health officer, constable of the city, and then as deputy United States marshal, and has filled some of these offices, also, since he was appointed deputy sheriff of Portage county fourteen years ago. In 1S59 Mr. Mason was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Rood, a native of Portage county, Ohio, and of the two daughters born to this union, Kittie, the elder, died at the age of twenty-one years; Clara, the younger is the wife of Joseph Davis, a prominent attorney at law of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Mason has been prominent in G. .\. R. circles, being past post commander of David Mcintosh post of Ravenna, and for the past eleven years its adjutant, and being one of the organizers of the post. He has been secretary of the National Union for the last ten years, and in no position that he has ever held has he failed to give the utmost satis- faction. As a member of the G. A. R. he has been a delegate to several national encamp- ments, representing, notably, the posts of Portage and Summit counties in the national encampment at Saint Paul, Minn., in 1896; and for three years he also acted as aid-de- camp on the staff of the department com- mander. In politics he is a stanch republic- an, and in religion he s\'mpathizes with his wife, who is a devout member of the Congre- gational church. >VOHN E. MERKEL, an old soldier of ■ the Civil war, the head of a respected A 1 family and one of the most enterpris- ing farmers of Stowe township, was born in Hudson, Ohio, December 2, 1838. Stephen Merkel, father of John E., was born December 24, 1809, in Baden, Germany, and came to America when about twenty years of age, landing in New York city. He was a farmer and lived two years in Connecticut and then came to Hudson, Ohio, and worked at farm work. He married, in Hudson, Barbara Fillius, who was born about 181 1 in Bavaria, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 395 Germany, a daughter of Philip Fillius, who came from Germany to Hudson at an early day. Mr. Merkel bought forty acres of land in Stowe township and lived here until 1852, when he moved to Hudson township. In 1857 he moved to Minnesota and bought 160 acres in Rice county and lived there fifteen or sixteen years, then moved to Faribault coun- ty, Minn., and bought 160 acres, where he lived until he retired, and now lives with his son, Curtis S. Merkel, in Minn. His chil- dren were John E. , Jacob and Curtis S. Mr. and Mrs. Merkel are members of the Method- ist church and in politics Mr. Merkel was first a democrat but later in life became a repub- lican. He was a hard-working industrious man and prospered well. John E. Merkel received a common educa- tion, became a farmer and went to Minnesota in 1857 with his father. August 4, 1862, he enlisted, at Cannon City, Minn., in company C, Sixth Minnesota volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, and was honor- ably discharged May 23, 1865, at New Or- leans, La., by general order, as the war was closed. His service, the first year, was in fighting the Siou.x Indians, under chief Little Crow, who made a raid on the Minnesota frontier in 1862 and massacred many settlers, especially at New Ulm. Mr. Merkel's regi- ment was sent to Fort Ridgley and pursued the Indians to Wood Locke, where they had a hard fight. After this service the regiment went to Arkansas in the spring of 1864 and guarded Helena for three months and there Mr. Merkel was taken sick with malaria ty- phus fever and was in hospital in Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for three or four months, came near death, and has never recovered from this disability. After partially recovering, he joined his regiment at New Orleans. He was then detailed a clerk for a while at St. Louis, and February 14, 1865, was detailed from his regi- ment as clerk at headquarters, adjutant-gen- eral's office, department of the Gulf, New Or- leans, and was transferred February 23, 1865, to headquarters of military division of the West Mississippi at New Orleans and here served as clerk until discharged. Until taken sick, Mr. Merkel was an active soldier and performed his full duty promptly and cheerfully. After the war, Mr. Merkel returned to Ohio and married, in Stowe township, July 20, 1865, Frances Eleanor Walker, who was born in Stowe township, December 16, 1843, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Robinson) Walker. Samuel Walker was born January 26, 1809, in Stowe township, a son of one of the original pioneers of the township. William \\^alker, who was born in Virginia, came to Summit county in 1802 and built a log cabin the same year, which is believed to have been the first in Stowe township. He lived to be sixty-two years old. His wife was Rachael Stewart and they were married in Virginia. Samuel Walker owned two farms and had a good education for his day and taught school several terms in Columbiana county, Ohio. He married Sarah Robinson, of Columbiana county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Eleanor (Hueston) Robinson. John Ivobinson was a soldier in the war of 1812. Samuel Walker settled in Stowe township and cleared up a good farm of ninety acres, which he bought of Leonard Case. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were the parents of two children — Frances E. and Frank. Mr. Walker lived to be sixty-five years old and died on his farm February 21, J 874. In politics he was a democrat, held the office of trustee of township, and was an honored citizen. Mrs. Merkel has a conch shell which was given to Sarah Robinson (her mother) by her mother, Eleanor Hueston. This shell was used during the war of the Revolution by members of the Robinson fam- ily to give notice when returning home, and 396 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD when blown upon emitted a loud sound much like a dinner horn, and was thus used in the family for generations. Mrs. Merkel also had an old-fashioned bear trap used in olden times, and at one time a man was caught by accident in this trap and held for several hours. She also had a surveyor's chain used in this county by George Walker in surveying land in early times, and several other interesting relics. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Merkel set- tled in Faribault county, Minn., and bought eighty acres of land, lived there nine years, when they came to Stowe township in January, 1870, and bought fifty acres of their present farm, and added to it until they have 169 acres; they built a substantial house in 1884, and have a very nice home. Their children are Edward C, John, Frank, Fannie A. and Charles E. In politics Mr. Merkel was first a republican but is now a populist and free-silver democrat. He is a prosperous citizen and has a fine farm. Edward C. Merkel, son of John E. Merkel, married Ella Stanley, is a machinist in Beaver Falls, Pa., and is the father of one child, Eleanor. The second son, John F. , is an electric engineer of Chicago. Mr. Merkel is a man of strictly moral character and integrity and stands high in the esteem of his fellow- citizens. eDWIN H. MERRILL, deceased, was born in Painesville, Ohio, February 9, 1 808, and was a son of Abijah Merrill, who was born in Connecticut in 1777. Abijah was a potter by trade, married Miss Abigail Scott, who bore him six children, and came to Ohio at a very early day, established a pottery, and died in Middlebury in 1854, aged seventy-seven years. Edwin H. Merrill learned the potter's trade from his father, and was educated in the com- mon schools. At the age of twenty-two years he came to Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio, where, after working a short time for various potters, started in business for himself, about 1835, inventing machinery for the production of beer bottles, for which he secured letters patent; and soon after- ward commenced the manufacture of tobacco pipes, also by machinery. In 1847 he moved to Middlebury, Summit county, where, in con- junction with his brother, Calvin J. Merrill, he engaged in the manufacture of waterpipe and beer bottles, to which industry the manu- facture of stone pumps was added and con- tinued from 185 1 to 1856 — he being then in- terested in the respective firms of Hill, Merrill & Co., and Merrill, Powers & Co. He then engaged in the manufacture of vitrified sewer- pipe — the initiation of the present immense sewer-pipe industry of Akron and vicinity, and the first of the kind west of the Alleghany mountains. In i860, Mr. Merrill removed his bottle, pipe and stoneware works to the corner of South Main and Center streets, Akron, where, in 1887, it was incorporated as the E. H. Merrill company, which is now one of the leading establishments of its kind in Summit county. Mr. Merrill was married, in 1838, to Miss Emily Gleason, of Bedford, Ohio, the union re- sulting in the birth of seven children, of whom two only are still living — Henry E. , president of the above-named company, and William G. , in the pottery business in Pampton City, Va. Two of his seven children were daugh- ters, of whom Emma died at the age of thirty years, and Grace A. became the wife of F. W. Butler, and is now also deceased. The death of Mr. Merrill took place January 25, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years, eleven months and sixteen days; his widow,' who was born in 1817, survived until February 22, 1893. In politics Mr. Merrill was first a whig, but later OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 397 became a republican and served as a member of the city council for a number of years. As illustrative of the enterprise and perti- nacity of Mr. Merrill, it may be stated that when he located in Springfield township there was but one pottery there, owned by Mr. Fisk; but, soon afterward, a Mr. Purdy started another factory, which discouraged Mr. Fisk, and at the end of about eighteen months be- came very anxious to sell. Mr. Merrill seized the opportunity, and thus became proprietor of the first pottery establishment in this part of the country. It was while operating this plant that he invented his machinery for the manufacture of beer bottles and water-pipe. He and his brother, Calvin J., built the first screw press for making sewer-pipe, and later went to New York city, and secured plans for a steam press — the first to be intro- duced in this part of the country for manufact- uring pipe by the aid of steam. In 1857 the financial crisis prostrated him, and he was compelled to start anew, on a very small scale, but he overcame all difficulties, and the present plant on Main and Center streets is the result of his indomitable perseverance. This plant has a frontage of 217 feet and a depth of 300 feet. Its output consists chiefly of meat tubs from fifty gallons down, beer and ink bottles, corroding pots for white lead- makers, white, glazed and other kind of stone- ware. The company employs some si.xty hands and its officers are Henry E. Merrill, president and superintendent, Frederick W. Butler, secretary and treasurer, and the cap- ital stock is $50,000. Henry E. Merrill, the president of this company, was born July i, 1839, and was ed- ucated in the public schools of Middlebury, Ohio. He learned the pottery business from his father, and in i860 became a member of the firm. In 1875 he became a partner of the firm of Merrill & Ewart, in the manufacture of roof tiling, and in 1882 sold his interest. He was a soldier in the late Civil war, having enlisted May 2, 1864, in company F, One Hundred and Si.xty-fourth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, for the 1 00-day service, and is a mem- ber of Buckley post. No. 12, G. A. R., and of the Red Cross. In politics he is a stanch re- publican. He was married in May, 1877, to Miss Bell Bartges, daughter of Dr. S. W. Bartges (deceased), of Akron. This union has been blessed with two children — George B., a student in the university school at Cleveland, and Catherine E., at home. Mrs. Merrill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the family residence is at No. 106 Fir street, Akron. Frederick W. Butler, secretary and treas- urer of the E. H. Merrill company, of Akron, Ohio, was born in Worcester, Mass., June 25, 185 1, a son of Horace W. and Sarah J. (Newell) Butler, both famiHes being of Eng- lish origin, and early settlers of Massachusetts, several of the earlier members having been soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Horace W. Butler owned and operated a sash and blind factory in Worcester, Mass., and was twice burned out. In 1864 he came to Akron, Ohio, and entered the employ of W. B. Doyle, as foreman of his sash and blind factory, and later was employed in the pattern department of the Webster, Lane & Camp establishment. He and wife were parents of three children — Frederick W., Albert B., de- ceased, and Charles J. , of whom the last is secretary of the Peoria Rubber Manufacturing company. Mrs. Sarah J. Butler was called away from earth August 13, 1891. Mr. But- ler is now living retired at the age of seventy- six years. Frederick W. Butler was educated in the public schools of Akron, and at the age of six- teen became a clerk for Hall & Bros., with whom he remained four years, and then ac- 398 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD cepted a position in the First National bank, where he remained nine years as bookkeeper, teller and correspondent, consecutively, and then for eighteen months was cashier of the City National bank, when he resigned to ac- cept his present position with the E. H. Mer- rill company. He has been identified with this concern since 1880, when it was conducted as a co-partnership, and in 1887 became one of the incorporators, since when he has been the means of greatly advancing its prosperity. Mr. Butler is also president and secretary of the Akron Smoking Pipe company, which has plants at Mogadore and at Pamplin City, Va., and of which }ie was one of the organizers; he is also vice-president and director of the Akron Pottery company. In politics he is a stalwart republican. Mr. Butler was united in mar- riage, March 6, 1879, with Miss Grace A. Merrill, daughter of Edwin H. Merrill, but had the sad misfortune to lose his wife. May 18, 1888, when she died at the age of thirty- one years, leaving three children — Henry Karl, Merrill W. and Frederick W., Jr. Mr. Butler and his children reside at No. 503 West Mar- ket street. aHRISTIAN MEYER, of Tallmadge township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Allegheny City, Pa., September 27, 1845, and is a son of Christian and Eva Maria (Breitenstein) Meyer, who settled in Portage county, Ohio, in 1856, where Christian, the son, was reared to farm work and general labor. Christian Meyer, Sr. , father of subject, was born in Alsace, France, March 12, 1808, and was the son of Christian, a merchant, but was himself taught the tailor's trade. He served five years in the French army, and later married, in Alsace, Miss Breitenstein, to which union were born the following-named children: Philip, John, Magdalen, Eve M., Mary Elizabeth and Joseph. Mr. Meyer came to America in May, 1845, having embarked at Havre, France, in a sailing vessel, and was thirty-si.x days crossing the ocean. He locat- ed in Alleghenj- City, Pa. , where he followed his trade until April, 1856, when he came to Ohio and lived in Randolph, Portage county, until 1859, when he moved to Ravenna, but in 1 86 1 returned to Randolph, where his death occurred in 1877; his wife survived until she reached the age of thirty-nine years, and both died in the Catholic faith. Christian Meyer, our subject, enlisted at Ravenna, and August 30, 1864, was mustered in at \\'arren, Ohio, as a private of company F, Fifth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Stephen Coddington, and served until mustered out at Bladensburg, Md., re- ceiving an honorable discharge at Columbus. Ohio, June 18, 1865, the war having been brought to a close. He was with Sherman on his famous march from Atlanta to the sea, and was in the battle at Savannah, Ga. On this campaign he was taken ill with malarial fever, was confined in camp one month and in hospital three months, rejoining his regiment May 19, 1865 — although he still suffers from the effects of malaria. After the war he came to Tallmadge, where he engaged in farm labor. Mr. Meyer was united in marriage, at Alli- ance, Ohio, July 9, 1867, with Miss Mary Sawer, who was born in Carrollton, Ohio, October 7, 1845, ^ daughter of John and Frances (Linn) Sawer. John Sawer was of Alsatian parentage, and is now a retired farm- er of Michigan. His children, besides Mrs. Meyer, are George W. , Annie, Sarah, Frances and Eve M., of whom George W. served in the Civil war in an Illinois regiment. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Meyer lived for a short time in Alliance, but in 1868 came to Tallmadge, where, with the exception of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 399 eight months spent in Akron, they have since resided. To their marriage have been born nine children, in the following order: Philip J., Mary A., Helen, Elizabeth, Christian J.. Fannie, George W., Lena and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are consistent members of the Congregational church, and in politics Mr. Meyer is a democrat and a free silverite. Mr. Meyer is greatly respected as an upright and industrious man, possessed of an excellent mentality and well posted in the current events of his country. He has had his children well educated, Christian J. and Fannie being grad- uates of the Tallmadge high school, and in every way is a good and useful citizen. *-|-» UCIUS C. MILES, treasurer of Sum- I r mit county and of the city of Akron, 1 ^^ Ohio, is a nativeof Brooklihe, Mass., was born February 3, 1859, and is a son of Lucius K. and Frances P. (Plimpton) Miles, who came to Akron about the year i S70. Lucius C. , the subject of this memoir, was educated chiefly in the public schools of Akron, and at the age of eighteen years entered the employ of Aultman, Miller & Co., with whom he remained about five years, and then was employed for two years by J. F. Seiberling & Co., after which he was engaged in the cement, flour and feed business, in partner- ship with Maj. Charles Dick, which partnership lasted five years, after which he entered the employ of the Seiberling Milling company. Always an ardent republican, Mr. Miles was elected, in 1894, treasurer of Summit county by the sweeping majority of nearly 700 votes, and in 1896 was re-elected by a majority of 801 — running far ahead of his ticket — an evi- dence that he was fully competent to fill the responsible position and that the general public keenly appreciated the value of his services. He is now, also, a member of the Summit county republican executive committee and is a prime factor in the management of repub- lican politics in the county. He has been a member of the board of education a number of years, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In 1888 Mr. Miles was united in marriage with Miss Harriet M. Sei- berling, and their social relations are most select and genial. ^>^^ ICHOLAS MILLER, a retired farmer I m of Suffield township, Portage county, M. - I Ohio, was born in Elsass (Alsace), Germany, in 1828, a son of Anthony and Delia Miller, and has lived in Suffield township since he was about five years of age. Anthony Miller had been a hotel-keeper in Germany, also had been a soldier under Na- poleon Bonaparte seven years, and in one of his campaigns against Russia was twice wounded within a half-hour. In 1833 he brought his wife and eight of his ten children to the United States and was one of the first set- tlers in Portage county, where he engaged in farming and where there were two additional children born to him. Of the ten, three only are now living, viz: Nicholas, our subject, who is the eldest; Clara, widow of Dr. Shuck, and John. Those who have been called away were Anthony; Catherine, who was married to L. Rhoads, also deceased; Meldi, who was the wife of D. Weldy; Andrew, who died of yellow fever on the Mississippi river; Joseph, George, and one who died in Germany. The father of this family died at the age of eighty-three years on his Suffield township farm, which was close to that on which Nicholas, his son, the subject, now resides, and the mothen passed away at the age of eighty-two, both in the faith of the Roman Catholic church. Nicholas Miller, the subject proper of this 400 PORTRAIT AND BIOGR.\PHICAL RECORD biography, was reared on his father's farm, but in his early days opportunities for a scho- lastic education were quite limited, so that he did not fare very well in this particular, but he learned the practical details of pioneer farm life completely and thoroughly. On attaining his majority he hired out to the farmers of his neighborhood and soon accumulated sufficient means to purchase a small place for himself, and when he found himself to be the possessor of $700, he purchased his present farm, on which he has since erected a large and hand- some residence and a substantial barn, with all necessary outbuildings, and has now one of the best farms in the township, consisting of 112 acres. The marriage of Mr. Miller was solemnized, in 1844, with Miss Barbara Memmer, daugh- ter of David and Margaret (Earhart) Memmer. and this marriage has been blessed with one daughter, who is still unmarried and makes her home with her parents. Mrs. Barbara Miller is a native of Bayem, Germany, and was quite young when brought to America by her parents, who were early settlers of Suffield township, where the father became one of its most substantial farmers. Of the eight chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Memmer, five are still living, viz: Margaret, wife of Frank Gulp; Mary Ann, widow of Matthew Shultz; Bar- bara, now Mrs. Nicholas Miller; Maria, wife of George Miller, and John. Of the deceased, George died at the age of thirty years; Joseph died when about twenty-three years old, and Lawrence died in 1896, when sixty-six years old. David Memmer, the father, passed away November 28, 1871, at the age of seventy- seven years, and his wife died aged seventy- nine years — both faithful members of the Catholic church. In politics, Nicholas Miller is a stanch sil- ver democrat and has served his fellow-citizens as school director for many years, and also as township trustee. In religion he is a true Catholic, and has been a very liberal contrib- utor to the support of his church. He has always been an industrious, temperate and use- ful citizen, is highly respected, and well de- serves the esteem -in which he is universally ! held. aHARLES MERTS, president of the First National bank, Ravenna, Ohio, and a very prominent citizen of Port- age county, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., October i, 1833, a son of Frederick and Elizabeth Merts, who were the parents of six children, of whom three still survive, viz: Philip, of North Benton, Ohio; Frederick, of Illinois, and Charles, the subject of this biog- raphy. The father of this family was a shoe- maker by trade, and both he and wife died in Pittsburg, when Charles, the subject, was but three years of age. Charles Merts, having been thus early be- reft of his parents, was placed in charge of a kind Irish farmer, who reared him until seven- teen j-ears of age, inculcating the thrifty and industrious habits of farm life and giving him the advantage of a district-school education. At the age mentioned, young Merts began an apprenticeship of five years at carriage-body- making — a trade he followed, all told, for over forty years. In 1855 he came to Ohio, worked first in \\'arren, and in the fall of the same year came to Ravenna, where he continued to work as a journeyman until the breaking out of the late Civil war, when he and his brother- in-law, H. W. Riddle, formed a partnership and leased the carriage manufactory of N. D. Clark for five years, at the end of which time they purchased the factory and for some years confined their output to buggies, but gradually merged into heavy work and turned out coaches, hearses, etc. . employed eighty to ws ^^^^H| J ■ ^^^^^^^^hI H ,^;^^ ^^1 A^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 403 lOO hands, and produced so superior a class of vehicles that they came into demand throughout most of the states and territories. In 1892 Mr. Merts sold his interest in the con- cern to H. W. Riddle, who still carries it on. In the year 1892, also, an eastern firm came to Ravenna and started a shoe manufactory, employing 250 hands, but failed at the end of six months. Mr. Merts, being a stockholder, assumed charge of the concern, and he and F. M. Rumbaugh conducted it jointly for some time, and then organized a joint-stock com- pany, which is now doing an excellent trade, Mr. Merts having extricated the concern from the slough of disaster and placed it upon a sound foundation of profit and prosperity. The company at first manufactured about 150 pairs of shoes per day, but now turns out 500 pairs and gives employment to about ninety hands all the year round, holidays excepted. Mr. Merts has also been a stockholder in the First National bank of Ravenna for twenty years, has been a director for fifteen years, and has been its president about five years. Mr. Merts was one of the organizers of the Ravenna Gas, Light & Coke company, and is now the presi- dent of that corporation. Prior to his coming to Ravenna, Mr. Merts was united in marriage, in Pittsburg, Pa., in the fall of 1855, with Miss Mary A. Riddle, daughter of Hughey and Elizabeth Riddle, and this union was blessed with two children — Lida H. and Catherine M. Lida H. is married to C. W. Franzheim, president and manager of the Wheeling Pottery company, and a director of the German Bank of Wheel- ing, W. Va., and his wife is now the mother of five children — Charles M., George, Mary, Catherine and Kenneth; Catherine M. is the wife of J. Holcomb, of Ravenna, and has borne her husband two children — Lida and Mary Catherine. Mrs. Mary A. Merts, a mem- ber of the Congregational church, died in 13 April, 1887. Fraternally Mr. Merts is a mas- ter Mason. In politics he is a republican, and for seven or eight years was a city councilman. Mr. Merts has been a resident of Ravenna for forty-two years, and has had much to do with the building up of the city and in ad- vancing its prosperity. He is regarded as one of the foremost citizens, a reputation he well deserves as the result of his free expenditure of his means and his activity in promoting his own line of business, thus giving employment to large bodies of men, and his generosity in ad- vancing the means to promote works of a more comprehensive and public character — being, in truth, a factor in the development of one of the prettiest little cities in the state of Ohio. He is highly esteemed by the people at large for the good work he has done, and for his genial disposition, manly sense of justice and gentlemanly deportment. He is a blessing to the community, being tender hearted and kind, and holding a just regard for the rights and feelings of his fellow-men. While the present generation will honor and esteem him, generations to come will cherish his memory long after he shall have been called away from the cares and vicissitudes of life. •y— rf IRAM M. MILLER, a well-known 1^^^ blacksmith, was born in Greensburg, M . r Summit county, Ohio, July 29, i866, and Greensburg has always been his home. John Miller, grandfather of Hiram M., came from Maryland to Ohio and settled on a farm in Franklin township. Summit county, near Manchester, to which town he retired in advanced years and there passed the declining days of his long and useful life. His son, Isaac, father of subject, was born in Maryland January 18, 1832, was reared a farmer, and 404 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD also learned the blacksmith's trade. He came to Ohio with his father, took part in the Union service during the Civil war, then engaged in blacksmithing at Manchester, and later at East Liberty, for one year, and he has fol- lowed his trade thirty years in the village of Greensburg. He married Leah Dissinger, daughter of John and Mary (Waggoner) Dis- singer, of Franklin township, and to this mar- riage have been born two children, viz: Alma, wife of Augustin Steby, and Hiram M., the subject. Mr. Miller continued in the black- smith shop until his son, Hiram M., was old enough to take charge, and then retired to his farm, where he is leading a quiet life in the enjoyment of the respect of all his neighbors. In politics he is a strong republican, but pre- fers his genial farm life to the precarious pur- suit of public office. Hiram M. Miller received a good common- school education and was thoroughly trained to blacksmithing in his father's shop, becom- ing an excellent mechanic. October 14, 1893, he married Miss Annie Thursby, who was born August 5, 1873, a daughter of G. I. and Laura (Buchtel) Thursby. Her father, however, is now deceased, and her mother is married to Aaron Swarz. Mr. Miller is acknowledged to be one of the best blacksmiths in Summit county, and has prospered in his business, to which he adds the sale of buggies in the proper season. Beside his shop, he owns a nice two- story brick dwelling, and is in quite comfort- able circumstances. He is a stanch republican in politics, is very popular, and is now town- ship treasurer of Green township, having been elected by a majority of seventy votes out of a total of 500. Fraternally, he is a member of Hadassa lodge, I. O. O. F., and also of lodge No. 313, Jr. O. U. A. M., in which he has passed all the chairs. He is progressive and public spirited, and enjoys the respect of the entire community. ^>^^APOLEON J. A. MINICH, pro- I M prietor and editor of the Saturday I f Bulletin, of Kent, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Columbia, Lan- caster county. Pa., October 7, 1849, and is a son of Henry G. and Ann Catherine (Albright) Minich, natives of the same county. Jacob Minich, great-grandfather of sub- ject, came from Germany to America prior to the Revolutionary war and settled at Landis- ville, Lancaster county. Pa., where he followed farming until his death, at the age of sixty- three. His eldest son, also named Jacob, was the grandfather of subject. He was born in Landisville, Pa., was a farmer, distiller and proprietor of the Minich hotel, on the stage route from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. This hostlery was noted for its excellent accommo- dations generally, and especially for its exten- sive stables adapted to the requirements of the six-horse teams then in ' use. He reared a family of fourteen children, and died in 1841, at the age of fifty-eight years. Henry G. Minich, youngest child of Jacob last mentioned and father of subject, was born May 25, 181 7, and lived in Lancaster county. Pa., all his life. He was a dealer in live stock, was an extensive contractor in meats during the Civil war, and also kept a meat market. He was very successful finan- cially, owned much valuable real estate, and was a very public-spirited citizen, being large- ly instrumental in establishing the Columbia Classical institute and in promoting many other important public enterprises. In pol- itics he was in early life a democrat, but at the outbreak of the Civil war became a re- publican. Although he never sought public office, he yet did his duty as a good citizen and filled several local official positions. To his marriage with Miss Albright were born eight children, viz: Jabob A., proprietor of a meat market in Columbia, Pa.; Thomas J., a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 405 real estate dealer in Chicago, 111. ; Charles W. , also meat market proprietor in Columbia, Pa. ; N. J. A., subject of this biography; Benjamin F., a veterinary surgeon of the same city; Henry J., proprietor of a meat market in Tampa, Fla., and two children that died in early life. The father of this family died May '9. 1895. an honored and respected gentle- man; the mother, who was born in Lancaster city, Pa., in 1819, still survives and resides in Columbia. The maternal ancestors of Napoleon J. A. Minich also came from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania in the colonial days. John Albright, the great-grandfather of subject, was born in Philadelphia, whence he moved to Lancaster, Pa., where he founded the first newspaper issued in that city. It was printed in the German language and bore the title Volks Freund. At his death, the publication of this journal was continued by his son, An- thony Albright, grandfather of subject, and after he had passed away his son continued the publication. Napoleon J. A. Minich graduated from the Columbia Classical institute in 1868 and then entered the office of the Columbia Spy and served an apprenticeship at the printing busi- ness until 1 87 1, when he went to Chicago, 111., but the great fire which swept that city in Oc- tober of the same year caused a change in his plans and he returned to Pennsylvania, and worked at his trade in Lancaster until May, 1872, when he went to New York; September 17 of the same year he came to Ohio and worked at case for a short time on the Akron Beacon, when he was promoted to the editor- ial staff. He left his establishment to aid in founding the Akron Daily Argus, on which he did editorial work, but in 1875 sold his interest in this journal and returned to the Beacon. Mr. Minich had now lost all his property and was not worth a dollar; nevertheless, two weeks after his return to the Beacon office he married, August 3, 1875, Miss Lottie E. Mc- Masters, who was born in Akron, a daughter of Henry and Emily McMasters. This happy marriage has resulted in the birth of one son, Harry S., born October 11, 1877, and now a student in the Akron Commercial college. He continued on the Beacon until May, 1876, when, having accumulated $400, he came to Kent and purchased the Saturday Bulletin, then a very small affair. The Saturday Bulletin was established in 1866 by Marshall Dewey, and its publication had been suspended about five weeks when the plant was purchased by Mr. Minich in 1876. The paper had been a four-page six columns to the page journal, but is now an eight-page paper, with seven columns to the page, a fact which clearly indicates that Mr. Minich thoroughly understands his business. He has never solicited anyone to subscribe to nor to advertise in the Bulletin, yet it has a subscription hst containing 1,500 names, and its columns devoted to advertising are filled. It is independent in politics and is devoted to the material interests of Kent, as well as to that city's moral and intellectual improvement, and is recognized as one of the best local news- papers in northeastern Ohio. In 1880 Mr. Minich built the Bulletin block, in which the office of the journal is located, and which also contains three large stores or salesrooms for retail mercantile purposes. In politics Mr. Minich is a republican. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum and the Protected Home Circle. As a citizen he has always been an advocate of improvements for the public good, and has used the Bulletin in successful efforts to secure good sidewalks, electric light and water worke for the city of Kent. Beside the Bulletin building, he owns several residence properties in the city, and is a stockholder in 406 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD several manufacturing concerns. He is full of energy and enterprise, and has ever been active in promoting the best interests of his adopted city, both as an individual and as an editor. *y ^ A. MILLER, senior proprietor of the ■''^V Actual Business college at Akron, was ^L,r born near the town of Hudson, Sum- mit county, Ohio, January 2 1, 1871, a son of Charles A. and Celinda (Werntz) Miller, but, on account of the early death of both their parents, little can be traced of the family history further than to the great-grandfather on either side. Perry Miller, great-grandfather of subject, was a native of Massachusetts, of Puritan stock, and was one of the original settlers of Hudson township. Summit county, Ohio, and it is thought that his calling was that of a blacksmith. His father, also named Perry, and likewise a settler of Hudson township, was either a blacksmith or tavern-keeper — prob- ably both. Mrs. Celinda (Werntz) Miller was one of a large family of children born to Charles and Elizabeth Werntz, the former of whom died in Clinton, Ohio, November 28, 1850, at the age of forty-four years, and the latter in Canal Fulton, July 6, 1847, aged thirty-six years. Charles Werntz was a tailor and his father a blacksmith, and Charles and his wife both came from Lancaster county, Pa., being of what is known as Pennsylvania- Dutch stock. H. A. Miller received his early edcuation in the public schools of Akron, but did not quite finish the full course. At the age of thirteen years he was employed in the ship- ping department of the Enterprise Manufact- uring company of Akron, but a little later he returned to the public schools to spend another year in study; then became associated with George C. Himmelman, the druggist. At the end of a year thus employed, he went to Os- wego, N. Y., in March, 1889, to attend the Chaffee Phonographic institution. In Sep- tember, 1889, he returned to Ohio, and secured employment with the Otis Steel company, limited, of Cleveland. The following January he removed to Warren, Ohio, for more lucra- tive employment in the office of the Paige Tube company, then under the management of A. T. Paige, of Akron. In June, 1892, he removed to Toledo to accept a position with the Gendron Wheel company, and afterward became the manager of one of the depart- ments of that factory. This work was given up the following January for the purpose of establishing a commercial college in Akron. It was formally opened under the name of the Akron School of Standard Phonography, Feb- ruary 15, 1893, bearing the firm name of Miller & Booth — Booth retiring before active operations were begun. From that time until the first of April, 1895, phonography was the only branch taught. On that date the school name was changed to the Akron Commercial college, and bookkeeping and pen art under the direction of A. F. Regal were added. In March, 1896, the school quarters in the Arcade building on South Howard street, being too small, were abandoned and removal made to the I. O. O. F. Temple on South Main street, and the name changed to the Actual Business college. A new corps of teachers was added, making the faculty as follows: Miss Lulu E. Parker, physical and voice culture, elocution and reading; Miss Eva A. Taylor, vocal cul- ture; Miss Clara B. Smith, piano; W. A. Will- mot, commercial and English branches and pen art; H. A. Miller, shorthand and type- writing; and in September of the same year W. A. Willmot was admitted as a partner. Mr. Miller has made a grand success of his enterprise and now stands at the head of one OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 407 the finest educational institutions in northeast- ern Ohio, it being more especially notable for its thorough system of business instruction. ^^AMSON MOORE, one of the oldest •^^^k* and most substantial farmers of Cov- K^^T entry township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in county Antrim, Ireland, February 22, 18 19, of English ancestry, and has been a resident of America^ since three years of age. Samson Moore (first), grandfather of sub- ject, a native of England, was appointed by Esquire Harrad superintendent of the latter's large estates in Ireland, and there Samson (second) was born, in Ballymena, county Antrim. He married Jane Kerr, and to this union were born the following-named children : Robert, Mary (wife of Elisha Veirs), James, Margaret, William and Samson (the subject). In 1822 the parents of subject sailed from Belfast, Ireland, for America, in the good ship Atlas, and after a passage of nine weeks' dura- tion, safely landed in New York city, with their family. They immediately came to Ohio, and at Fairport the father started out to buy land, got wet, and died nine days later. His widow married, in Fairport, Lake county, Ohio, 'Squire James Hall, and in March, 1826, the family came to Summit county and here subject has since made his home. The farm on which the family settled was in the primitive wilderness of Coventry township, and there was not a house between it and New Portage. To 'Squire Hall and wife was born one child — Nathaniel — and here the 'squire died the year following their arrival (in 1827), and his widow on the 5th day of Septem- ber, 1855. Samson Moore, the subject proper of this memoir, was educated in the old pioneer school-house in district No. 2 of Coventry township, and here learned his letters seventy years ago. He was reared to all the hard work of a frontier farm, and January 10, 1864, married Miss Mary E. Shutt, who was born June 5, 1846, a daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Gregg) Shutt. Her father, Abra- ham Shutt, was a native of Washington county, Md., and her mother, Mary E. Shutt, was a native of Jackson township. Stark county, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Catherine (Crum) Gregg, who were early pio- neers of Jackson township. The father died in 1855, ^^'^ the mother married John Sorrick and still lives on the old farm in Jackson township. By her first marriage she became the mother of the following children : Mary E., Simon J., James T. , William H., Adam M. and George W. ; to her second union were born Thomas J., Clara, Manias H., Minnie, John and Robert. To Samson and Mary E. (Shutt) Moore have been born Jennie C, Emma T. , Louisa M., James S. and Scott C. Samson Moore, since his earliest man- hood, has been identified with the progress of Coventry township, but he has never aspired to. public office. In politics he was first a whig and voted for Henry Clay, for president, in 1844; for Salmon P. Chase for governor in 1855, and for Abraham Lincoln for president, in i860 and 1864 — and is still a stanch repub- lican. He has been a high steward in the Church of Christ since 1849, ''"d liberally contributed to the erection of the church edi- fice in that year. He has lived on his present farm of eighty-five acres for seventy-one years, and has done as much as any man in the township toward its development, and is now one of its most highly esteemed pioneers. Mr. Moore has in his possession many heir- looms that have come from as far back as the days of his grandfather, such as silver knee- buckles, shoe-buckles, a clock, etc., that to- day are veritable curiosities, and silver wed- 408 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ding-spoons, with other articles of antiquity seldom guarded so carefully by families of America, even when they had them, and of these venerable relics of the past he is justly proud. >Y*ULIUS A. MORRIS, M. D., a native of M Portage county, Ohio, was born at Kent • 1 February 13, 1848, and is a son of Henry and Susannah (Jackson) Morris, natives of Lincolnshire, England, where they were married, and in the earlier part of 1835 came to the United States, stopped for a short time in Utica, N. Y. , and in the fall came to Ohio and located, first, in Akron, and then, in 1837, settled in Franklin Mills, now Kent. Henry Morris, father of the doctor, was born June 8, 1801, and by trade was a slater and plasterer. He was twice married, and had born to him by his first wife (who died in Eng- land) two children, one of whom, Eliza, came to the United States with her father, was mar- ried to William Musson, of Akron, and is now deceased. By the second marriage of Mr. Morris, to Susannah Jackson, there were born nine children, viz: Ann, who was first mar- ried to George Reed and next to Lewis Bry- son, and died in Benton county, Iowa; John, who was for many years attorney for the Union National bank of Chicago, 111., and later succeeded Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co., in the printing and publishing business, and con- ducted the establishment under the style of the John Morris company from about 1882 until icSgS; James, who died in Vinton, Iowa; Josephine, who is married to M. L. Robinson, of Kent, Ohio; one child that died in infancy; Henry, who was an assistant surgeon in the Forty-fifth regiment. United States regular army, and was drowned in the gulf of Mexico, in 1865, while in the service; Dr. Julius A., the subject of this memoir; Adeline E., mar- ried to George Bivin, of Indiana, and Lois, who died in infancy. When Henry Morris first located in Port- age county the population of Akron numbered about 700, and that of Franklin Mills less. He plastered the first county jail at Ravenna, and also did a great deal of work for Zenas Kent. He was a good manager, observed due economy and accumulated considerable prop- erty, including a number of residences in Kent and two farms, one of which adjoined the city. He was a man of positive views, never con- tracted a debt, and never was a member of a secret society or religious body. He had no fear as to the future life, being inclined to Universalism, and was of a uniformly cheerful disposition, enjoying a good joke up to his last days. He was a devoted student of as- tronomy even after seventy-five years of age, and his religious impressions were derived directly from Nature herself. In politics he was a democrat, and at times held various local offices. His wife died in 1 881, in the faith of the Episcopal church, of which she had been a member over fifty years, and his own death took place at his residence in Kent March 17, 1885. Dr. Julius A. Morris passed his boyhood days in Kent and received his elementary edu- cation in its public schools. He commenced the study of medicine under Dr. P. H. Saw- yer, and, when fully prepared, attended one course of medical lectures at the university of Michigan, and also a special course in chemis- try. He then entered Rush Medical college, at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1870, and then went to Duluth, Minn., also to Iowa and Illinois, without decidedly deter- mining on a place for locating as a practi- tioner, and in 1876 wisely concluded to settle in Kent, where he has met with abundant suc- cess. His practice is extensive and exacting, but, notwithstanding his arduous professional OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 409 duties, he has found time to be' of service to his fellow-citizens. He affiliates with the democratic party, and is now serving his sec- ond term as president of the United States pension examining board for Portage county. He was elected three times to the city council, but at the last term resigned at the close of a year, his professional calls demanding all his attention. While in the city council. Dr. Morris was untiring in his endeavors to improve the condition of the city permanently, and was the originator of its present system of stone sidewalks, now covering over twelve lineal miles; also originated the waterworks system and the introduction of electric lights — all of which he succeeded in making realities, not- withstanding the opposition of many prominent citizens. The fact is, the doctor has filled office for the good he might accomplish, rather than from a desire to enjoy the flimsy honors that many • people suppose are attracted thereto. His name stands accordingly high, not only as a physician, but as a public benefactor. aHARLES MOTZ, one of the younger members of the bar of Summit county, Ohio, was born on a farm in North- ampton township, this county, Sep- tember lo, 1865, a son of Jacob and Eva (Schank) Motz, natives of Bavaria. Jacob Motz and wife were married in their native country of Rhine, Bavaria, and came to the United States in 1851. They lived for some time in Germantown, Pa., then came to Ohio, and lived in Hartville, Stark county, until 1864, and then came to Summit county and settled on a farm in Northampton town- ship, and Mr. Motz became one of its sub- stantial citizens, although he was a quiet, un- assuming gentleman and a lover of law and order. He followed his vocation of farmer until his death, September 4, 1896, at the age of seventy-five years, leaving his wife, who still survives, to mourn his loss. They were the parents of eight children, viz: Daniel, a farmer of Northampton township; Katie, de- ceased wife of Robert Quinn; Jacob and Henry, both deceased; William, also a farmer of Northampton township; Lizzie, deceased; Charles, the subject, and Carrie, a teacher in Summit county. All the children, with the exception of the eldest two, were college graduates, and all, with the same exceptions, were school teachers. Mention may especially be made of Jacob and Henry, of whom the former was a graduate of Buchtel college and one of its trustees; he read law with Judge Greene, and practiced at the Summit county bar about five years, was active in the Young Men's Christian association work, of which association he had served as president, was a Knight of Pythias, a stanch republican and a rising young attorney when overtaken by death. Charles Motz^ the subject, was primarily educated in the district schools and later at- tended Buchtel college; he read law in the office of Judge N. D. Tibballs, was admitted to the bar in March, 1893, located at No. 102 South Howard street, Akron, and has already made his mark as a general practitioner. He is a member of the State Bar association, and in politics is an active democrat. * y ^ ARVEY MUSSER. the head of the l'^"\ law firm of Musser & Kohler, in the J ^ * Arcade building, Akron, is a native of Millheim, Centre county, Pa., was born August 30, 1858, and is a son of P. T. and Mary J. (Mumbauer) Musser, of old Penn- sylvania-German stock. P. T. Musser, M. D., father of subject, was a graduate of Jefferson Medical college. 410 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Philadelphia, and was in active practice for many years. He was one of the early aboli- tionists of Centre county, Pa., and was ardent in his advocacy of the liberation of the slaves of the south. His death took place Decem- ber 31, 1 89 1, but his venerable widow still has her home in the Keystone state. Their chil- dren are three in number and are Ella, wife of Rev. A. J. Irey, in charge of the Baptist church at Warren, Pa. ; Dr. Charles Summer Musser, a graduate of Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia, and of the Wills eye and ear hospital of the same city, a post-graduate of medical colleges in Berlin and Vienna, and since 1890 a practicing physician at Aarons- burg, Pa. ; and Harvey Musser, the subject of this memoir. Harvey Musser, the youngest of the above family, was primarily educated in the public schools of Millheim, and this education was supplemented by attendance at Aaronsburg academy and at Missionary institute, Selin's Grove, Pa. ; he then entered Franklin & Mar- shall college, at Lancaster, from which he graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1879; he then read law with Hon. A. O. Furst, of Bellefonte, Centre county. Pa., after which he entered the law department of the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in 1882 with the degree of LL. B., and was admitted to the bars of Michigan and Ohio in May of the same year. He then came to Akron and practiced alone until July, 1886, when (having established an enviable reputation) he formed a partnership with R. W. Saddler, which was continued for about eighteen mouths. January 7, 1888, he be- came associated with Judge J. A. Kohler, under the firm style of Kohler & Musser, which obtained until December, 1895, when it was dissolved because of Judge Kohler's assuming his duties on the bench. The present firm of Musser & Kohler was then formed, a son of Judge Kohler becoming the associate of Mr. Musser, and this is now recognized as one of the ablest law firms in the city. In politics Mr. Musser is an active repub- lican and has served on the county re- publican executive committee for several "years. Fraternally he is a member of the Ohio State Bar association, of Summit lodge, No. 50, I. O. O. F., and of his college society. Phi Kappa Psi. In pro- moting the -interests of Akron in a business way, he was one of the incorporators and is now a director of the Citizens' National bank, and also an incorporator of the People's Sav- ings bank. The marriage of Mr. Musser occurred Oc- tober 4, 1888, with Miss Elizabeth Hammond Huston, daughter of James and Mary J. Huston, of Nittany, Pa., the union being blessed with three children, viz: Harvey Hus- ton, James Coburn and Philip Sumner. Mr. Musser is a member of Grace Reformed church, while his wife is a Presbyterian, and they have their home at No. 140 Ash street. Mr. Musser has been very successful pro- fessionally, and has achieved a fine reputation both as a general and as a criminal lawyer. He was retained by the defense in the cele- brated Cotell murder trial and also in the equally famous Carrier libel suit; he is now retained as attorney for the Citizens' National bank, by Robinson Bros. & Co. , by the Crown Fire Clay company, and by the Whitmore & Robinson company, while the miscellaneous business of the firm is sufficient to occupy the attention of both partners from morn until night. * y ^ ON. CHARLES B. NEWTON, attor- 1''^^ ney-at-law of Kent, Ohio, and one of jL.r the foremost in professional standing, was born in Portage county, April 1 1, 1850, a son of Justin B. and Eugenie (Bab- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 411 cock) Newton, natives, respectively, of Massa- chusetts and Ohio. Rufus P. Newton, grandfather of sub- ject, was the first of the Newton family to come from New England to Ohio, and to set- tle in Franklin township. Portage county, about 1823, bringing his wife and six children, the latter named Justin B., Lamira, Alanson, Emily, Burtley and William. He prospered here and dealt largely in live stock in associa- tion with Bert King, and, under the firm name of Newton & King, shipped extensively to the eastern markets, the result being that he became the owner of a large amount of real estate in Portage county, where he passed his declining years in peace and comfort, respected by all who knew him. Justin B. Newton was a boy when he came to Ohio with his parents, and here the major portion of his life was passed in farming, he being the owner of a tract of sixty acres of good arable land. To his marriage with Miss Babcock there were born seven children, in the following order: Emily, who died in child- hood; Perry, who died at the age of fifteen years; Charles B. , the subject of this notice; Frances, married to Root Baker, of Medina :ounty; John, a resident of Kent; Henrietta, the wife of E. C. Allen, of Kent, and Burtley, also of Kent. The father of this family died in 18S4, at the age of sixty-three years; the mother makes her home in Kent. Charles B. Newton, the gentleman whose name opens this biographical notice, was reared on his father's farm through his boyhood years, and at the age of fifteen years entered the Union school in Kent, and later was two years under instruction in the private school of Prof. Suliot; he first read law in the office of Hon. S. P. Wolcott, of Kent, and later studied tinder W. B. Thomas, of Ravenna. He was admitted to the bar at Warren, Ohio, in 1874, and has always practiced on his sole account. For ten years he did a successful general busi- ness at Newton Falls, Trumbull county, estab- lishing an excellent reputation, and since 1885 has been a member of the Portage county bar, with his office in Kent. The marriage of Mr. Newton took place in 1875 with Miss Emma L. Hartle, daughter of A. B. Hartle, a farmer of Portage county. Mrs. Newton was born in Ravenna, and has borne her busband one daughter. Lulu, who graduated from the Kent high school, with second honors, in a class of twenty-eight, of which she was the salutatorian. In politics Mr. Newton is a stanch demo- crat and has always taken an active part in the promotion of his party's success, advocat- ing its principles in eloquent speeches through several campaigns and representing it in nu- merous conventions. While at Newton Falls he was for six years a member of the school board, having been elected without opposition, although the town was indubitably republican, and for six years, also, he was a member of the school board of Kent, and notwithstanding the fact that he was its youngest member, he was its president. Mr. Newton also served two terms as mayor of Kent, and during his administration of this office many valuable im- provements were made in the city, chiefly at his suggestion or on his recommendation, and he still takes a deep interest in its progress. He is at present a member of the board of charities of Portage county, but is not con- nected with any church or secret society. Mr. Newton devotes his time exclusively to his professional duties, which are extensive as well as multifarious, and holds an indisputable position among the foremost members of the bar of Portage county. He is a gentleman of unflinching integrity, and has the implicit confidence of the entire community. He has led an industrious life, and has earned his for- tune through his personal exertions, being pos- 412 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD sessed of an indomitable determination, which was manifested even in his early manhood, when, unaided, he earned the means to defray the expenses of his education. He has built for himself a fine residence, in which the hours not devoted to business are passed in unalloyed domestic felicity. m. »ILLIAM H. MYERS, a thriving farmer of Norton township, Summit county, was born in Wadsworth township, Medina county, Ohio, March 21, 1846, and is descended from a Pennsylvania family of German origin. Alpheus Myers, father of subject, was born in Bucks county, Pa., and at the age of four years was brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Wayne county, where he was reared to manhood and taught the millwright's trade. He married Salome Myers, by whom he became the father of the following children: Mary M., wife of Isaac Tinsman; William H., subject of this biography; Lavina C, wife of S. K. Kraver; Harvey A. ; Joseva A., who was first married to Septimus Siberling and is now the widow of J. J. Slanker, the youngest child being Owen F. Mrs. Salome Myers was born in Bucks county. Pa., December 24, 1819; Al- pheus Myers, who became a farmer of Norton township in 1843, died here March i, 1878. William H. Myers, the subject of this biographical mention, passed his early life on his father's farm, then worked seven years in a flouring-mill in Wadsworth, then for two years lived in Akron. He bought his present farm in Norton township seventeen years ago, which consists of fifty-eight acres, is well improved, and affords, through his industry, a comfort- able and happy home. Mr. Myers was united in marriage, in De- cember, 1866, with Miss Emeline Johnson, who was born April 15, 1845, in Summit county, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Hartzell) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. John- son came from Northampton county. Pa., two years after marriage, and settled in Summit county, Ohio, where the death of Mr. Johnson occurred October 31, 1894, leaving two chil- dren — Emeline and Fayette E. , the former the wife of Milton Siberling. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Myers has been blessed with the following-named children: Nellie V., Ira E. (married to Ida Everhart), Laura M., Corman A., and Nellie V., who is the wife of O. E. Loomis. Mr. Myers is a republican in pol- itics, as was his father before him, and he and wife are members of the Christian church, in the faith of which they are leading consist- ent lives. a APT. SUMNER NASH, secretary and treasurer of the Akron Belting com- pany, is a native of Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, was born May 10, 1836, and is a son of Hophni and Lovisa (King) Nash, both natives of Hampshire coun- ty, Mass., where their marriage took place. The Nash family is of Scotch- Irish origin, but for many years several of its members re- sided in England, whence, early in the history of the United States, two brothers came to this country, one of -whom settled in Massachu- setts and the other, it is supposed, found a home in the sunny south. From the Bay state immigrant the subject of this biographical re- view descends, and many other of his descend- ants attained eminent positions in the learned professions and in the legislative halls of Mas- sachusetts. The King family was also among the early settlers of Massachusetts and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Hophni Nash, shortly after his marriage at Chesterfield, Mass., April 28, 1825, to Miss Lovisa, daughter of Eleazer and Mercy King, came from their native state OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 413 to Ohio and located on a farm in Bath town- ship, Summit county. Mr. Nash taught school during the winter of 1827-28, at . or near Ghent, served as clerk of Bath township for many years — this office being afterward held by each of his three sons — and followed farm- ing until his death, at Akron, April 17, 1882, at the age of eighty-five years, his wife surviv- ing until January 6, 1892, when she died at Montrose at the age of ninety years. Their children numbered five, as follows: Harriet, who was first married to Curtis D. Barber and then to a Mr. Williams, and now, a widow the second time, is residing with a daughter in Pipe Stone, Minn.; E. King Nash, M. D., of Montrose, Ohio; Nancy Ellen, widow of R. D. Pierson, of Lincoln, Neb.; Thomas W., a bookkeeper for A. M. Barber, of Akron, and Sumner, the subject of this biography. Sumner Nash was reared on the home farm and was educated in the district schools and in the academy at Richfield. When about nineteen years of age he went to Wisconsin and drove stage between Oshkosh and New London, while the country was still wild and occupied to a great extent by Indians. He next took a contract at Plymouth, Wis., for clearing the timber from the surveyed line of the Sheboygan & Fond du Lac Railroad company, then being built from Plymouth west, by making the suitable timber into ties and by cutting the refuse into cord-wood. In the fall by 1856, at Oshkosh, he took charge of a hardware store during the absence of the proprietor at the south. In the fall of 1857 he returned to his old home, attended the Richfield academy for a time, taught school several winters, and in the summer seasons worked his father's farm, and other leased land until August 6, 1862, when he enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until July 7, 1865, when he was mustered out as first lieu- tenant, although for months he had held the captaincy of a company. After his return from the war, in July, 1865, he purchased a farm in Livingston county. 111.; March 8, 1866, he married Miss Rebecca M. Means, of North- field, working the Illinois farm until 1868, when he returned to Summit county, Mrs. Nash dying July 18, 1869, leaving one child — Maud M. Spending two years on his father- in-law's farm in Northfield, and one season in Illinois, as agent for a lightning rod company, in the winter of 1872-73 he was appointed deputy county clerk by Clerk John A. Means, serving the balance of the term, and also through two terms for Clerk George W. Meeks, being himself elected clerk in 1878, and hold- ing the office two full terms of three years each. Mr. Nash is now secretary and treasurer of the Akron Belting company, fully written of elsewhere. June 23, 1874, Mr. Nash was again married — this time to Miss Linnie A. Cross, of Columbus, Ohio. (D ILTON J. NICOLA, of the popular "Pearl Steam" laundry firm of Nicola & White, Ravenna, Ohio, was born in Allentown, Pa. , No- vember 24, 1866, a son of John and Susannah (Geise) Nicola, the former of whom was a na- tive of France and the latter of Germany. After quitting the common schools, where he had been quite well educated, Mr. Nicola learned carriagemaking in Allentown, at which he worked three and a half years, and then went to Philadelphia and for three years there continued at his trade. He next came to Ohio, eventually secured a position in the carriage and hearse factory of Merts & Riddle in Ra- venna, where he remained seven years, then returned east, and for a year was engaged, in partnership with his brother, in the laundry business at Bethlehem, Pa. Returning to Ra- 414 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD venna he formed a partnership with his now father-in-law, Charles White, and in March, 1895, purchased the laundry then owned by F. D. Pitkin and located in the Riddle block. In November, 1896, the plant was removed to its present location, at the corner of Spruce and Prospect streets, the building being known as the New Laundry block. It is completely equipped with the most improved modern ma- chinery, and is patronized, not only by the best people of Ravenna, but by residents of the surrounding country, even, indeed, as far as Cleveland, and ten agencies are necessary to attend to the outside patronage. March 18, 1890, at Kent, Ohio, Mr. Nicola was united in marriage to Miss Ida Minerva White, who was born in Franklin, Pa., De- cember 4, 1866, and in 1867 was brought to Kent, Ohio, by her parents, Charles and Mary White. One child, George M., came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nicola May 20, 1892. Charles White, the father of Mrs. Nicola and the business partner of her husband, was born in Beaver county. Pa., January 15, 1842, a son of David and Mary Jane White, the for- mer of whom was a native of Scotland and the latter of Maryland. Charles was educat- ed in the public schools of Beaver and \'enan- go counties. Pa., and after leaving school worked in the oil fields of the vicinity several years. In 1865 he married Miss Mary C. Schaffer, who was born in Butler county. Pa. , May II, 1843, a daughter of Henry and Cath- erine Schaffer, natives respectively of Penn- sylvania and Germany. In 1867, as already mentioned, Mr. White came to Portage county, Ohio, bought a farm about a mile and a half from Kent, and followed agriculture until March, 1895, when he came to Ravenna and joined Mr. Nicola in the laundry. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. \\'hite have been born eight children, viz: Ida Minerva, Lizzie Jane, David, John, Alfred, Flora, Mabel and Bertha; of these, David, John and Alfred are deceased. The family are members of the Congregational church, and in politics Mr. White is a republican. For thirty-one years Mr. White has been a member of Rockton lodge. No. 316, A. F. & A. M., of Kent, while his son-in-law, Mr. Nicola, is a member of Crescent lodge. No. 225, K. of P., and of the Royal Arcanum of Ravenna. OTIS & OTIS, a prominent law firm of .Akron, Ohio, with its office in the Arcade building, is composed of the two brothers, Edward P. Otis and Ellsworth E. Otis, natives of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and sons of Rezin P. and Cath- erine (Bair) Otis, both natives of the Buckeye state, and respectively descended from New England and Pennsylvania ancestry. James Otis, the most remote of the Amer- ican ancestors of these brothers, was one of the early patriots who first protested against the tjTanny in New England of George III, of Great Britain, about 1764, and afterward be- came a soldier in the Revolution, losing his life through his patriotism. His descendants have in many instances achieved celebrity in the legal profession, in the ministry, and in the arena of politics — in the halls of congress, and in the government of the state. The name is prominent all through the history of Massa- chusetts and New England generally. The Bair family was also very prominent in the local affairs of Pennsylvania. Edward P. Otis received his elementary education in the district schools of his native county, then attended Oberlin college, next taught school awhile, and in 1877 entered Wittenberg college, from which he graduated in 1882, and at once began reading law with a legal firm of Mansfield, Ohio; next, studied under Nealy & Patrick, lawyers of New Phila- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 415 delphia, and in the winter of 1884-85 attended the Cincinnati Law school. In June, 1885, he was admitted to the bar, and in August of that year came to Akron, where for two years he was associated in practice with W. E. Slaybaugh, a former classmate. In 1887, upon the graduation of his brother, Ellsworth E., from the Ann Arbor (Mich.) Law school, the firm of Otis & Otis was formed — Ellsworth E. having been admitted to the bar prior to graduation. The preparatory and literary ed- ucation of the younger brother had been ac- quired at Wittenberg college and the Wooster university, after which he had entered the law department of the Michigan university, and was graduated as above mentioned. The firm has secured a lucrative general practice, and to some extent makes a specialty of commer- cial cases, its patronage in these coming largely from abroad. They are young men of decided talent and ability, and are fully de- serving of the growing prosperity which at- tends them. In politics both the brothers, are repub- licans; fraternally, Edward P. is a Freemason, and Ellsworth E. is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, while both are active mem- bers of their college society. Beta Theta Pi, Edward P. being president of the local chap- ter, and Ellsworth E. its secretary. Both brothers are members of the English Lutheran church, of which for several years past Edward P. has been superintendent of the Sunday- school, and for the past eleven years he has been a member of the board of directors of Wittenberg college. The marriage of Edward P. Otis took place September 21, 1887, with Miss Jessie L. Wolfe, a college acquaintance, a resident of Springfield, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry H. Wolfe. This union has been blessed with one child — Catherine Louise. Mrs. Otis is a highly accomplished lady and is one of the brightest ornaments to the society of Akron; she is widely known for her proficiency as a vocalist, and is frequently called upon to lend her musical talents to secure success to public entertainments. She is an active member of the social musical society known as the Tues- day Afternoon club of Akron, and is to a great extent the essence of its success. The pleas- ant home of Mr. and Mrs. Otis is at No. 121 Adolph avenue. Ellsworth E. Otis was married June 27, 1894, to Miss Mary Louise Guth, of Akron, the accomplished daughter of Jacob R. Guth, and they have their cheerful home at No. 986 East Market street. eDWARD OVIATT, one of the oldest and most experienced of the attor- neys at law of Akron and the head of the firm of Oviatt, Allen & Cobbs, No. 102 North Howard street, has been a resi- dent of the city since 1842. He was born in Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, May 19, 1822, a son of Marvin and Mary (Foote) Oviatt. Capt. Heman Oviatt, grandfather of sub- ject, was a native of Connecticut, of French descent, and came from Goshen, that state, to Ohio, in 1800, and settled at Hudson with his wife and two children. Although reared to mercantile pursuits, he at once imbibed the spirit of progress exhaled by the pioneers and entered about 200 acres of land in the town- ship, and, with another gentleman, purchased a large tract of land in Richfield township. He opened a store in Hudson and had a large trade with the Indians, but suffered many of the hardships of frontier life, among others that of being compelled to go, by means of an ox-cart, all the way to Pittsburg, Pa., for his merchandise. But he was a man of great progressiveness, and a man of and for his day. 416 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD He was a friend of religion and education and one of the founders of Hudson college, to which he made several munificent donations — one being for $3,000, a second for $10,000, and also several others of less amounts; he promoted the cause of foreign missionary work whenever practicable, and was ever prompt in aiding the public weal. In politics he was an active whig. Capt. Oviatt first married Miss Eunice Newton, who bore him four children, viz: Marvin, father of subject; Orson M., who for some time was a merchant in Richfield, Sum- mit county, but later was for a long time a beef-packer of Cleveland, became quite wealthy and was widely known; Harriet, who was first married to a Mr. Bronson, and later to Rev. D. A. Randall, and died in Columbus, Ohio; Louisa, the youngest child, married Ephraim Sturtevant, and died in Tallmadge, Ohio. The second marriage of Capt. Oviatt was with Miss Kilburn, of Hudson, who bore two children — a son, Heman, who for thirty years was a farmer in Summit county, but spent the latter part of his life in Cleveland, in the produce business; and a daughter, Eliza- beth. Marvin Oviatt, father of subject, was born in Connecticut in 1797, and came to Summit county, Ohio, with his parents in 1800. For some years he was here engaged in farming, but later went to Cleveland and embarked in mercantile trade; in 1825 he built a large block at the corner of Superior and Water streets, and other buildings in various parts of the city; in 1828 he went to Indiana, but in 1833 returned to Summit county, Ohio, and located on a farm in Richfield township; in 1850 he went to California, and was on his way homeward in 1853 when he met with an accident that resulted in his death. He had led a very active life, was a man of great pub- lic spirit, and in politics was a whig. His wife died in May, 1876, at the age of eighty- one years. The family of these parents con- sisted of six children, viz: Schuyler, who was a farmer of Richfield township for years, served as county surveyor and then as county treasurer four years each, and then removed to Cleveland, where his son held a position in the city engineer's office, and where he now has his home at No. 765 Genesee avenue; Tracy M., who was a graduate of Hudson college, was a teacher in Elyria academy, where he prepared Gen. Gilmore for West Point and Judge Burke for his legal career, and is now a retired minister of the Congrega- tional church and is residing in Gilroy, Cal.; Edward is the subject of this memoir; Celia M., who died in 1894, was the wife of Baxter Wood, formerly a merchant of Richfield, but now in the lumber trade in Medina and Lorain counties, Ohio; Virgil L. graduated from Hud- son college, but lived one year only thereafter, and Don Carlos, the youngest, died in Oil City, Pa., in 1865. Edward Oviatt, the subject proper of this biography, was educated at the Richfield academy, also at Granville, and at the West- ern Reserve college, and at the age of twenty years, in May, 1842, came to Akron and en- tered the law office of Carter & Bliss, under whose instructions he studied assiduously four years, and in 1846 was admitted to the bar. He was fully equipped for the practice of his chosen profession, and for a number of years conducted it alone, or until its increasing volume called for help. He was retained in some of the most noted trials that ever took place in the county, and was the counsel for Akron a number of years before its incorpora- tion as a city. In May, 1864, he answered his country's call for volunteers and enlisted in the 100-day service; he was appointed color- bearer and stationed on Arlington Heights (in Virginia, across the Potomac river from Wash- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 417 ington, D. C. ), and served until late in the following September. In politics he was a whig until the disin- tegration of that party, when he united with the republicans. He was a member of the board of education for many years, and in 1864 was elected prosecuting attorney, in which office he served four years, his name becoming a terror to criminals of all degrees, and during his long service in this capacity failed in two instances only in convicting the culprits whom he prosecuted. He is to-day recognized as one of the ablest members of the bar in the state. Mr. Oviatt is a member of the G. A. R. , and of the American and State Bar associa- tions; he is a stockholder in several national banks and is vice-president of the First Na- tional bank of Akron; he is also a stockholder in the Canadian Copper company, which sup- plies the government with nickel for coining, etc., and has many investments in other in- dustrial enterprises. The first matrimonial alliance of Mr. Oviatt was celebrated in 1 847, with Miss Anna, daugh- ter of Frederick Wadsworth. This lady died in August, 1854, leaving one child, Emma, now the wife of Calvin Edgerton, of Los Angeles, Cal. His second marriage was con- summated in December, 1855, with Frances A. Lansing, who died in August, 1881, the, mother of two children — Edward A., manager of and stockholder in the Linoleum company of Akron, and Olivia, wife of George Allen, attorney, and member of the firm of Oviatt, Allen & Cobbs. Mr. Oviatt has been one of the most pro- gressive and enterprising of the citizens of Akron, and the firm of which he is the senior member are attorneys for many of the leading corporations and business firms of the city and surrounding country, and certainly stand at the head of the profession. *'W ^ A. PALMER, a prominent business 1^^\ man of Akron, was born July 16, m. . r 1 85 1, and is a son of William and Sophia (Brock) Palmer, the former of whom settled in Tallmadge, this county, in 1 85 I, and here followed agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1876, leaving a widow whose death occurred in March, 1897 — both dying in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ten children were born to them, all of whom survive, viz: William, Nellie, Clara, Fannie, Annie, Alfred, John, Harry A., Sadie and Char- lie — ranging in ages from sixty to thirty-five years respectively. The eighth child in order of birth in the above-named family, H. A. Palmer, was married, in 1873, in Onargo, 111., to Miss Mary C. Risser, formerly of Ashland, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with five children, viz: Lottie S., Theron R., Willie (deceased), Nellie May and Harry Guy. Of these the eldest two are graduates of the high school of Akron, in the classes of 1895 and 1896, and Theron R. is now foreman of the soft rubber department of the B. F. Good- rich Rubber company, of Akron. H. A. Palmer came from Ashland, Ohio, to Akron in 1878, and established himself in the artificial stone business, which he con- ducted two years; he then became associated with the J. F. Seiberling Mower & Reaper company, and for seven years was superin- tendent of the harvester and binder depart- ment, and for two additional years was general agent of the company for territory covering three different states. In 1891 he became a member of the Akron Electrical Manufactur- ing company as business manager, and in 1895 was elected secretary and general manager — a position he resigned in 1897. A republican in politics, he was elected, in 1894, a member of the city council of Akron from the Second ward, was elected its vice-pres- ident, and on the death of its president, in the 418 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD fall of 1894, became its president. The follow- ing spring he was again elected president of the council, which office he filled with dignit}' and impartiality until the close of his term. Fra- ternally, Mr. Palmer has been an Odd Fellow since 18S0 and is at present a member of Akron lodge, No. 547, of which he is a past grand, and is also a member of Akron encamp- ment No. 18, as well as of Colfax Rebekah lodge. No. 8, and grand canton Akron No. 2, patriarchs militant, and is a past representa- tive to the grand lodge of Ohio. In 1895 he was appointed major on the staff of J. C. Whitaker, commander of the patriarchs mili- tant of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are members of the Trinit3' English Lutheran church, in which Mr. Palmer has been teacher of a bible class for the past twelve years. Mr. Palmer is an upright and energetic citizen, progressive in his views and public spirited in an eminent de- gree, and is honored and esteemed by the entire community. VVOHN F. MOORE, county commis- m sioner, and one of Summit county's «1 most prominent agriculturists, was born in Springfield township, this county, November 22, 1837. His great-grandfather, Joseph Moore, of Scotch-Irish extraction, was a pioneer of Lake township, Stark county, Ohio, who moved with his family from Penn- sylvania, and whose son John assisted in im- proving the farm on which they settled in Ohio. John Moore, grandfather of the sub- ject, continued to reside on this farm until the year 1832, when he moved to Springfield township, Summit county, and established the home which was for so many years the home- stead of the Moores. His wife was Nancy Graff, who bore him three children: Joseph, Betsey (Mrs. \Vm. Johnson) and Sarah J. (Mrs. Wolcott Hitchcock). Joseph Moore was born December 6, 181 5. He was reared as a farmer and remained on the old home- stead until about 1872, when he rested from the active duties of life and moved to Akron, where he is living at present in a green old age a happy and retired life. His wife was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Snyder) Fulkerson, natives of Germany and pioneers of Springfield township. She bore him four chil- dren: John F. , James G. , Victoria (Mrs. Sam- uel Steese) and Watson M. John F. Moore was reared on the old home- stead in Springfield township. He received all the common-school advantages of the neighborhood, to which was added a supple- mental course at the Greensburg academy. He remained on the old farm until 1862, when he purchased a farm in Copley township, upon which he has ever since resided, and which he has greatly improved and beautified, making of it a very pleasant and comfortable home place. On February 25, 1862, he married Mary L. , daughter of James and Elizabeth (Sawyer) Chamberlain, of Springfield township. To this union have been born five children: Ar- thur A., Jennie (Mrs. Jay Hawkins), Edwin D., Harry and Nellie. Mr. Moore is a very active and public- spirited citizen. He has given largely of his time to public affairs and the good of his com- munity, and his devotion to the interests of the commonwealth has commanded the atten- tion and recognition of the people of Summit county to the extent that he was, in 1895, called to serve in the responsible and im- portant capacity of county commissioner. His interest in local educational affairs is such that for twenty years he was a member of the school board, much of the time being the pre- siding officer thereof, and upon several occa- sions he was called to serve as township trus- tee. For thirty years he has been a member ^,^M^^^?i^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 421 and director of the county Agricultural society, of which he was president for some time and also vice-president. In politics he is an ar- dent republican and is a respected and valued counselor in the deliberations of his party, his sagacity and judgment in political matters be- ing given the heed that his advice on other public matters of a local nature commands, and by reason of which he wields so large an influence in the community interests of Copley township. at 'ILLIAM HAMILTON CLARKE PARKHILL, cashier of the Kent National bank, of Portage county, Ohio, was born in Brownsville, Pa., September 24, 1852, a son of William and Mary (McSherry) Parkhill. The father has been a bank cashier all his life and is still in the banking business in Brownsville; the mother died when the subject of this memoir was a small boy, and of her three children one died in infancy, and a daughter, Margaret, and the subject still survive. The father re- married, but to his second union there has been no issue. David Parkhill, great-grandfather of sub- ject, came from Ireland to America when about sixteen years of age, but soon went back to his native country; two years later he returned to America and was preparing for the ministry, but his health failed and he resumed his origi- nal trade — that of weaver. He married Mar- tha Morrow, and his first child was born in 1769. William Parkhill, grandfather of sub- ject, was born in 1782, and William, father of subject, was born near Brownsville, Pa., in 1825. W. H. C. Parkhill resided in his native town until he reached his majority, meantime attending the common schools and later tak- ing a two-years' course in the Washington & 14 Jefferson college at Washington, Pa., and also a business course at Eastman's Commer- cial college in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His first employment was as clerk on a steamboat on the Monongahela river, and he next came to Kent, where he has ever since been identified with the Kent National bank — first, in 1881, then as cashier, then as stockholder, and for two years as a director — but his position as cashier has never changed since he first as- sumed the duties of that office. The Kent National bank was organized late in 1864, its charter number being 652, with a capital stock of $100,000, and began business January 2, 1865, with Zenas Kent as its president and E. L. Day as cashier. Zenas Kent died October 4, 1865, and was succeeded by his son, Marvin, who still retains the posi- tion; Cashier Day was succeeded in January, 1866, by James S. Cooke, and he by Charles K. .Clapp, and he by W. H. C. Parkhill, in May, 1 89 1. The bank is now officered as fol- lows: Marvin Kent, president; W. S. Kent, vice-president; W. H. C. Parkhill, cashier. The capital stock has been reduced to $60,000, the surplus is $12,000, and its deposits reach nearly $100,000, and it is to-day one of the strongest financial institutions of northeastern Ohio. Mr. Parkhill was united in marriage, in October, 1876, in Brownsville, Pa., with Miss Helen A. Wells, daughter of George W. and Frances E. (Kent) Wells, and granddaughter of Zenas Kent, through her mother. Mrs. Parkhill was born in Kent, but at the age of twelve years was taken to Brownsville, Pa., by her parents. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Parkhill has been blessed by the birth of one child — Frances Kent. The family reside in a handsome frame dwelling, erected by Mr. Parkhill to suit his own taste. In politics Mr. Parkhill is a republican, and while he always performs his duty at the polls as a citizen. 422 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD never permits politics to distract his mind from business, but spares sufficient time to act as treasurer of three building and loan associa- tions. He is not a member of any church or secret society, but he and family are highly esteemed in social circles. aHARLES TUTTLE PARKS, the well- known funeral director, of No. 342 South Main street, Akron, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, is a native of Summit county, Ohio, and was born October 27, 1844, a son of George and Ruth (Tuttle) Parks, the latter of whom was called to her resting place in the bosom of the earth about the year 1873. The father is still a resident of Summit county. Charles T. Parks, the subject, received a very good education in the common schools of his township, which he attended until near about the time of his enlistment, April 27, 1 86 1, in company C, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served four months, and then veteranized by enlisting in company H, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served three years and three months, making a total service of three years and seven months, during which time his only serious injury was sustained at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., where he lost the index finger of his right hand. After his return from this service he was for about seven years engaged in the lum- ber business at Wooster, Ohio, and in 1874 entered into the undertaking business at the same place. In 1880 he relinquished under- taking, and came from Wooster to Akron, and was here employed in the Buckeye works until 1888, when he resumed undertaking, having in the meantime taken a full course of instruction in embalming at Clark's school — the embalm- ing department of the Western Reserve uni- versity at Cleveland. His present place of business is ane of the best equipped for the purpose in the city of Akron, and, as a con- sequence, he commands a large share of the patronage of those who, in the course of nature, are bereaved of their relatives. In 1865 Mr. Sparks was united in wedlock with Miss Margaret Curry, of Wooster, Ohio, who diedin 1891. August 2, 1893, Mr. Parks was again married, choosing for his bride Miss Leora Allyn, of Akron. This lady is also a graduate from Clark's school for embalming, and is the only lady in Akron, or in Summit county, skilled in this art. In politics Mr. Parks is a republican, and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He has been very successful as a business man, maintains an excellent name as a citizen, and socially he and Mrs. Parks are recognized in the best circles of Akron. eDWARD A. PARSONS, treasurer of the Railway Speed Recorder com- pany, Kent, Ohio, was born in North- ampton, Mass., January 25, 1829, and is a son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Parsons, who settled in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, in 1831. Edward Parsons, father of subject, was born in Northampton, Mass., March 14, 1797, a son of Moses and Esther (Kingsley) Parsons, also natives of the Bay state and of English extraction. He learned the trade of carpen- ter, and when about twenty-nine years old married Miss Clementine (or Clementina) Janes, a school-teacher of Northampton, a daughter of Peleg Cheney and Martha (Coy) Janes, the former of English and the latter of Irish extraction — the marriage taking place January i, 1828. Two and a half years later Mr. Parsons, with his wife and son, Edward A., came to Ohio and first located in Brecks- ville, Cuyahoga county, but one year later p., ^^kyUL^^^-z^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 423 went to Cleveland, and six months still later settled in Brimfield township, Portage county. He there owned over 200 acres of land, on which he passed his life until 1S68, when he retired to Kent, and here ended his days, April 6, 1874, a member of the Episcopalian church, and the father of six children, viz: Edward A., the subject; Timothy G. , whose memoir appears below; Harriet J., born in Brimfield township June 24, 1835 — died October 2, 1876; Martha Kingsley, born April i, 1838; William Cheney, born February 19, 1841, and Clementina, born September 20, 1843. Edward A. Parsons, with whose name this biographical notice opens, was an infant in arms when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared on his father's farm, was well educated in the common schools, and so well availed himself of his advantage that, on quit- ting his studies, he was competent to teach, and for three terms conducted schools in Port- age county. He continued to reside on the farm until 1853, when he married, September 25, of that year, Miss Mary J. Underwood, daughter of Freeman and Mercy Amelia (Lincoln) Underwood, who came from Massa- chusetts and settled in Brimfield township, Portage county, Ohio, in 18 18. Mrs. Parsons was born in Brimfield township in December, 1832, and was there reared to womanhood. After marriage, Edward A. Parsons, with his wife, settled on a farm which he had pre- viously purchased, and which had been partly improved, and which he continued to improve until he owned one of the best in the township. In i860 he removed to Kent (then Franklin Mills), and for some time was a produce mer- chant. In the latter part of 1863 he embarked in the lumber trade, and in 1864 formed a partnership with Porter B. Hall, under the firm name of Parsons & Hall, built the first planing mill in town, continued the business a year or so, then formed a partnership with his brother, Timothy G., and carried it on un- der the style of E. A. Parsons & Bro. until 1869, when he withdrew, the brother succeed- ing him. Mr. Parsons then associated with George O. Rice, under the firm name of Par- sons & Rice, in the produce trade, but the year after Mr. Parsons sold out his interest in this concern. In 1875 he re-engaged in the produce business as a member of the firm of Parsons & Foote, but a change was again made, and Mr. Parsons was for a time alone in the same line. In 1875, also, Mr. Parsons became interested in the patent covering the railroad speed recorder, and the first machines in this interest were constructed at his resi- dence under the supervision of his son-in-law, J. B. Miller. In January, 1877, the Railway Speed Re- corder company was formed as a joint-stock concern and a factory built. Of this company Mr.- Parsons was elected secretary, and in 1878 was also elected treasurer, and filled the double of^ce until 1887, when he was released, to some extent, of his overweighing duties and elected to the single office of treasurer, to which he has since given his entire attention, with the exception, perhaps, of three years. The company has a capital stock of $250,000, gives employment to about fifty men, and is one of the most prosperous industries of the city of Kent. In politics Mr. Parsons was in his early manhood a democrat, but at the outbreak of the Civil war became a republican. His first public office was that of clerk of Brimfield township; he then became assessor, and later a justice of the peace, and still later was elected township treasurer after his removal to Kent. In 1874 he was elected county com- missioner to fill an unexpired term, and in 1875 was elected for a full term, having proved himself to be efficient in the perform- ance of the duties of this office as well as of 424 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD those he had previously filled, and in this position was the projector of the fine arch bridge which spans the Cuyahoga river at Kent, his service ending in 1878. He has since served as a member of the city council five terms, and in this body was one of the strong advocates-of the legislation which gave to Kent her electric lights, waterworks and permanent sidewalks. He has also served five terms as a member of the school board, and in that capacity was always forward in promoting the efficiency of the public schools. Mr. Parsons is a member of Rockton lodge. No. 316, F. & A. M., and attends the Univer- salist church, with which his wife is united. They occupy a fine residence which Mr. Par- sons built in 1868, and here have reared, be- side their own children, Effie, the wife of J. B. Miller, a farmer near Kent. Mrs. Parsons, for a long time a school-teacher prior to her marriage, and a most estimable lady, has been a faithful helpmate in aiding her husband to reach his present exalted position in the community of Kent. UMOTHY GRAVES PARSONS, plan- ing mill proprietor and lumber dealer at Kent, Ohio, was born in Brimfield, Portage county, September 17, 1832, a son of Edward and Clementine (Janes) Par- sons, natives, respectively, of Northampton and Brimfield, Mass., were there married in 1828 and in 1830 came to Ohio, stopped in Cleveland a year and then came to Brimfield township, where they cleared up a farm, on which they resided until 1863, when they came to Kent, where the father died at the age of seventy-six, April 4, 1874, and the mother in 1892, at ninety years. To their union were born six children, viz: Edward A., of Kent; Timothy G., subject; Harriet J., who was married to Sherman M. Blake, and died in Richwood, Union county, Ohio; Martha K. , wife of Hon. George W. Grouse, of Akron; William C, of the same city; and Clementine, married to Charles H. Barber, of Kent. Edward Parsons, father of subject, beside being a farmer, had in early life learned the carpenter's trade, and while in Cleveland as- sisted in the erection of the American House, now an old landmark in that city, but after coming to Portage seldom worked at his trade, but, in connection with his farming, kept a store and was for a number of years postmas- ter of Brimfield. In politics he was a whig, and in religion an Episcopalian. Moses Par- sons, father of Edward, could trace his ances- try back to Cornet Joseph Parsons, who came over from England in 1635 and settled in Mas- sachusetts, in which state he passed his en- tire life. Timothy G. Parsons, until eighteen years of age, passed his time on the home farm and in his father's store, and received his educa- tion in the common schools with the exception of one term in the academy in Franklin Mills and one term in Bissell's academy at Twins- burg, and then engaged as a clerk in a store in Akron. At the age of twenty years he went to California via New York and the isthmus of Panama, and for about seven years was en- gaged in mining most of the time, and the re- mainder of the time in agriculture, and then returned, via the isthmus and New Orleans, to Brimfield, Ohio, purchased a farm, and for about a year employed himself in its tillage. In September, i86r, Mr. Parsons enlisted in company A, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, took part in the campaign under Garfield up the Big Sandy in eastern Kentucky; afterward under Gen. George W. Morgan in the Cumberland Gap campaign; afterward, in the Thirteenth army corps, took part in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Champion Hills, Black OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 425 River Bridge, and siege of Vicksburg. In No- vember, 1863, he was honorably discharged at Vicksburg on account of disabihty caused by sickness. As soon as he had recuperated, however, he re-entered the service as clerk in the quartermaster's department and served until July, 1865. Returning home, he thence made a trip to Kansas with a view to locating, but, dissatisfied with the country, returned to Ohio and engaged, in partnership with his brother, Edward A., in the lumber business at Kent, in September, 1865; a little more than four years later, in January, 1870, he pur- chased his brother's interest, and since that date has been doing a most prosperous trade on his own sole account. The marriage of Mr. Parsons took place December 12, 1866, to Miss Eleanor M. Saw- yer, daughter of Henry and Susan (Hall) Sawyer, of Brimfield, and to this union have been born five children, of whom one died in infancy, and one, Susie O., died at the age of seven years. The surviving three are named Edward S., John T. and Dwight L. The family worship at the Congregational church, have a tine home, and their domestic relations are very pleasant. In politics Mr. Parsons affiliates with the republican party, and has held several offices, but has never aspired to political honors. Fraternally he is a Free- mason, and is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R. He is public spirited and liberal as a citizen, and ever ready to lend his aid, finan- cially and otherwise, to the promotion of the interests of Kent, and as a business man he bears a pure and untarnished name. HLBERT E. PECKHAM, superintend- ent of the Ravenna Shoe Manufact- uring company, is a native of Peter- sham, Mass., was born December 4, i860, and is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Sprague) Peckham, the former of whom was born in Phillipston, Mass., and the latter in Petersham. Benjamin Peckham, a stonemason and contractor, died in March, 1881; his widow now resides with her son, the subject, in Ra- venna. Mr. and Mrs. Peckham had a family of ten children, of whom four only are now living, viz: Louis, Edwin, Albert E. and Ella, the last named being the wife of Arthur King, of Cleveland, Ohio. Some of the best stone work in Massachusetts stands to-day as an evidence of the skill and integrity of Ben- jamin Peckham, especially the bridge work between Athol and Springfield, on the Boston & Albany railroad, all of which he constructed and finished. Albert E. Peckham, after quitting school, was employed for si.x years by the New Home Sewing Machine company, at Orange, Mass., which position he resigned, at the urgent re- quest of a brother, in order to learn black- smithing under the latter, with whom he re- mained four years when he sustained a spinal injury by the kick of a vicious horse, and this injury kept him idle for nearly two years. He then entered the employ of the W. H. Burt Shoe company, at Brookfield, Mass., and, at the close of a year, had become master of the trade. He was then offered and accepted a situation, at an advanced salary, with the E. M. Dickinson Shoe company in Fitchburg, Mass., where he remained live years, when, hearing that a shoe factory had been started in Ravenna, Ohio, and being desirous of seeing the west, he wrote to the new firm, known as the Jordan & Goodrich Shoe company, which company, finding by correspondence that Mr. Peckham was an expert, appointed him its foreman. The new company, however, re- mained in business one year only, when it dis- posed of its building and machinery to Merts & Rumbaugh, who at once founded the Ra- 426 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD venna Shoe company, of which Mr. Peckham was made superintendent in 1892. Since his appointment to this responsible position, Mr. Peckham, through his energy and ability, has been largely instrumental in placing the fac- tory on a substantial basis. During the recent stagnation in business it was not closed a single day, and it now gives employment to ninety-three hands, turns out 500 pairs of shoes per day, and for the past fifteen months has been in operation day and night. Seven traveling salesmen are kept busy, and their sales are made chiefly in the western states. In October, 1886, Mr. Peckham was united in marriage with Miss Emma L. Snow in Athol, Mass. Her parents are Daniel and Madora Snow, both natives of the Bay state, where they still reside, and in Grafton, in the same state, Mrs. Peckham was born in No- vember, 1868. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Peckham has been blessed with two children — Ralph Edgar, born June 15, 1888, and Ruth Gladys, born November 23, 1896. Mr. Peck- ham is a member of the Senior Order of Uni- ted American Mechanics, and also of the An- cient Order of Foresters, of Ravenna, and in politics is a stanch republican. Socially he has attained a very high position and enjoys the respect of a wide circle of personal friends as well as the esteem of the general public. at 'ALTER W. PATTON, a prominent citizen of Kent, Portage county, and eminent as an educator, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, November 10, 1834, a son of John and Mary M. (McKain) Patton, natives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and of the Buckeye state — the paternal great-great-grandfather of subject hav- ing come to America from Scotland. John Patton, father of subject, passed his early life in the Keystone state, was there mar- ried, and had born to him one daughter, and there his wife died. He then came to Ohio and located in Trumbull county, where he mar- ried Miss McKain, the result of this union be- ing five children, of whom Walter W. is the eldest. Some time after his second marriage Mr. Patton removed to Mahoning county, then newly erected (1846) from Trumbull and Co- lumbiana counties, where he passed the re- mainder of his days, having been an honest and industrious farmer all his life. Walter W. Patton was reared on his fa- ther's farm until sixteen years of age, when, in 1850, he entered what is now Hiram col- lege, studied assiduously, and at the age of seventeen taught his first school — in Millin township, Mahoning county. For several years he attended school in the fall, taught school in the winter, and in the summer worked at anything he could find to do — chiefly farm work, at $i4per month — his clothing be- ing all homespun in those early days. But he possessed an indomitable determination to be- come an educator or to enter one of the learned professions as his life work, and completed his studies at Mount Union college, having earned with his own hands the means of defraying his expenses. After graduating he resumed his vocation and taught district schools in Ma- honing, Trumbull and Ashland counties, and in 1859 came to Portage county, was placed in charge of the graded school of Rootstown, and taught with most flattering success four terms — this being a select school part of the year. In 1 86 1 , he went to Ravenna and taught one year, at the same time read law in the office of Hart & Reed, and was admitted to the bar the same year. He then came to Kent and had charge of the schools one year, but declining health compelled him to relinquish the confinement of the school-room, and he engaged in mercantile trade for a short period. He then again assumed charge of the schools OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 427 of Kent and continued in charge seven years, or until 1878. He then engaged in the prac- tice of law for some time, when he embarked in fruit growing, although he yet keeps up a desultory practice of the legal profession. Since 1861 Mr. Patton has been an ardent republican in politics and an eloquent advo- cate of the principles of that party, having "stumped" through several campaigns in its behalf and having been a delegate to county, district and state conventions of the party. He has served as a member of the county board of elections; has been a member of the school board for six years and has served as cemetery trustee and was postmaster of Kent during Harrison's administration. Mr. Patton was united in marriage, in 1863, with Mrs. Harriet Daly, nee Beech, whose two children by her former husband have assumed the name of Patton, in honor of their step-father. These children are named Emma B., who is a music teacher, and John B. , who for twelve years has been a commer- cial traveler for the firm of Mills & Gibbs, of New York city. In his societary relations, Mr. Patton is a knight templar Mason, and is also past worshipful master of Rockton lodge. No. 316. Mr. Patton is a gentleman who has known how to make his way through the world, and having been born with innately strong sense, has not permitted his opportunities to idly slip by. He has hosts of friends who admire him for his true integrity and manly worth, and his prosperity through life has been of his own making. *» ^ S. PELL, superintendent of the Ster- |f\ ling company's boiler works at Bar- M . * berton, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Lykens, Dauphin county, July 23, 1846, and is a son of William M. and Ambia (Shouff) Pell. The grandfather of subject, James Pell, was born in Wilmington, Del., was a hero of the Revolutionary war, and served in the United States army ten years. He was a millwright by trade, married a Miss Hatch, and died in Delaware county. Pa., where he had resided a number of years, an honored and highly respected citizen. William M. Pell, father of subject, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., was a civil engineer by profession, and for many years was em- ployed as such by various coal mining com- panies, but later became a mining contractor and handled and delivered immense quantities of coal, accumulating a handsome competence. H. S. Pell, at the early age of ten years, began to work for his living, and from sixteen to twenty years served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade. Between the ages of twenty and twenty-six years he was employed in superintending and erecting rolling-mills and blast-furnaces, and erected and put in opera- tion at LaGrange, Tenn. , the first mill con- structed after the close of the Civil war, and also a mill at Waynesboro, Tenn. ; he also erected a mill at Carondelet, Mo., from which was turned out the first T rail west of the Mis- sissippi river. From twenty-six to thirty-three years of age he was foreman of the Totten company machine shops, a large plant at Saint Louis, and from thirty-three to thirty-five had charge of the Carondelet plant alluded to above. The next three years were passed by Mr. Pell in Minnesota, where he employed his time in hunting, fishing and other out-door e.\- ercises and amusements for the recuperation of his health, and then, from thirty-eight to forty-three years of age, was superintendent of the Witherow works at New Castle, Pa,, which works have built eighty-three per cent of the modern blast-furnaces and steel plants in the United States. Since 1891 Mr. Pell 428 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD has held his present position as superintendent of the SterHng works at Barberton. which em- ploy 1 1 5 men at the plant and keep eighteen men on the road, constantly erecting boilers all over the country. The output of the con- cern likewise reaches Africa and all the South American republics, and, indeed, nearly all parts of the world, and Mr. Pell is entitled to much credit for the excellence of the product. Mr. Pell was united in marriage December 24, 1872, with Miss Sarah M. Wallaker, a na- tive of Pittsburg, Pa., born June 23, 1854. To this union have been born four children, viz: Daniel W. , who is an assistant to his father as a mechanical engineer; James B., a student in the Michigan universit}- at Ann Ar- bor; Irene M. and Harry S., attending a pri- vate school. In religion the family affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church. In pol- itics Mr. Pell is a republican, but the engross- ing cares of his responsible position precludes his taking any particularly active part in local politics. aOL. SIMON PERKINS (deceased) was born in Warren, Ohio, February 6. 1805, a son of Gen. Simon and Nancy (Bishop) Perkins, who were natives of Norwich, Conn., of Puritan descent, and who settled in Warren, Ohio, in 1803. Gen. Simon Perkins, during the war of 1812, was in command of the troops of northern Ohio, and at Warren was the agent of the Connecticut Western Reserve Land company. He was himself a very extensive landowner. and, as will be readily inferred, a personage of much prominence and influence. Col. Simon Perkins was reared in Warren, was educated in its public schools, and began his business life as clerk for his father, with whom he later became associated in real estate transactions. In 1835 he came to Akron, ! ' where his business relationship with the gen- eral still continued, and, being himself also the owner of large tracts of land, was greatly interested in everything that pertained to the growth and development of Akron and the sur- rounding country. He was also extensively engaged in farming and live stock breeding, and in the latter capacity was instrumental in introducing some of the best breeds in the I country and in creating a commendable com- petition in this line of industry. In 1839-40 Col. Perkins was a member of the state sen- ate, and it was largely through his influence that the new county of Summit was erected in 1840. In 1841-42 he was representative from Summit count}', during which term he secured the passage of the bill which submitted to the popular vote the question of locating the county seat. For ten years, between 1839 and 1877, he was a trustee of Portage township. He was a charter member of the Akron Rural Cemetery association and one of its most active promoters from 1839 until his voluntary resignation in April, 1880, a period of forty- one years. Col. Perkins was also one of the pioneer railroad promoters of Summit county, and was president of the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati (now the Cleveland, Akron & Co- lumbus) company from March 11, 1851, to November 3, 1864, and then general superin- tendent until November 4, 1869, and sacrificed nearly all of his private fortune in upholding the credit and advancing the interests of the road; he was likewise a liberal contributor of land and money for parks and other public grounds, as well as to all the industrial, educa- tional and benevolent enterprises, and most of these contributions were made voluntarily. The marriage of Col. Perkins took place in September, 1832, to Miss Grace I. Tod, daughter of Judge George and Sally (Ingersoll) Tod and sister of the late governor of Ohio, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 429 David Tod. This marriage was blessed with eleven children, ten of whom reached the years of maturity, viz: Anna, George I., Simon, Alfred, Henry, Maria A. (Mrs. Charles Raw- son), Grace T. (Mrs. Albert Lohmann), Thomas, Charles and David T. Of these children seven still survive. The lamented death of this philanthropist and patriot occurred July 21, 18S7, at the age of eighty-two years, five months and fifteen days, while that of his wife took place April 6, 1867, when fifty-six years and six da3's old. July 4, 1895, the city of Akron, in grateful re- membrance of the deceased, erected a granite monument in Grace park, Akron, not as en- during, however, as the cherished names of Simon Perkins and Grace I. Tod, his wife. >Y* W. PERRY, a well-known citizen of ■ Barberton, Summit county, Ohio, was A 1 born in Scioto county, February 14, 1843, but passed away June 2, 1897. He bore a name made glorious in American histor\- by his grandfather's uncle. Com. Oliver Hazard Perry, who won the signal naval vic- tory over the British, near Sandusky, on lake Erie, September 13, 181 3, in what is known as the second war for American independence. Samuel Perry, grandfather of subject, was a farmer of Scioto county, and there was born his son. Nelson Perry, the father of subject, who received a good academic education, and for the major portion of his life was foreman of what was familiarly known as the Scioto iron furnace, and was also a contractor and shipper of pig iron. After receiving a good common-school edu- cation J. W. Perry enlisted, July 16, 1861, in company A, Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and fought in the western army through Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Caro- lina and North Carolina, chief among his battles being those of Corinth, Miss., and Park Cross Roads, and all those included in the Atlanta campaign. He was also with Sherman on his march to the sea, and at Sharon, N. C. , twice sustained gun-shot wounds while attempting to cross the river at that point, and thus manfully maintained the reputation of his family for warlike deeds until honorabh' disharged July 26, 1865, shortly after the close of the war. August 30, 1865, Mr. Perry was united in wedlock with Miss Mahalia Dunlop, daughter of David and Sophia (Graves) Dunlop, and this happy union was blessed with the follow- ing children: Lorin, Congress, James E., Irene, Charles and Alhlining. For twenty- five years after his marriage Mr. Perry was engaged in canal-boat life, and in the fall of 18-91 settled in Barberton, whither his good name and the fame of his brave deeds had preceded him, and where, as a republican, he was soon appointed deputy town marshal, and later night watchman of the Diamond Match factory, in which his sons are still employed in various capacities. Mr. Perry was a mem- ber of Lincoln commandery, U. V. U., and of the G. A. R. , and although his family are comparatively but recent additions to the social circles of Barberton, they stand very high in the esteem of its members. HOMAS G. PHILLIPS, general state agent for the Equitable Life Assur- ance society of the United States at Ravenna, Ohio, was born September 3, 1822, in Plaseyrhendy, Pembrokeshire, ^^'ales, a son of Caleb and Sarah (Evans) Phillips, who were the parents of five sons and four daughters, of which family four are still 430 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD living, viz: Thomas C, William, Evan and Mary, the wife of Evan Jenkins. Of the de- ceased, John was a soldier in the Civil war. Caleb Phillips, who was a farmer by voca- tion, brought his family to America in 1837, and first located in Milton, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he lived until about 1857, when they removed to Paris township. Portage county, where the father died March 23, 1869, at the age of seventy-seven years, having lost his wife January 7, 1866, at the age of seven- ty, members of the Congregational church, although the father had formerly been a deacon in the Baptist church. Thomas G. Phillips was fourteen years of age when his father located in Trumbull county and was sixteen years old when he be- gan learning the cabinetmaker's trade in Ra- venna. His marriage took place in Freedom, Ohio, May i, 1844, to Miss Delia Marion Hill, daughter of Rev. John and Laura (Bushnell) Hill, which union has been blessed with five children, of whom George M. is cashier of the First National bank of Northfield, Minn., which position he has held for twenty-five years; Morton H. married for his first wife Bertha Bethel, to which union was born one child, Clara Mabel, the mother dying when the child was still an infant; the second marriage of Morton H. was with Victoria Burleigh, who died December 30, 1896. To this union were born two daughters — Laura and Alice — now attending school at St. Catherine's, Canada, and the father is now a resident of Philadel- phia; Laura M. is the wife of D. B. Beers, cashier of the First National bank of Bowling Green, Ohio, and is the mother of two chil- dren — Morris and Ella May; Lucy is the widow of Watson Smith, and has one son — Arthur Bushnell; Lizzie, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Phillips are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and politically he is a republican. He has been a successful business man, and carried on the furniture trade from 1846 to 1872, with the exception of three years — 1859 to 1862 — and has also dealt extensively in real estate, purchasing lots, improving them and then selling. In 1872 he was appointed agent for the Equita- ble Life Assurance society of the United States for Portage and Trumbull counties, and July I, 1874, was appointed general agent for the state of Ohio. In speaking of his work Mr. Phillips remarks: "In 1872, at the age of fifty years, I entered the service of the Equitable Life Assurance society as a local agent in Ravenna, Ohio, and now, in 1897, report that during that time I have written 2,500 policies, of which I have settled 380 — fifty-two being death claims, the others being matured tontines, and settled with the per- sons assured." That equity has been the leading purpose of its managers from its in- ception, thirty-seven years ago, to its colossal proportions at the psesent time, is evidenced by its history being without a parallel in the history of the world; and, being conducted on principles indicated by its name, the Equita- ble is destined to bless the world for ages to come. Mr. Phillips has been strictly honorable in all his dealings, and bears a reputation that is a credit to himself and family, as well as to the company he so ably represents. ^"V'COTT PIERCE, district agent for the •^^^kT New England Life Insurance com- hs,^^y pany, of Boston, with headquarters at rooms Nos. 18 and 19 Doyle block, Akron, Ohio, has been located in this city since April, 1894. He was born in Sharps- ville, Mercer county. Pa., January 18, 1866, a son of James J. and Kate (Pritzel) Pierce, of English and German descent, respectively. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 431 Scott Pierce is of the eighth generation of his family in America, and descends directly from Thomas Pierce, who founded the family in New Hampshire prior to the Revolutionary war. Most of the family have been engaged in the development of iron industries, from mining to manufacture. James J. Pierce, fa- ther of subject, is a manufacturer in the iron trade, and has a family of five children, born in the following order: Scott, the subject; James A. , an attorney of Pittsburg, Pa. ; Chloe H., wife of Dr. H. A. Zimmerman, of Youngs- town, Ohio; Jonas J., Jr., a chemist, and Frederick P., still at home with his parents. Scott Pierce was educated in the public schools of Sharpsville, Pa., and also passed through two terms — freshman and sophomore — in Buchtel college, Akron, Ohio. On leaving college he passed five years in traveling for the Pig Iron Manufacturing company of Sharps- ville, Pa. , of which his father was and still is the senior member, and which stands at the head of this industry in the Keystone state, under the firm name of Dougla Furnace com- pany; he next acted in the same capacity for Forsythe, Hyde & Co., of Chicago, 111., and a year later, at the date already specified, as- sumed the duties pertaining to the very re- sponsible position he now holds, and has suc- ceeded in setting the New England Life Insur- ance company on a solid basis within his prescribed district. He is a member of the Akron club, an ardent republican, and a mem- ber of the board of education. Mr. Pierce was most happily united in marriage, in Harrison, Ohio, in November, 1 89 1, with Mabel Marvin, the union being blessed with two children — Marvin and Char- lotte. The parents are members of the Uni- versalist church, but Mr. Pierce is retained as first tenor in the choir of the Episcopal church. The pleasant residence of Mr. Pierce is at No. 208 South Forge street. * ■ ^ ENRY PLUM, one of the venerable 1^^^ and highly respected citizens of Cuy- M. . r ahoga Falls, and for a half a century a merchant of this town, was born in Middletown, Conn., November 13, 1813, andis a son of Benoni and Deborah (Tryon) Plum. The family name has been variously called Plumb, Plume, Plummer, Plumm and Plum, can be traced in Normandy to the year 11 88, and in England to 1272, and was endowed with a coat of arms. The founder of the fam- ily in America, John Plum, came from Eng- land in 1635, probably landed at Boston, and settled at Watertown, Mass. He was a Puri- tan, and left Watertown with his minister and a congregation, who were the first settlers of Weathersfield, Conn. The party consisted of from thirty to forty men, most of them prob- ably having their families with them. John Plum was a man of importance and a. member of the general court from February 9, 1637, until 1642. While a member of this court, on March 8, 1637, Mr. Plum was ap- pointed at Hartford, for Weathersfield, to buy corn of the Indians, as the inhabitants were in a starving condition, agreeing to pay from four to six shillings per bushel. He served in vari- ous offices, such as marking the boundaries of towns, laying out roads, etc. He was one of the men in Capt. Mason's little army during the Pequot war in 1637 and received a grant of land for his services. In the spring of 1644 he was appointed to attend to the clearance of vessels at Weathersfield and the same fall he sold all his land and houses in Weathers- field and removed to Branford. He died in July, 1648, aged about fifty-five years. His children were named John, Samuel, Robert, Dorcas and Timothy. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in April, 1746, and married June 1 1, 1767, Mary Doud. He was a farmer and lived in Middletown, Conn., where he was 432 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born. He and wife were the parents of Archi- bald, Benoni, Seth, Lucy, Rebecca, Esther and David. He was the son of Benoni, Jr., and Rebecca (Alkins) Plum. Benoni was born at Middletown, Conn., and died there November 27, 1747, aged about twenty-seven years. His children were Daniel and Benoni. He was the son of Benoni first, who was the first Plum on the records of the town of Mid- dletown, Conn., and was allotted property from vacant lands of the town. It is not known where he was born or who his father was, but that he was a man of means is certain, from the fact that his name is found first on the records. He mar- ried, the first time, Dorothy Call; the second time, Abigail Guilbert, and his children were Samuel, Daniel, Daniel second, and Benoni. Benoni Plum first, died at Middletown, Conn., October 6, 1754. Benoni Plum, father of subject, was born at Middletown, Conn., July i, 1782. He was a shoe merchant and married, September 24, 1808, Deborah Tryon, and their children are Mary A. , Henry, Lucy and Elizabeth. Mr. Plum came to Ohio in 1837, settled at Monroe Falls and engaged in the shoe business; after retiring he came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he passed the last fourteen years of his life with our subject, after the death of his wife, and here he died November i, 1871. Politically, he was first a whig and later a republican. Henry Plum, the subject, received a com- mon-school education and learned, when young, the shoe business. He married, Oc- tober II, 1835, at Middletown, Conn., Nancy North, who was born in 1814, a daughter of Selah and .^nna (Newell) North. The North family were of Sterling English Puritan stock, John North, founder of the family in America, coming from England, at the age of twenty years, in 1635. In 1656 he settled in Farm- ington, Conn., purchased a farm and died in leaving nine children John, Samuel, Sarah, Nathaniel, 1690, Mary, James, Thomas Lydia and Joseph. Thomas North, son of above, was born in 1649, and died in 17 12. He settled in the town of Avon. Conn., was a soldier in the In- dian wars and received a grant of land for his services. He was the father of ten children, viz: John, Thomas, Hannah, Nathaniel, Mary, Joseph, Rebecca, L3'dia, Ebenezer, and one whose name is lost. His son Thomas was a citizen of Kensington, Conn. , where he was one of the founders of the church — a man of wealth and influence. He had eight children named Martha, Isaac, Thomas, Jane, Sarah, Samuel, Joseph and Hannah. His son Isaac was born in 1703, died in 1788, was a deacon of a church in Kensington, and was the father of eight children: Isaac, Mary, Jedediah, Lydia, Samuel, Seth, Ruth and Lethe. Jedediah North, his son, was born in 1734, and died in 18 16. He lived in Northington, near Berlin, Conn., married Sarah Wilcox, and became the father of eleven children: Asa, Levi, David, Simeon, Stephen, Sarah, Olive, Patient, Noah, Lydia and Hannah. His son Simeon was the maternal grandfather of our subject, called by courtesy Col. North, was born July 13, 1765, and died August 25, 1852. He lived first in Berlin and afterwards in Middletown, Conn., and was a manufacturer of arms for the United States government. He first married Lydia Lucy Savage, who was born in 1786 and died in 181 1. He next married Lydia Huntington. His first wife bore nine children, viz: Reuben, James, Alvin, Selah, Elizabeth, Lucetta, Simeon, Nancy, and Lydia. Several of the sons were graduated from Yale college. Col. North made 20,000 pistols for the United States government during the war of 18 1 2 He was the first to make pistols with OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 433 interchangeable parts, and this was considered to be a very valuable invention. In the Navy department at Washington, D. C. , can be seen a pair of revolvers made by him at his factory, Middletown, Conn. These revolvers are gold mounted and he received $i,ooo for for them. Selah North, father of Mrs. Plum, was born at Berlin in 1791, and was killed by lightning in his own house at Stowe, Ohio. He was the father of thirteen children: Nancy, Egbert, Julius, George, John, Philip, Charles, Sarah, Newell, Charlotte, Betsey, Ellen and Selah. Mr. North was a gunsmith in Con- necticut and came to Ohio in 1835 '^"d settled in Stowe township, Summit county, on land mostly in the woods, which he cleared up and converted into a good farm. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist church, a democrat in politics, and a captain in the old militia. The Norths, as well as the Plums, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and it is said that forty of the latter family were Revolutionary soldiers. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Henry Plum settled in Monroe Falls, where he engaged in the shoe business and resided seven years. He then, in 1847, moved to Cuyahoga Falls and engaged in the shoe business. To Mr. and Mrs. Plum were born Mary E., Henry W. , Charles M. (who died aged six months), Lucy A., William R., Julia A., Sarah E. , Ella L. , Rose N. and Carrie A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Plum are life-long members of the Methodist church, in which he has held all the lay offices, and was class leader, steward and treasurer twenty-one years; he has been very active and prominent in his church, and has assisted to build churches and support them liberally. In politics he was a whig, and later became a republican, and voted for A. Lincoln for his first term. Fraternally, he is a member of Starr lodge, F. & A. M. , and is now a non-affiliating Odd Fellow. Of his children, two sons served in the great Civil war — William R. and Henry W. — in the tele- graph department. William R., after the war, graduated from Yale law school with high honors. In 1882 he published the Military Telegraph in the Civil War, in two volumes, at Chicago. He has been a prominent lawyer in Chicago for years. The entire family is one of the most respected in Summit county, and Mr. Plum, throughout his long life, has always been noted for his industry and high integrity of character. '^-t'AMES L. porter, a prominent citi- M zen, ex-justice of the peace, and ex- /• 1 soldier, of Coventry township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Mahoning county, October 3, 1843, and is a son of Aaron and Rachel (DeLong) Porter. Shorts Porter, paternal great-grandfather of subject, and his son David, both natives of the north of Ireland, came to America while the latter was still a young man and settled in Butler county. Pa., where David, grandfather of subject, married Sarah Hughes, the union resulting in the birth of Aaron, Robert, Sarah and William. The grandparents, soon after marriage, removed to Venango county. Pa., where David Porter realized considerable wealth as a lumberman and through his in- terest in the iron furnaces of that region. He served in the war of 1812 and endured great hardships in the m.emorable march to lake Erie, but survived the contest, and died in peace at his home, a substantial and respected citizen. Aaron Porter, father of James L., was born in Butler county, Pa., March 25, 1801, and passed his earlier years in lumbering and in working in the iron furnaces. He first mar- ried Mary Jacobs, a daughter of Jacob Jacobs, 434 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD who bore two children — George and Mary — the latter the wife of Levi Gibbons. From Pennsylvania, Mr. Porter came to Ohio and located in what is now Mahoning countj', where, having lost his first wife, he married Rachel DeLong, a native of the county, and to this marriage were born the following children: Snowden, Jesse, Hannah (Mrs Henry Hughes), Sarah, and James L. (subject). Of these, Jesse died March 8, 1844, at the age of eight years, by falling on a butcher-knife, and Sarah died at the age of thirteen years. The mother of this family died September 9, 1845, aged thirty-two years, five months and eleven daj's, and a devout member of the Disciples' church. In 1847 Mr. Porter moved from Mahoning county to Summit county. He married for his third wife, Catherine Porter, daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Creze) Porter, and this union was favored with six children, viz: Clarinda (deceased), John S., Elias, Margaret (deceased), Susan A. and Jason. The father passed away in 1877, a member of the Re- formed church, and a highly respected and influential citizen. James L. Porter, the subject, was but four years of age when the family came to Summit county, and here received his education. At the age of eighteen years he went to Venango county. Pa., and soon afterward, September 13, 1862, enlisted in company E, Sixteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, and was assigned to the army of the Potomac. He took part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, as or- derly under Gen. W. S. Hancock and other generals. Rejoining his regiment, he was en- gaged in many raids and skirmishes, fighting every day until he lost a leg at Deep Bottom, August 16, 1864. He was then sent to hos- pital in Philadelphia, and while under treat- ment improved his time by attending school, and finally received an honorable discharge, April 23, 1865. He then taught school for a time in Venango county, working in the oil fields a while, and then went to Buffalo, N. Y. , where he was employed in the patent-medicine business for ten and a half years by D. Ran- som, Son & Co. In 1879 he returned to Summit county, Ohio, which has since been his home. Mr. Porter is a stanch democrat, and has been honored by his party by election to many positions of trust. In 1880 he was elected justice of the peace and continuously held the office, by re-election, until April, 1886. The first marriage of Mr. Porter took place October 19, 1870, to Amelia Ream, who died in December, 1893, a devout member of the Reformed church and the mother of the fol- lowing children: Grace, wife of William E. Heimbaugh; Arthur C. , James ^^^, Herbert S., Winfield S., Olive B., Raymond E. and Martin L. The second marriage of Mr. Por- ter was solemnized Januarj' 15, 1894, with Miss Eva Spencer, a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary J. Spencer, and this union has been blessed with one child — Edith. Mr. Porter was a brave soldier, and has been an active and public-spirited citizen, constantly alive to to the interests of his township and county, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is universally held. m ILLIAM PRESSLER, a native-born farmer and a most respected citizen of Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio, was born July 4, 1844, in the house in which he still lives, a son of William and Barbara (Swinehart) Press- ler, natives of Snyder county. Pa., born in 1800 and October 11, 1805, respectively. William Pressler, the elder, was both a stonemason and cooper, and on coming to Ohio bought the farm on which his son. Will- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 435 iam, now lives. To his marriage with Miss Barbara Swinehart, daughter of George and Barbara (Alspauch) Swinehart, were born seven children, of whom five are still living, viz: John, in Indiana ; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Heckman; Catherine, married to Elias Funk; William, our subject; Levi, now living with William; the deceased were Benjamin, who died an infant, and Daniel, who died in November, 1871, at the age of forty-three years. The father died July 3, 1857, at fifty- seven years of age, a member of the Reformed church, and the mother December 16, 1869, aged sixty-three, a member of the Lutheran church. William Pressler, the subject, was edu- cated in the district school of Springfield town- ship, and was but thirteen years of age when he lost his father; he then worked for his mother until he was twenty-two years old, after which he cultivated the farm for three years on shares, and about this time his mother passed away. May 16, 1869, he had married Miss Lucinda Garl, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Weyrick) Garl, and to this union were born five children, viz: Benjamin A., who is married to Clara Smith, daughter of William and Mary (Shollenberg) Smith; Minerva Alice, wife of McClelland Kreigh- baum; Harvey C. , married to Sarah Phillips, daughter of Franklin and Christine Phillips: Robert Henry and Titus Franklin. Samuel Garl, father of Mrs. Pressler, was born in Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio, July 22, 1818, and his wife, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Walters) Weyrick, was born in Pennsylvania, August 27, 1817. To their marriage were born the extraordinary number of fifteen children, of whom nine are still living, viz: Sarah, wife of Isaac Shick; Emeline, wife of Levi Myers; Daniel, married to Lydia Spade; Levi is the husband of Mar- garet Behmer; Joseph is married; Lucinda is the wife of Mr. Pressler; Henry is married to Rebecca Fritch; Mary is married to Newton Cook, and Martha is the wife of William Christleib. Of the deceased six, one died in infancy, unnamed; Caroline died January 6, 1864, at the age of ten years; Amanda E., born September 26, i860, died January 10, 1864; Leah, born May 15, 1842, died Decem- ber 12, 1 87 1, and had been married to John Kepler and Andrew Bickel, both deceased; George, born October 7, 1852, died in July, 1875, and John, born May 23, 1839, died May 27, 1886. The father of this family died March 31, 1872, aged fifty-five years, and the mother July 6, 1887, at the age of sixty-eight years, both inthefaithof the Reformed church. Reuben Garl, grandfather of Mrs. Pressler, was a native of Pennsylvania, and early settled in Ohio, purchasing a farm in the south part of Springfield township, Summit county. He was twice married, and there were born to his first union seven children, all now deceased; they were named Jacob, Benjamin, Catherine (Mrs. Benjamin Swinehart), Mary (wife of Joseph Mishler), Samuel, Mrs. Pontius and Mrs. Brumbaugh. To his second marriage, with Mrs. Shick, was born one son, who is also deceased, as are the parents, who died in the faith of the Methodist church. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Pressler was also a native of Pennsylvania, as was his wife, Elizabeth Walters. He early settled in Springfield township, was a farmer all his life, and was the father of eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, widow of John Rowe; Mary, widow of Benjamin Weaver; Rebecca, wife of Peter Holm; Sarah, widow of Samuel Swinehart; Susan, wife of John Thornton; Caroline, wife of Jacob Myers; George, who was married five times; Leah, deceased, wife of Daniel Press- ler, and again of Elias Paulus; Amelia, wife of George Heimbaugh; Catherine, deceased; and John, who died July 4, 1891. The par- 436 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ents both died in the faith of the Reformed church. WiUiam Pressler, our subject, has his farm in an excellent state of cultivation, and is rec- ognized as one of the first agriculturists of the township. He and wife are greatly respected for their upright and charitable instincts, and have for years been prominent members of the Reformed church at Millheim. Mr. Pressler has always been useful as a citizen, and has served his fellow-townsmen as supervisor and school director for many years, and for seven- teen years has been a deacon in his church, has also been trustee, treasurer and elder, and is now superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. and Mrs. Pressler have 135 acres of fine land lying within seven miles of the city of Akron, Ohio, and the improvements are first class. Their comfortable home is always open to their friends, among whom may be num- bered every resident of the township. EUBERT R. LOW, an enterprising young merchant of Copley Center, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state and was born in Granger, Medina county, January 3, 1874, a son of Marion Clayton and Phebe (Parker) Low, also natives of Ohio. Isaac R. Low, father of Marion C. Low, was born in New York state January 8, 1808, was brought to Ohio when ten years of age, or in 181 8, and was reared on a farm in Medina county. He later bought and cleared up a tract of 140 acres, but lost his title to this property through the chicanery of a so-called land company. Mr. Low, nevertheless, was not discouraged, but went manfully to work and earned the money with which to pay for his farm over again, and to thoroughly im- prove it. February 4, 1830, he married Mary Fuller, who was born in Massachusetts No- vember 27, 1814, and to this union were born the following children: Louise L,, January 29, 1834 — died in infancy; Isaac M., July 11, 1836 — died in 1884; Almeda T. , March 29, 1838 — died in 1842; Marshall H., February 17, 1843 — died January 9, 1849: Marion Clayton, father of subject, born February 16, 1845, and died September 18, 1893. M. Clayton Low was born and reared on the Low farm, and September 25, 1866, mar- ried Miss Parker, who was born October 15, 1848, a daughter of Richard E. and Martha N. (Woodard) Parker. Richard E. was the first white child born in Northampton town- ship, Summit county, and was a son of David Parker, who came from New Hartford, Conn., to Ohio in 1809, and settled in Old Portage, where Richard E. was born in 181 1. His wife was born in New Hampshire July 20, 1815, and was a daughter of L. Richardson, who was one of the pioneers of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Richard E. and Martha Parker were married in Bath, Ohio, April 18, 1833, where they re- sided thirty-eight years. They reared a fam- ily of nine children and lived to celebrate the golden anniversary of their wedding. To the marriage of Marion C. and Phebe Low were born two children — Hart M., July 12, 1867, who now occupies the old homestead in Me- dina county, and Hubert R., the subject of this memoir. Mr. Low was a man of excel- lent education and of sterling qualities. In politics he was a strong republican, and, with his wife, was a member of the Church of Christ. He passed all his life on his birth- place and died at the date already mentioned, an honored man and estimable citizen. Hubert R. Low, whose name opens this biography, aided his father on the home farm until eighteen years of age, but in the mean- time acquired a good education, having at- tended the district schools until seventeen, when he entered the normal school at Ada, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 439 which he attended one year, and then passed a year at Baldwin university, from the com- mercial department of which he graduated at the age of nineteen years. He then entered a grocery at Copley Center for the purpose of learning the business, and in 1894 bought out the stock, and the following year purchased the lot and building, and has since been suc- cessfully engaged in conducting the business on his own account, having the best general store in Copley at the present hour. March 2, 1897, Mr. Low married Miss Lizzie McFar- lin, who was born October 18, 1874, a daugh- ter of John A. and Marion (Black) McFarlin, residents of Medina county. Mr. and Mrs. Low are members of the Disciples' church and of the Copley grange, and Mr. Low be- longs to Copley tent, No. 204, K. O. T. M. In politics he is a stalwart republican, and is re- spected socially, wherever known, as an hon- orable, upright gentleman. >^ARED BARKER is a native of Bath m township, Summit county, Ohio, was A 1 born March 4, 1861, and is one of the most prosperous and best-known lum- ber manufacturers, farmers and stock-raisers in the county, having his post-office at Ghant. Lanson Barker, grandfather of subject, was born in Connecticut November 17, 1791, and was a son of Jared Barker, a native of England. Lanson Barker early removed to the state of New York, in which state he mar- ried, in 1809, in Pittsford, Monroe county. Miss Betsey Phelps, a native of Connecticut, born August 15, 1791. Some years after mar- riage he came to Ohio and purchased a tract of land in Holmes county, and the year fol- lowing moved to Massillon, where he remained a few weeks only, then removed to Granger township, Medina county, where he resided some years, and then purchased a place in Roy- 15 alton, Cuyahoga county, where his wife died in 1847, and he in 1855, parents of the follow- ing children: Roxie A., William, Jared, John, Lyman, Mary, Frances, and Nelson, who died in infancy. William Barker, father of Jared, the sub- ject, was born in New York state July 30, 181 7, came to Ohio with his parents and re- mained with them until 1849, when he went to California, but soon returned on account of sickness and purchased the farm on which our subject now lives, in 1853 — then mostly in timber — cleared it up and erected the neces- sary buildings for a comfortable home. In 1856 he married Miss Eliza Hutchison, who was born April 3, 1826, a daughter of Warren and Martha (McLaughen) Hutchison, and to this marriage were born four children, viz: Alonzo, who was born in 1857, now lives in Bath; Jared (the subject) and a twin brother, the. latter of whom died in infancy, and Bettie, who was born in 1867, and also died in in- fancy. The mother of these children was called from earth October 2, 1876, and the father February 10, 1896. The latter was a farmer and manufacturer all through life, was a strong republican, held many offices of trust, and was a gentleman of the highest standing among his fellow-citizens. Jared Barker, the subject of this memoir, has been a resident of Bath township all his life. His magnificent farm comprises 267 acres of excellent land, located in the Yellow creek bottom, and in addition to farming and stock raising he is largely interested in the manufacture of lumber, owning a large saw- mill and a first-class planing-mill, while his premises are well improved with new build- ings, all of modern architecture. On the 13th day of September, 1883, he married Miss Al- mira Myers, of Rome City, Ind., where she was born February 24, 1862, a daughter of William and Sarah (Weikle) Myers, who re- 440 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD hioved from Ohio to Indiana in 1856, where the father has ever since been engaged in farming and is now one of the most prominent agriculturists of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born four children, viz: Samuel, born March 27, 1857, and now resid- ing in Rome City, Ind. ; Ellen, born June 22, 1858, and married to R. Shroyer, of Indiana; Almira, now Mrs. Barker, and Charles, born April 7, 1868, at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are consistent members of the German Lutheran church and are among the most respected residents of Noble county, Ind. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Barker has been blessed with four children, born in the following order: Pearl, January 7, 1886; Bessie, October 25, 1890; Mary, October 21, 1892, and Sarah, August 31, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Barker worship at the Disciples' church, of which she is a devout member. In politics Mr. Barker is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine, and has served as township trustee several terms. As a bnsiness man his name stands without a blemish; he is charitable and public spirited, and socially he and his wife are representatives of the best circles of Bath township. ORSON HARRY BUCK is a native of Summit county, Ohio, was born in Richfield township January 15, 1868, and is the fourth child of James E. and Josephine (Watkins) Buck, the former born in Richfield township in June 27, 1830, and the latter October 20, 1839, in the state of New York. Heman Buck, grandfather of subject, was born in Massachusetts December 16, 1792, and came to Ohio m 181 1, with his father, Denton, who settled in Richfield township. Summit county. Heman Buck married the widow Worden, whose maiden name was Polly Mace. She was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., April 14, 1795, and died in Richfield, Ohio, April 16, 1874, having lost her husband October 11, 1852. They reared the following children: Arvilla, Mary, Martha, Julia, James E. and Orson H. The last named was a member of the One Hundred and Seventy- seventh Ohio volunteer infantry and died, from illness contracted while in the service, at Golds- boro, N. C. , in 1865. James E. Buck, father of subject, has lived on the Richfield township farm since his birth, and has here followed the peaceful pursuit of farming from boyhood, now owing 160 acres of excellent arable land, improved with all modern appliances, and equally excellent build- ings. Mrs. Josephine Cynthia (Watkins) was the fourth daughter of a family of eight chil- dren by Lemon Watkins and Fanny A. (Kent) Watkins, viz: Sarah L. Becker, of Daytona, Fla. ; Mary A. Ashley, who died in Joliet, 111. ; Elvira F. Oviatt, of Lansing, Mich. ; Josephine C. Buck, of Richfield, Ohio; Lucy Brown, who died in Plainfield, 111. ; Cordelia D. Catch- pole and Charles Lemon Watkins, who both died in the same place, and Alice E. Jump, also of Plainfield, 111. To his marriage with Miss Josephine Watkins, which took place March 31, 1859, have been born five children, viz: Charles E., Martha G., Fanny Luella, Orson H. and Lois E. Orson Harry Buck, the subject proper of this memoir, passed through the common school of his district, and at the age of thirteen years entered the high school of Richfield Center, where he passed the better part of five years, passing his examination for a school- teacher in 1884, but, on account of his youth, was not granted a certificate until March, 1885, when he at once began the practice of the vo- cation at Osborn's Corners, and at the termi- nation of his second term re-entered the high school for the winter term ; the following fall and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 4^'^ winter he taught in Northampton, then took a course in the Normal university at Adaj aiid then taught in Springfield township during the winter terms of 1888 and 1890, but decHned further service in this capacity, and returned home. March 26, 1890, he married Miss Cora LaQuincy Randall, a former schoolmate of the high school in Richfield Center, born in Bath township February 21, 1868, and a daughter of Dr. Rufus and Eliza M. (Roberts, nee Hull) Randall. Dr. Randall, a very popular physi- cian of Bath township, was born in Medina county, Ohio, July 7, 1834, and was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza Roberts in May, 1863. Miss Hull was born in Copley town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, December 3, 1841, and now resides in Cleveland, the doctor hav- ing died February 18, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Buck began housekeeping in Cleveland, he having entered the employ of the Brush Elec- tric company of that city, where he learned armature winding, and where he remained until the summer of 1891, when he returned, with his wife, to Bath township and taught school in the Bath Center district until 1892, when he entered Baldwin university, but, without remaining to graduate, he re-entered the employ of the Brush Electric company. His health giving way somewhat, he renewed his vocation of teacher and taught in Ghent in 1894-95, and is now again teaching in the Bath Center school. While in Cleveland, Mr. and Mrs. Buck became members of the Ep- worth Memorial church, and Mr. Buck also joined Oak lodge, No. T-j , K. of P. They now affiliate with the Congregational church at Bath, and in politics Mr. Buck is a stanch re- publican. Their union has been blessed with two children, viz: Josephine Eliza, born August 13, 1 89 1, and Randall Orson, February 24, 1895, and they now reside on the old Randall homestead at Hammond's Corners, highly re- spected by all who know them. HDDISON L. BOUGHTON, a highly respected and retired farmer of Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, was born on the farm he still occupies September 3, 1836, a sonof Holley W. and El- mina (Miller) Boughton. H. W. Boughton was a native of Victor, Ontario county, N. Y., was born November 4, 1806, arid married Miss Elmina Miller, No- vember 13, 1832. This lady was born in Massachusetts, March 17, i8n, and bore her husband two children — Romazo, November 12, 1834, and Addison L., the subject — born in the state of Ohio, as the parents came to this state immediately after marriage, ar- riving in Bath, May 31, 1833. On arrival Mr. Boughton bought and settled on the farm in Bath township now owned by Addison L., part of which he cleared and improved with the necessary buildings, and, although he be- gan life a poor man, succeeded in realizing a competency, and died October 26, 1877, are- publican in politics; his widow survived until October 30, 1892, when she passed away in the faith of the Baptist church, of which so- ciety she was a member from her earliest girlhood days. Addison L. Boughton has never lived else- where than on the farm on which he was born and reared to manhood. December 22, i86i,he married Miss Melissa Thorp, who was born on January 5, 1840, a daughter of Manville B. and Fanny W. (Clark) Thorp, the former of whom was a native of the state of New York, was born February 7, 1808, and the latter, a native of Massachusetts, was born May 7, 181 1. Mr. and Mrs. Thorp were married in the state of New York, November i, 1832, and two years later came to Bath township, Summit county, Ohio. Both the Boughton and the Thorp families are of patriotic stock, the paternal grandfather of our subject, John Boughton, having served in the American army in the 442 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD war of 1 812, and the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Boughton, Jeremiah Thorp, having served in the same war, and her great-grand- father, Nathan Thorp, in the war of the Revo- lution. Manville Thorp died March 9, 1891, and his wife on March 16, 1886, after having reared in respectability five children, viz: Junius M., born November 25, 1833; Lucien C, born August 6, 1835; Francis M., born January 2, 1837, and Oliver N. and Melissa L. (twins), born on January 5, 1840. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Addison L. Boughton has been blessed with 'one child, Arthur E., who was born August 29, 1877, and is now be- ing educated in the high school at Bath Center. In politics Mr. Boughton is a stanch re- publican and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln; he and his wife are members of Osborn Corners grange. No. 1079, oi which they were among the first. Mr. Boughton has always been very industrious and attentive to his business, and in consequence has been very successful in all his undertakings. During his active days on the farm he made a specialty of sheep-raising and was always fond of a good horse. He has now retired from very active work and is living in quite enjoy- ment of the competency earned in the days of his activity, enjoying the unfeigned esteem of all his fellow-citizens, which esteem is equally shared by his wife and child. Officiall}-, he has never aspired to office, but has served as member of the school board for years. Mr. and Mrs. Boughton are de- vout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Mura's chapel, West Bath, in which he has occupied several offices and has been a class leader for years. Mr. and Mrs. Boughton reside on the old homestead one mile west of Hammond's Corners, five and one-half miles from the city of Akron. They are comfortably located amid friends and ex- pect to spend their remaining days in peace. •"^HAFER CARR, a well-known and •^^^* highly respected citizen of Bath town- ^ J ship, Summit county, Ohio, is a na- tive of the Buckeye state, and was born in Lawrence township. Stark county, March 11, 181 7, a son of Samuel and Cath- erine (Shaferj Carr. Samuel Carr was thrice married, Catherine Shafer being his first wife, who bore him eight children — William, Philip, Maria, John. Joseph, Samuel, Shafer and Mary. By his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Betsey Brown, he became the father of three children — Catherine, Jacob and Lucinda. His third marriage was with Mrs. Catherine Waltenberger, who bore him two children — Benjamin and Abraham. Shafer Carr was but two years of age when his mother died, and he was thereafter taken care of by his grandmother Evans who was to him a true and kind second mother until her death. At the age of fifteen years, Shafer Carr began learning the cabinet- maker's trade under Thomas Cunningham, a contractor, served an apprenticeship of two years, and then learned carpentry under a brother, and alternated the winters and sum- mers in the two trades until his coming to Bath township. Summit county, in the last week of November, 1839. Here he married, February 27, 1840, Miss Electa King, who was born April 3, 18 16, in Chesterfield, Hamp- shire county, Mass., and is a daughter of Eleazer and Mercy (Kingsley) King, both na- tives of Massachusetts, born, respectively, February 2, 1776, and August 23, 1774, and settlers in Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, in 1833. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carr has been blessed with three children, viz: Mercy, born December 2, 1841, and married to Samuel Tilton, a farmer of Lin- coln, Neb.; Lucy, born November 27, 1842, now the wife of James W. Ellsworth, a busi- ness man of Cleveland, Ohio, and Ozro B., OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 443 born June i8, 1845, and now residing on the homestead with his parents. Just after marriage Mr. Carr bought thirty acres of wild land, hewed from it the logs with which he erected his cabin and other nec- essary buildings, but in 1854 sold the place and bought his present home. He has made all he possesses by his own hard labor, begin- ning carpentry work at fifty cents per day and walking from four to ten miles daily to and from his work; later he began contracting, and is now one of the wealthiest men in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are Baptists in religion, and Mr. Carr in politics is strongly republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." Ozro B. Carr, youngest child of Shafer and Electa Carr, was reared on the home farm, was educated in the district and high schools of Richfield and at Berea college, and later took a business course at Cleveland. He re- mained at home until 1863, when he enlisted in the "Pioneer" brigade, but at the end of five months was honorably discharged at Mur- freesboro, Tenn., on account of sickness. In May, 1864, he re-enlisted, was assigned to company A, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, was mustered in at Camp Chase, Ohio, and served until the close of the war. In 1865 he began learning the jeweler's trade at Massillon, Ohio, and then started in business in Richfield. October 17, 1872, he married Miss Mary A. Viall, who was born July 20, 1849, a daughter of Burrill and Jane (^VVhite) Viall, the former of whom was born October 2, 1821, and died April 12, 1895, and the latter born February 7, 1823, and died July 15, 1894 — the parents of seven children, viz: Sarah J., Mattie J., Mary A., Julia F., Lucy E., Kittie E. and Jennie M. The marriage of Ozro B. Carr has resulted in the birth of two children, viz: Burrill V., who was born November 3, 1873, and died October 8, 1881, and Lucy E. , born Novem- ber 10, 1879 — now at home and studying voice culture and being, indeed, already an accomplished vocalist. In 1877 Mr. Carr removed his stock from Richfield, where he had done business for six years, and opened a jewelry story in Cuyahoga Falls, where he did the leading business in his line for thirteen years, and in 1890 removed to Kokomo, Ind. , where he had the misfor- tune of losing his left eye by the breaking of the main spring of a motor he was handling. He then sold out his stock, in 1893, and re- turned to the homestead in Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, and this he has since made his home, being engaged in the roofing business. Mrs. Carr is a member of the Congrega- tional church of Cuyahoga Falls, and in poli- tics Mr. Carr takes an active part in support- ii^ the republican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Grant. Fraternally he is a member of Goldwood post, No. 104, G. A. R. , at Richfield, Ohio. The male mem- bers of the Carr family are noted for their magnificent physical proportions and for their longevity, and socially the entire family stand with the most select of the inhabitants of Bath township, being universally held in the highest esteem. QARK HEATH DAVIS, one of the most active and prominent business men of Kent, is a native of Portage county, Ohio, and was born in Free- dom township May 24, 1858, a son of Joseph C. and Augusta M. (Gray) Davis, natives, re- spectively, of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of subject was a gallant soldier in the war of the Revolution, and was captain of a company of patriots in the continental army who served throughout 444 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD that victorious struggle for American inde- pendence. Isaac C. Davis, the grandfather of subject, married Marie Heath in New England, and in 1828 came to Ohio and settled in Free- dom township. Portage county, where he be- came the owner, in course of time, of 3,000 acres of land. He was a mighty hunter and an expert rifle-shot, and in one winter killed thirty-seven deer, near his dooryard, so plen- tiful were the animals at that early day in Portage county. He was a democrat in poli- tics and a leader of the ranks of his party in Freedom township. Joseph C. Davis, father of subject, was reared a farmer, but in early manhood became a manufacturer and also a traveling salesman. He finally settled down to the noble calling to which he was reared, and is now a prosperous agriculturist of Hiram township, where he and wife are passing their declining years. Beside Mark Heath, the subject, they have two other children, viz: Addie, married to George Kent, of Freedom township, and Plymmon, agent for the Erie Railway com- pany. Mark Heath Davis was reared on the home farm until about thirteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own responsibility, and for ten years made a livelihood as sales- man. During this period he supplemented his common-school education by an attendance at Hiram college. In February, 1882, he came to Kent and purchased a small clothing store, and from this germ has grown his present co- lossal trade, on North Water street, where, about 1888, he permanently located. The spacious block in which his stores are located he bought some four years ago. This block is two stories high, and on the first floor there are two finely appointed storerooms, one oc- cupied by a stove firm and the other by him- self. The one he occupies is 1 16 feet long and twenty-two wide; it is heavily stocked with a finer collection of men's garments and ladies' and gentlemen's leather footwear than is ordinarily found outside of the metropoli- tan emporiums. Only the finer makes of shoes, including Edwin C. Burt for ladies and Burt & Packard for men, are handled; and in the immense stock of clothing carried nothing shoddy is to be found, all the garments being of durable quality and stylish pattern; and there is not a mercantile mart of any kind in this section of greater magnitude or present- ing truer signs of a wide-awake and intelligent management. It is artistically finished in quartered oak, is finely lighted at night by electricity, and in the cold weather is heated throughout by steam. In fact, this was the first store in Portage county in which steam- heating apparatus was adopted. November 9, 1881, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Ella Tilden, a native of Hiram township and daughter of DeWitt Clinton and Catherine (Vrooman) Tilden, na- tives of Herkimer county, N. Y. The great- grandfather of this lady, when a member of the Massachusetts legislature, was the author of the free-school laws which now prevail over the United States. Her parents early came to Ohio and settled in Hiram township. Port- age county. He was a hotel-keeper and also a tanner, and in the latter pursuit realized a fortune, and retired, in 1885, to his extensive farm, on which he died in 1895. He was prominent as a democrat; and in 1876 was elected a presidential elector. Naturally, he cast his ballot in the college for his kinsman, Samuel J. Tilden. His widow now lives in Troy township, Geauga county, Ohio. To the marriage of Mark H. Davis and wife have been born two children — Jessie and Grover. Fraternally, Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. O. F. , holding a degree in the encamp- ment and the patriarchs militant, and also is a member of lodge No. 18, Benevolent & Pro- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 445 tective Order of Elks. Politically he is a na- tural-born democrat, but has never sought office for the glory of the thing, yet has served as a member of the board of improvements. As a business man he has been one of the most energetic and successful in Kent. He is a director in the City bank, was one of the orig- inators of and is a fourth owner of the Kent opera house, which was built in 1889 at a cost of $23,000, and has a seating capacity of 1,000, of which he is also manager. The Odd Fellow lodge and Cycle club rooms are also in this building. He is vice-president of the Shattuck Chair company, a stockholder in the Miller Keyless Lock company, secretary of the Odd Fellows' Building association, a member of the local board of health, a director of the Portage county Agricultural association, and has always been a leader in public improve- ments and a thorough representative of our later civilization, and enjoys the respect and good will of the entire community, and be- cause of his genial nature wins hosts of friends and patrons. DeWitt Clinton Tilden, the father of Mrs. Davis, came to Ohio in 1853, and purchased property in Geauga county, once owned by his grandfather. Col. Daniel Tilden, who was a renowned leader in the Revolutionary war, and who also surveyed the western reserve of northeast Ohio for the Connecticut Land com- pany, and was likewise the member of the Massachusetts legislature who introduced the free-school bill alluded to in a preceding para- graph. In 1865 DeWitt C. Tilden retired to Troy, Geauga county, and still later came to Portage county, and here his earthly career came to a close December 31, 1894. He was a man of sound judgment, business tact, in- dustry and integrity, and void of all hypocrisy. In politics he was a democrat and stood firm on all subjects that came within the range of his reasoning faculties. He discarded all church creeds, choosing rather to find salva- tion through good deeds and a well-spent life, than through pinning his faith to church dogmas. He was prompt to commend the right and to censure the wrong; was a reliable friend, a loving husband and kind father, and reared his four children to correct habits and in respectability. These all reached maturity and three still survive, viz: Rose, wife of Prof. W. P. Cope, of Hamilton, Ohio; Ella, wife of Mark H. Davis, and George, a resident of Hiram, Ohio. ^^^-^ILLIAM DAVIS, the well-known mm I justice of the peace of Bath town- \\il ship, is a native of England, a Lin- colnshire man, born October 27, 1839, son of William and Ann (Sewell) Davis, information concerning whom is contained in the biographical sketch of George S. Davis. There are few better known or more person- ally popular men in the county than "Squire"' Davis, and his life has contained some very interesting incidents. He came to this coun- try with his parents, about 1844 or '45, when he was but five years of age, and remained with them until he was of age. In 1861 Will- iam Davis began to learn the carpenter's trade, but was almost immediately diverted from this intention by the call of his adopted country, and he enlisted, on October 3, 1861, at Akron, Ohio, in company H, Twenty-ninth Ohio vol- unteer infantry. This regiment went into camp at Giddings, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and first saw the actual conflict of war.at Win- chester, Va. Its next engagement was at Fort Republic, Tenn. While on guard duty over the railroad at Lavergne.Tenn., Mr. Davis was captured by the rebels and taken to Meridian, Miss., being transferred thence to Cahaba, Ala., where he was compelled to remain until April, 1865, at which time he was paroled and 446 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD taken to Vicksburg. Being taken on board the side-wheel steamer, "Sultana," Mr. Davis made his escape from the crowded boat at the time its boilers exploded by leaping from the top of the wheel-house into the river below. Being a tireless swimmer and a person of great physical endurance, the daring man eluded de- tection by remaining in the water a remarkable length of time, quietly floating down stream. He finally landed safe and free from detection at Memphis, having floated down the stream nine miles. Mr. Davis' soldier's record was almost four years' actual service, during which time he spent about four months in the rebel prison pens. He received his honorable dis- charge May 23, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. After his army experience Mr. Davis returned home and resumed his work at the carpenter's bench, taking up the trade with his old com- rade. Perry Alexander. On Christmas day, 1866. Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Mildred L. Martin, who was born in Bath township, March 2, 1847, the daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Neely) Martin, the former of whom was a carpenter and who was born in \\ashington county. Pa., in 1801, the son of Robert Mar- tin, who came from Ireland when a lad of fifteen and settled in Pennsylvania; the latter was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1808, and they were married in Pennsylvania in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of the following children: Ruby S., born August 29, 1 87 1, wife of Wilbur Burgan, and resides at Ghent; Carl L. , born February 20, 1874; Neale M., born May i6, 1881, died November II, 1882; Walter Ray, born April 25, 1884, and one child who died in infancy. Both are active members of the Discipks' church at East Granger and charter members of Bath grange, lodge No. 1331. Mr. Davis is a mem- ber of Buckley post. No. 12, G. A. R., of Akron, Ohio. He is a strong republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln. Beside his present office of justice of the peace he served as township treasurer for nine 3'ears and has been a member of the school board for about eighteen j-ears. His fine farm of sixtj- acres is a model one, and with its recent improve- ; ments in the way of new buildings and modern appliances affords him and his excellent family an admirable and very pleasant home, ten miles from the city of Akron. Mrs. Davis received her education in the common schools. There were only two daughters in her father's family: Belinda was the wife of Henry Duryee, wedded in Bath. She died in 1857, leaving one daugh- ter, Nettie, wife of G. B. Shaw. They are residents of Bath township. Alex. Martin, her father, was a native of Washington county, Pa., born September 12, 1801, and died July 5, 1855. He was educated in the common schools, and was a self-made man. He was a carpenter by trade and a farmer by occupa- tion. He came to Ohio May 12, 1839, and located in Bath township. Politically he was a whig. He was, as well as his wife, a char- ter member of the Disciples' church of East Granger. ^^^ EORGE S. DAVIS, the largest farmer ■ ^\ and stock dealer in Bath township, ^^^W and one of the most influential and widely respected citizens of Summit county, was born in New York state, Novem- ber 21, 1845. His father, William Davis, was born in Burns, Lincolnshire, England, April 14, 1809, and on May 16, 1833, married Ann Sewell, who was born at the same place about 1 8 14. They came to this country in July, 1845, locating in New York state. The fol- lowing children were born to them in England: Jane. April 10, 1843, wife of I. S. King; Mary, February 16, 1836. wife of S. E. Taylor; John. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 447 January 21, 1838; William, October 27, 1839; Thomas, December 2, 1841; Ann, November 15, 1843, widow of I. H. Miller, and now widow of L. V. Wyckoff. Following are the American-born children: George S., the sub- ject of this sketch; Sarah D., December 13, 1847, wife of George Bisbee; Elizabeth, De- cember 25, 1849, wife of Abraham Spencer; Emma E., September 6, 1852, wife of Syl- vester Vallen; Alpha, December 3, 1854, wife of Frank Pierson; Clara B., January 6, 1857, wife of Charles Deitz. This large family of children are all living except Thomas, who was killed in the service of his country at the battle of Pine Knob, Ga., June 15, 1864, after having done valuable service with Sherman in all his battles from beginning to end. A year after their arrival in this country the family came to Summit county and purchased a farm in Bath township, which was partly cleared. On this Mr. Davis erected a new house and barn and made a very pleasant, comfortable home for his family. He was a strong repub- lican, and a member of the Odd Fellows both in England and America, and they were both earnest members of the Disciples' church. They were excellent people, active in advanc- ing the social and moral welfare of the com- munity, and their memories will live long after them. He died August 14, 1888, his wife having preceded him to the grave nearly twenty years, dying March 12, 1867. George S. Davis was reared on the farm and received a good common-school educa- tion. As a young man he worked at the car- penter's trade, continuing in that occupation for six years. On February 12, 1873, he mar- ried Miss Mary Barker, who was born Sep- tember 10, 1848, daughter of Jared and Elea- nor (Munson) Barker. Facts relating to the genealogy of Mrs. Davis are contained in the biographical sketch of Jared Barker. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis have been born the following children: Eleanor Belle, born January 30, 1874, died October 30, 1883; Jay, December 31, 1879; Jeddie, April 21, 1882; Mary, Feb- ruary 27, 1884; George, September 15, 1885; Anna, August 10, 1887; Paul, May 2, 1889. Upon his marriage Mr. Davis abandoned the carpenter's trade and began farming. He now owns one of the very best farms in the county, comprising 300 acres, improved in a strictly up-to-date manner. He gives a large degree of attention to the breeding of fine cattle, the excellence of his sheep and cattle strains be- ing widely recognized. To facilitate this im- portant industry he has on his farm five large barns, arranged with every convenience for the care and proper raising of stock. He has lately turned his attention to raising fine horses, and now has some very fine Morgan and En- glish coach horses. He probably owns more fine stock than any man in Bath township. His farm buildings are models of their charac- ter, and his home is not only delightfully sit- uated, but is extremely pleasant, and is much sought in the community. Mr. Davis is a strong republican, and cast his first presi- dential vote for Gen. Grant, but is of a retiring disposition and mingles little in politics. He and wife are both members of the Congrega- tional church at Bath, and he is a member of the board of education. 81 ALTER J. DICKINSON, a retired merchant and a prominent citizen of Rootstown, was born in Randolph, Portage county, Ohio, January 27, 1832, and was educated in the common schools. His parents were Alpheus and Mary (Johnson) Dickinson, the former of whom was born in East Granville, Mass., in 1794, and was brought by his parents to Randolph township, Portage county, Ohio, July 17, 1805, where his father, Oliver Dickinson, bought 600 acres 448 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of wild land. This land Oliver farmed, in conjunction with his three brothers, until his death. May 12, 1S87, when the property de- scended to his four sons and three daughters, and representatives of the family still occupy the original homestead. Walter J. Dickinson was reared in the family of an uncle, who was a merchant, and grew to manhood in an atmosphere of trade, alternately attending school and acting as clerk. At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in merchandizing on his own account in his native town, and there continued until his retirement in 1888, having, however, re- moved to Rootstown in the fall of 1887, and here since occupied his present commodious home. Mr. Dickinson first married, January 28, 1853, Miss Almina H. Chatfield, who was born in Killingworth, Conn., May 11, 1834, a daughter of Lewis and Rachael Chatfield. Mrs. Dickinson died July 17, 1882, the mother of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The eldest of those living is Mary Elmina, who was born July i, 1856, and was married in October, 1892, to James H. Chatfield, a real estate agent, police justice and notary public, of Littleton, Colo. ; Alpheus Lyman was born -November 17, 1859, married Ida Cavender December i, 1880, and is book- keeper in the Seiberling Empire works, at Akron, Ohio; Selden Curtis was born June 5, 1864, was educated in Oberlin college, taking a thorough philosophical and theological course, was ordained minister of the Congregational church and was stationed at Rico, Colo., in 1890-92; in the fall of the latter year he re- turned to Ohio, and since May, 1893, has been preaching for the Presbyterian church in Willoughby; he married, in October, 1892, Miss Kittie Sharp, of Montrose, Colo. Maria Rachel, the youngest of the family, was born August 20, 1869, and is still at home with her father. The second marriage of Walter J. Dickinson took place August 31, 1887, to Miss Dotha C. Seymour, a native of Rootstown, Ohio, and a daughter of James W. and Char- lotte N. Seymour. Mr. Dickinson has always taken an active interest in the affairs of Portage county, and to him is largely due the excellent article on Randolph township, published in the history of the county in 1885, which he is now pre- paring for re-publication. He has been an ardent republican and has labored hard for re- publican success. He served about twenty- five years as township trustee of Randolph township; he also served as justice of the peace in that township and is now serving in same, office in Rootstown township, and was also postmaster of Randolph eight years under Lincoln. Mr. Dickinson and his famil}- are members of the Congregational church, of which he became a communicant in Randolph in 1852, and he and wife are now united with the congregation of that denomination in Rootstown, Mr. Dickinson being a trustee and also clerk of the same, and treasurer of the society. He was formerly a member of the know-nothing society, the Temple of Honor and the Sons of Temperance. He has been an active worker in the temperance cause, and is a gentleman of the strictest integrity and uprightness of character, and no man in Por- tage county bears a better reputation than he, and no one betterments it. It may be added, to the credit of subject, that his ancestry is traceable to England, and that the first Amer- ican, by adoption, landed in Massachusetts about 1632, and bore the name of Nathaniel Dickinson. The great-grandfather of subject, Richard Dickinson, was a direct descendant of Nathaniel, and died in East Granville, Mass., in 1 81 5, at the age of eighty years. The fam- ily has been characterized, physically, of medium height and of fair complexion, and mentally with that peculiar fixedness of pur- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 449 pose which, although not combined with ob- stinacy, is determined, and never wavers in either politics or religion. ^"V* H. GRAHAM, M. D., of West •^^^kT Richfield, Summit county, Ohio, is a K^ J native of Iowa, was born December 7, i860, and is of English descent. The family were Quakers, or members of the Society of Friends, and their genealogy is traced in England back to 1694, the record being as follows: Robert Graham, born first month, twenty-fifth day, 1694; married 1728; date of death unknown. John Graham, son of above, born 1735; married to a Miss Hodg- son, and lived in Highburn Thwaite, parish St. Cuthbert, near Carlisle, Cumberland county, died at an unknown date, leaving ten children. Thomas Graham, son of the above John, was born eleventh month, si.xteenth day, 1788, came to Halifax, N. S., in 1816, moved to Welland county, Ont. , in 1817; married Hannah, daughter of Jesse and Anna Willson, twelfth month, eighth day, 18 19, lived in the town of Thorold, in the same county, until 1838, when he moved to the township of Boyham, now in the county of Elgin, Ont., whence he moved to Yarmouth, Elgin, in March, 1847, lived near the city of St. Thomas on the farm now owned by Robert Graham, where he died March 16, 1873, leaving a family of five sons and two daughters. Jesse Graham, son of Thomas, was born in the town of Thorold, Welland county, Ont., April 13, 1829, was married, in 1850, to Eleanor, daughter of Samuel and Martha Hathaway, and about 1855 came to the United States and settled in Dyersville, Dubuque county, Iowa, where he died April 20, 1864, leaving five sons, viz: Eugene, born August 18,1851 ; Alfred W., March 14, 1855; Edward B., March 4, 1857; Dr. Samuel H., subject, and Jesse, born Novem- ber 21, 1862. Dr. S. H. Graham was primarily educated in the district schools of Dubuque county, Iowa, and at Coe college at Cedar Rapids, entered the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1887, and graduated from the medi- cal department in 1890. He immediately be- gan practice in West Richfield, Summit county, Ohio, where he has won a host of friends and is recognized as one of the ablest physicians and surgeons of the county. He married Miss Emma E. Palmer, daughter of Frederick and Mary (Harris) Palmer. This lady was born in Richfield, August 3, 1867, was educated in the district school and at Baldwin university, of which she is a gradu- ate, and is now the happy mother of one bright little daughter — Mary Ellen, born September 22, 1892. *» ^ I RAM HART, a prosperous farmer of I'^^V Richfield township, Summit county, ^L.r Ohio, is a native of Windham county, Vt., and was born November 4, 1833, a son of Hiram and Mary (Hyde) Hart, both natives of Vermont and the parents of five children, viz: Hubbard L. ; Jennette L. , who was first married to James Murphy, and next to Frank Adams, a fruit grower of Florida; Mary L. , wife of Charles Crosby, of Boston, Mass., an attorney at law, now deceased; Hiram, the subject of this notice, and Amos, employed in the patent office at Washington, D. C. Hiram Hart, father of subject, was born in 1803, and was a son of Amos Hart, a native of England and a blacksmith by trade. Hiram Hart was a well-educated gentleman, was a strong republican, and was sheriff of Windham 450 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD county, Vt., at the time when the last culprit in the county was executed before the law abolishing capital punishment in the state went into effect. He died in 1865, in the faith of the Episcopalian church, and the death of his widow took place in ^^■ashington, D. C. , in 1878. Hiram Hart, the subject, was employed in farming in his native state until nineteen years old, and then worked in a store for a year. In 1852 he went south, and for a year drove stage between Savannah and Darien, Ga. , a distance of sixty-two miles. On his return home, he first married, November 7, 1854, Miss Jeannette Stearns, a daughter of Isaiah and Jemima (Hines) Stearns, natives of the Green Mountain state. In the spring of 1855, Mr. Hart came to Ohio and purchased the farm of 127 acres in Richfield township on which he still resides, and the most of which he has cleared up and improved with modern buildings. To his marriage with Miss Stearns were born two children, viz: Emma E., July 20, 1864, now the wife of Henry Gargett, a farmer of Richfield township, and Elmer S., January 8, 1866, now residing in Spokane Falls, Wash. In July, 1866, Mrs. Jeannette Hart was called from earth, and for his second life companion Mr. Hart chose Miss Arlette A. Clark, whom he married January 8, 1867. This lady was born August 12, 1839, in Twins- burg, Summit county, a daughter of Park B. and Nancy (Peck) Clark, and granddaughter of Leverett and Amy (Warner) Clark, who came from Connecticut in 1823 and settled in Twinsburg township, Summit county, Ohio, bringing their nine children — Ann, John, Will- iam, Burke, Phila, Park B., Mabel, Elmore W. and Leverett. To the second marriage of Mr. Hart have been born six children, viz: Arthur C, February 3, 1869, a veterinary surgeon of Richfield; Dana H., December 17, 1870; Kenneth Roy, February 24, 1873 — died February 18, 1888; Carroll P., September 15, 1874; Gratia C, February 3, 1876, and Mary, February 28, 1882. In politics Mr. Hart is a very popular re- publican, and has held several offices of honor and trust, among which is that of county com- missioner, to which he was elected in the fall of 1879 and re-elected in 1882, serving six consecutive years, and proving to be one of the best officials Summit county ever had. The family are all well educated and Mr. and Mrs. Hart mingle with the best circles of Richfield township, among whom they have many warm friends. ,>^ OSWELL HOPKINS, one of the I ^^ largest land owners and most suc- JL^P cessful citizens of Bath township, was born on the farm which he now owns, December 18, 1872. He is a descendant of an early pioneer famil}' and is as honorable a representative of his day and generation as were his ancestors of theirs, and is rightly en- titled to consideration as one of the best young citizens of the township. His grandfather, Isaac Hopkins, was a New Yorker by birth and lived in that state until he was of age, when he went to Pennsylvania, where he met and married Susan Harrison. On the lOth of October 181 3 — that memorable day which witnessed Perry's notable victory on lake Erie — Isaac and his bride took up their jour- ney westward, bound for a location in Bath township. Traveling in those days was not done by palace car, and it took them six weeks to reach their destination with their slow-plod- ding oxen. They located in the southwestern portion of the township, where they purchased quite a tract of land, and then began the struggle with primeval conditions, rendered all the more severe by the period of financial depression which marked that time. By the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 451 greatest care and strictest economy, however, he was able to maintain his property and a large measure of success finally attended his efforts. This worthy pioneer died in 1852, full of honor and respected throughout the whole region. His wife followed him to the grave ten years later. They had reared a family of eight children. Roswell, the father of our subject, was born April 3, 1825, and the struggles and environments of his youth precluded any other than a limited education, of which, however, he made the most. On October 8, 1846, he was married to Miss Eliz- abeth Lee, a native of New York state, born December 18, 1828. His wedding suit was of homespun, and the other conditions surround- ing his early married life were in keeping. He kept to the farm until 1870, when he engaged in the lumber business, at which he was quite successful. To this union were born ten chil- dren, viz: George, Wait, Ira, Burt, Ami, Cecil, Edna, Irene, Grant, Emma. Of these Ami is the sole survivor. His wife having died, he married. May i, 1870, Emily (Briggs) Case, widow of George Case. Mrs. Hopkins was born in New York state May 6, 1833. She was the daughter of Truman and Abigail (French) Briggs, both natives of Taunton, Mass., the former born November 8, 1792, and the latter July 11, 1792. They were married at Taunton in 1820, and died, the former at Sharon, Medina county, Ohio, June 13, 1874, and the latter January 7, 1871. They had the following children: Henry, born May 9, 1 82 1, now residing in Illinois; Sophia, born March 3, 1823, wife of L. Chatfield, now liv- ing in Kansas; Abigail, born July 15, 1824 — died in Michigan August i, 1866; Otis, born in 1827, now residing in Iowa; Samuel E., born March 30, 1830, now a resident of Iowa; Emily A. (our subject's mother), born May 6, 1833; Melissa A., born May 14, 1839, died February i, 1895. The Briggses settled at Wadsworth, Ohio, in 1835 and in 1851 moved to Sharon township. Our subject's parents were both members of the Disciples' church. Mr. Hopkins was a strong republican until a few years before his death, when he changed his views in favor of the prohibition party. He died November 25, 1894 and his wife Janu- ary 7, 1886. Roswell, our subject, has all his life lived on the home farm, which is now his. His dis- trict-school education was supplemented by a course in the high school at Richfield, and he keeps thoroughly informed and abreast of the times. His farm comprises 256 acres of ex- cellent land, which he has taken pride in improving highly. In addition to his farming interests he owns a well-equipped saw-mill, which forms an important industry in that community. His home is pleasantly situated one mile west of Ghent, where he is sur- rounded by latter day comforts to his taste. On June 6, 1894, Mr. Hopkins was united in marriage to Miss Ossie Pierson, who was born August 31, 1875, the daughter of Frank and Alfa (Davis) Pierson. To this union have been born Cecil, March 5, 1895, and Ruth, April I2, 1896. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins are members of the Disciples' church, and are active in all the works of that organization. They are a greatly admired young couple and stand very high in the esteem of the commu- nity in which they dwell. HLPHONSO HART HALLOCK, chief bridge builder and contractor on the Cleveland & Pittsburg branch of the Pennsylvania railroad, which position he has held since 1884, was born in Roots- town, Portage county, Ohio, his present place of residence, February 15, 1857, a son of Gibbs and Mary Meliss (McKelvey) Hallock. Gibbs Hallock was a native of Palmyra 452 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD township, Portage county, and was born in 1824. He was educated in the district schools of Palmyra, was a contractor and bridge builder, and did a great deal of bridge work for the counties of Portage and Summit, being an expert in his profession. July 13, 1849, he married Miss Mary M. McKelvey, the union resulting in the birth of ten children, viz: Alphonso, William Hiram and Blanche, all of Rootstown; Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Hardin and Mrs. Bow, of Ravenna; Mrs. Cope, Nelson and Lawrence G., of Wheeling, W. Va. , and Edith Irene, who died in infancy. The father of these children was called from earth in 1873, and was, at the time of his death, one of the oldest members of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Ravenna, and one of the most respected citizens of his township. His widow, who was born in Palmyra, Portage county, January 6. 1830, survived until December 29, 1896, when she expired in the faith of the Methodist church. Alphonso Hart Hallock attended the dis- trict schools of Rootstown until thirteen years of age, when he began learning the trade of stonecutting under his father, acquired a thorough knowledge of the art, and for many years was an assistant of his father in carry- ing on his heavy contracts in Portage and Summit counties. Since beginning business on his own account, Mr. Hallock has built a number of bridges for the Connotton Valley railroad, now known as the Cleveland, Canton & Southern railway; the masonry work on the Ohio River road from Parkersburg to Wheel- ing, W. Va. ; also for the Pittsburg & Harris- burg railroad. The latter was abandoned nine months after commencing it, but not until Mr. Hallock had fulfilled his contract with the company. In conjunction with his brother, L. G. Hallock, of Wheeling, W. Va., under the firm name of Hallock Bros., subject built the large cantilever bridge of the Central Bridge company across the Ohio river at Cin- cinnati, connecting that city with Newport, Ky., which bridge is considered to be one of one of the best in the country; he also built the stone arch bridge at Main and Sixteenth streets. Wheeling, W. Va., over the Wheeling creek. This is the third largest stone arch bridge in the world — its total length being 313 feet, and length of arch 159 feet; width, forty- eight feet, cost, $129,000. These constitute but a small fraction of the contracts filled by Mr. Hallock, and are mentioned merely to show what class of work he and his brother are capable of executing. The marriage of A. H. Hallock took place at Ravenna December 3, 1879, to Miss Rose Palm, who was born in Rootstown December 13' 1859, a daughter of Adam and Eve (Bouch) Palm, the former of whom is deceased. To this union four children have been born, viz: Dwight Raymond, October i, 1882; Mary Lewis, April 8, 1886; Grover Cleveland, March 4, 1889 — died December 26, 1896, from in- juries incurred from a fall from a wagon; Gibbs Palm, born November 23, 1893. Mr. Hallock is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Ravenna council. No. 396. In politics he is a democrat, but has never aspired to public office; and while he is not united in member- bership with any religious body, he leads an upright life and is honored by all who know him for his strict integrity. EENRY P. KLINE, a prominent and prosperous young agriculturist of Randolph township. Portage county, Ohio, of which he is a native, was born June 22, 1868, a son of George A. and Mary (Rettig) Kline, whose biographical record will be made in paragraphs yet to follow. Henry P. Kline, whose name opens this memoir, received an excellent education in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 453 the di'strict and high schocSls of Randolph, and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-two years he went to Canton, Ohio, and served an apprenticeship of five years at iron and steel roofing, which he still follows, to some extent, in addition lo his farming operations. October 20, 1891, he married Miss Clara Straub, a daughter of Alois and Elizabeth (Eisenhauer) Straub, the result of the union being the birth of Louretta M., October 30, 1S92, Alvin A., December 15, 1894, and Emma L., June 3, 1897. For three years after marriage Mr. Kline continued exclusively to follow the roofing business and then settled on his present farm, which he had purchased in 1893, and now has one of the best cultivated places of its dimensions in Randolph township. George A. Kline, father of Henry P., was born in Suffield, Portage county, Ohio, Octo- ber 10, 1840, a son of George Kline, who was born in Germany. George A. passed his early days, after a due course of education in the district school, in coal mining, but later be- came a farmer. September 17, 1867, his first marriage took place in Randolph to Miss Mary Rettig, daughter of Andrew and Theressa Rettig, and to this marriage were born four children, viz: Henry P., the subject of this sketch; Edward G., born January 18, 1870; Lewis A., born December 20, 1872, and John D., born December 24, 1873. The mother of these children was called from earth, in the faith of the Catholic church, June 6, 1877, at the early age of twenty-seven years, deeply mourned by her bereaved husband and or- phaned children, all then in tender years. To guard over these and to assist in rearing them properly, the father selected for his second bride Miss Mary Horning, a daughter of An- drew and Mary (Rothermelj Horning, to whom he was united in matrimony October 30, 1877, and this union has resulted in the birth, also, of four children, viz: Leo, born April 16, 1879; Clara, August 3, 1880; Frona, June 24, 1882, and Lizzie L., October 23, 1884. In connection with farming, George A. Kline has for the past five years been employed by the Peerless Reaper company, of Canton, and is as good a business man as he is a farmer. In politics he is a democrat and has served as township supervisor, and for the past twenty years has beed a member of the board of school directors; he has also been a member of the board of councilmen, and is in every way a good and useful citizen. In religion he is a true and sincere Catholic. George Kline, paternal grandfather of Henry P., was born June 6, 18 11, and came to the United States a single man. He set- tled in Suf^eld township. Portage county, and walked with his intended bride twenty miles, in order to have the ceremony performed at Canton. To his marriage were born five chil- dren — John, Peter, Barbara (Mrs. Adam Roth- ermel), George A. and Betsey — the last named dying October 31, 1894, the wife of George Ley, who is also deceased. Grandfather Khne died August 23, 1870, at the age of fifty-nine years, and his widow March 26, 1886, aged seventy-six years, both in the faith of the Catholic church. Peter Kline, great-grandfather of subject, was born September 8, 1804, and his wife March i, 1806, came from Germany to Amer- ica, and were among the early settlers of Ran- dolph township, Portage county, Ohio, and here died October 6, 1885, and June 20, 1890, aged, respectively, eighty-one and eighty-four years. Andrew Rettig, maternal grandfather of Henry P. Kline, was born in Baden, Germany, July 12, 1821, and his wife June 7, 1828. He married Theressa Rothermel June 9, 1846, who bore him two children, both now de- ceased. Andrew Rettig died February 23, 454 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1893, aged seventy-one years, but his widow is still living in Randolph at the age of seventy. Mrs. Clara (Straub) Kline, wife of Henry P., our subject, was born in Akron, Ohio, November 7, 1871. Her father was a native of Baden, Germany, was born September 11, 1826, and at the age of sixteen years began work as a manufacturer of musical instru- ments, continuing at this business four years. He also learned cabinetmaking, and after serving a while in the army came to America in 1845, and to Akron, Ohio, in 1851, where he worked for a short time as a cabinetmaker, and then for five years was employed by Hor- ton & Rose in the manufacture of musical in- struments, but his health failing him in the spring of 1857, he was employed by the same firm as a traveling salesman. Later, he opened the first store in Akron for retailing musical instruments, and in 1870 and 1871 commenced the manufacture of instruments, which he con- tinued until the date of his death. His mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Eisenhauer took place January 5, 1857, and resulted in the birth of five children, of whom only one survives — Mrs. Kline. The deceased four were Charles \V., born August 29, 1858, died September 23, 1859; Lewis J., born February 22, 1865, died August 25, 1867; Albert, born April 28, 1867, died December 7, 1867; and Mary M., born December 23, 1869, died August i, 1870. The mother of this family died January 18, 1876, aged thirty-eight years, and the father January 4, 1883, at the age of fifty-six years, both being devout Catholics. Henry P. Kline, the subject of this me- moir, although still a young man, has been very successful as a farmer, has always been temperate and industrious, and through his genial disposition and kindly nature has made many warm friends, who highly esteem him for his personal merits and excellent traits of character. He and family belong to St. Jos- eph's Catholic congregation of Randolph, and are ever ready to respond when called upon to aid the church or to assist a neighbor. V|— rf ON. FRANCIS MYERS, representa- 1^*^^ tive to the state legislature from Sum- l , P mit county, and an active business man of Mogadore, Springfield town- ship, and senior member of the well-known pottery firm of Myers & Hall, is a descendant of a worthy German family, which dates its transplanting in this country a century and a half ago. His father, Joseph Myers, was a native of West Earl township, Lancaster county, Pa., and a son of Christian and Magdalene (Hoover) Myers, representative agriculturist, of the "old Keystone state." He grew up a farmer lad, and, although his scho- lastic training was necessarily limited to the opportunities of the time, acquired a common- school education of more than average breadth. Tiring of farm life he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed for some years, and after- ward engaged in mercantile business for him- self, opening a country store in which he carried a general line of merchandise. He continued this business for ten years with considerable success. In 1838 he emigrated to Wayne county, Ohio, thence to Springfield township, in Summit county, where he spent the re- mainder of his days. During his business career he amassed a comfortable fortune and was one of the highly respected citizens of his county. He took an active interest in local affairs and was an earnest political worker, although he never aspired to holding any office. He was an intense abolitionist and an ardent temperance man, and in those exciting days, when the agitation of the slavery ques- tion was uppermost in the public mind, his home was one of the most important in a long chain of "Underground railroad stations." OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. In 1825, in Lancaster county, Pa.,' he married Miss Susan Winger, daughter of Jo- seph \\'inger, a worth)' neighbor and large farmer, whose right to his acres extended back to the year 1741, seven generations of Wingers having been reared on the homestead. The founder of the Winger family was Chris- tian Winger, who came from Switzerland to America in 1727. There were born to Joseph and Susan Myers the following children: Louisa, wife of Jacob Mishler; Maria, wife of Samuel Shoemaker — Mrs. Shoemaker is now deceased; Francis W. , the subject of this biography; Amos; John; William; Joseph and Meno, who is the wife of John Longnecker. There were also born two sons, Isaac and Michael, who died in infancy. Hon. Francis Myers also claims Pennsyl- vania as his birth state, having been born in Earl township, Lancaster county, December 4, 1830. His boyhood days were spent upon his father's estate, and during his early life, whilst there, at intervals received the rudi- mental education common with many of the farmers' lads of those days. His education being very limited as to courses of training under tutors, he can be freely classed as a self- educated man. At the age of eighteen he entered as an apprentice to learn the trade of a potter in a factory in Springfield township, Summit county, and his business life has been spent in that particular calling. Mr. Myers celebrated his marriage with Miss Lydia M. Mishler, a native of Springfield township, Summit county, a daughter of Jo- seph and Mary (Palmer) Mishler. They were married in September, 1852, and to this union has been born live children — three died in in- fancy; the eldest living is Maria Louise, wife of Dr. W. C. Steele, residents of Berlin. Stark county, Ohio. She was educated in the common schools, also was a student at the academy at Smithville, Ohio, and also Akron 16 Buchtel college. She received a training in instrumental music and was one of Summit county's honored teachers. Grace Eugenie resides at home. She is a graduate of the Mogadore high school and graduated at Find- lay college in music, at Findlay, Ohio. She has been a successful teacher in instrumental music also. Hon. Francis Myers has been all his life a devotee to his belief in political liberty. He cast his first presidential vote for Gen Win- field Scott in support of the old-line whig party, and at the birth of the republican party, when Gen. John C. Fremont was the champion of that political faith, he espoused those ster- ling principles of republicanism. Officially, Mr. Myers has served for almost five years in the responsible capacity of chair- man of the county election board, resigning this office in 1895, when he was called to represent his county in the state legislature. There were seven candidates in the field for this office before the county nominating con- vention that year, but Mr. Myers received on the first ballot a large majority of the votes of the delegates, a gratifying mark of the honor in which he is held throughout the county. His record as a legislator has but further ex- emplified his fine personal and executive qual- ities, and his service in this capacity has given the utmost satisfaction to his constituency. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mishler, the parents of Mrs. Myers, were people of sterling integrity and worth, were early and respected pioneers of Stark county, were prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits, and noted for their zeal- ous work in the church. Socially, the subject of our sketch is a member of the K. of P. lodge, Mogadore, No. 482. He and wife are ardent supporters of the Disciples' church at Mogadore, and have always been prominent in the upbuilding of this particular society as well as the Sunday-school. 458 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Officially in the church Mr. Myers has been both an elder and deacon. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been honored residents of Moga- dore for almost one-half a century, and their sterling lives have been as monuments to their general worth as citizens. *-j-» LOYD HINMAN, a retired farmer of I r Rootstovvn township, Portage county, I \ Ohio, was born in Hartford county, Conn., December 17, 1826, a son of Zerah and Miriam (Moses) Hinman, the former of whom was born in Hartford county. Conn., in 1800, and the latter in Litchfield county, same state, in 1797, their marriage taking place in Hartford county in 1822. The Hin- man family is traceable to England, the founder of the family in America, who had been a sergeant in the body-guard of Charles I, having settled in Saybrook, Conn. ; Martin Moses, maternal grandfather of subject, served all through the Revolutionary war, and the paternal grandfather was a teamster in the war of 1812, while his son, Luman, was an officer in the same struggle. Of the three sons born to Zerah and Miriam Hinman. Judge Julius S. Hinman, late of Cambridge, Henry county. 111., studied law with Gen. Beirce, later with Tilden & Ranney, and was admitted to the bar at Ravenna, Ohio; he served for twenty years as county judge of Henry county. 111., and died at Cam- bridge in 1883. Llod}' Hinman was the second in order of birth, and Rufus M., ten j-ears his junior, served three years in the Civil war, but has not been heard from since 1878. Lloyd Hinman, the subject, came with his parents to Rootstown township in 1835, and this has since been his home, with the excep- tion of four years spent in Hardin county, Ohio, and three years in the Union army. He received a good common-school education, and, his father being a blacksmith, he par- tially learned the trade, and also taught school two years in his early manhood, as well as vocal music, but his calling has chiefly been that of a farmer. He married, in Brimfield, Ohio, October i, 1S46, Miss Mary C. Lewis, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of John G. Lewis, who located in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, in 1833. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hinman was blessed with five children — William L., L. Ada, Althea, Louis and Jennie M. Of these, William L. resides in Tallmadge; L. Ada, now Mrs. William Mc- Kean, resdies in Lewistown, Pa. ; Althea, married to WiUis P. Fenn, lives in Tallmadge, Ohio; Louis is in San Francisco, Cal., and Jennie M. is the wife of Zerah Hinman, who occupies the farm once owned by the paternal grandfather of subject in Canton, Hartford county. Conn. Mrs. Mary C. Hinman was called from earth in February, 1872, and Mr. Hinman was next married, in March, 1873, to Miss Charlotte H. Camp, a native of Litch- field county, Conn. , and a daughter of Lacey Camp. To this uuion was born one child — Warren C, who now resides in Amite City, La., and is engaged in raising fruit for the New Orleans market. Mrs. Charlotte Hinman passed away October 10, 1892, and for his third helpmate Mr. Hinman married, Novem- ber 14, 1896, Mrs. Harriet Seymour, of Wind- ham, Portage county, Ohio, but a native of Jamestown, N. Y. , born October 7, 1S31. The enlistment of Lloyd Hinman took place August 12, 1862, in company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served faithfully until mustered out, as sergeant, at Jonesboro, N. C. , June 19, 1865. He took part in all the marches and engagements in which his regiment, which was attached to the Twenty-third army corps, participated, and was never absent from his command one day during his three years' service. He neverthe- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 459 less was stricken -with serious deafness while on duty and otherwise suffered from general debility, and for these serious disabilities has been awarded a pension. In politics Mr. Hin- man was formerly a republican, but now affil- iates with the prohibition party. He is a mem- ber of David Mcintosh post, G. A. R. , at Ra- venna, and he and wife are members of the Congregational church at Rootstown. The family enjoy the full esteem of the community, and Mr. Hinman is in all respects entitled to the high regard in which he is universally held. EENRY KILLEFER, of West Rich- field, Summit county, Ohio, one of the veteran soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citizen, was born May 1 6, 1838, in Richfield, a son of Henry and Jane (Curtis) Killefer. Henry Killefer, (father of subject) was born in Pennsylvania a son of Christopher Killefer, or, as he spelled the name, Killhefer, a native of Germany. The Curtis family was of old colonial Con- necticut stock. Henry Killefer received a common-school education and learned the blacksmith's trade at Richfield, where he enlisted August 13, 1 86 1, in company A, First Ohio light artillery, to serve three years or during the war, and served until he re-enlisted as a veteran in same organization, at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1864, again for three years, or during the war, and served until honorably discharged July 31, 1865, his service lasting four years, lacking thirteen days. He was in the battles of Pitts- burgh Landing, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River (and many minor battles and skirmishes), Chickamaugua, Dalton, Dallas, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Buzzard's Roost, Pumpkinvine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain, and the battles in front of Atlanta and Jonesboro, after which his battery followed Gen. Hood, and took part in the second battle of Franklin, which was one of the hardest-fought of the war, and later was at Nashville. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Stone River and held twenty- eight days in Libby prison. He was paroled at Annapolis, Md., not being obliged to do military duty for United States government until exchanged; so he and Andrew Finch of Medina county, Henry Barr of Cuyahoga county, comrades of the same batter)', took French furlough and walked from Annapolis, Md., to Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, a distance of 400 miles, without money except $1, which a comrade gave Mr. Kill- efer. The people on the road entertained them and they had no trouble. Mr. Killefer then went to Columbus on a pass from Gov. Tod, and served in camp two days. After an absence of six weeks, he returned to his regi- ment at Murfreesboro, Tenn. Mr. Killefer was not wounded but narrowlj' escaped, his blouse being cut by bullets several times. He was always an active soldier and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duty, and was not sick in hospital, but suffered from sciatic rheumatism contracted in the service in 1864, when he marched with his battery from Straw- berry Plains, Tenn., to Nicholasville, Ky. , a distance of about 300 miles in cold, wet weather. After the war Mr. Killefer returned to Richfield, where he has followed blacksmith- ing since 1858, except while a soldier. He married, October 17, 1867, at Richfield, Ohio, Aurelia Spafford, born January 27, 1842, a daughter of Martin and Mary (Brown) Spaf- ford, and to Mr. and Mrs. Killefer were born two children — Mary E. and Henry B. Mrs. Killefer died October 4, 1894, a woman of many virtues. Mr. Killefer is a member of A. N. Goldwood post, G. A. R., and is a non- affiliating Mason of Richfield Meridian Sun 460 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD lodge. In politics he is a republican and is a respected citizen, owning a pleasant home. Christopher Killefer, grandfather of Henry, came from Germany and settled at Millers- burg, Pa., where he followed farming until his death. He had a family of fourteen chil- dren and was a highly respected citizen. Henry Killefer, father of subject, was born in 1800 in Pennsylvania at Millersburg, was a cooper by trade, and came when young to Richfield township, Summit county, Ohio, and married Jame Curtis, daughter of Solomon Curtis. Solomon Curtis came from Connecti- cut in early pioneer days and was a shoe- maker by trade, lived in Richfield many years and died a respected citizen, having attained the great age of ninety-two years. Henry Killefer was the father of John, Henry and Elizabeth by his first wife, who died, and he next married Abigail Foot, a widow, nee Cole- man, and the children born to this union are William and Mary. >^EREMIAH KREIDER, one of the ■ most prosperous middle-aged farmers /I 1 of Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born December 24, 1857, i"^ Pike township. Stark county, a son of John and Elizabeth (Shengle) Kreider, both also natives of Stark county. David Kreider, paternal grandfather of Jeremiah, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, came to Ohio when a young man, settled in Stark county, and for the greater part of his life was a day laborer. By his marriage with Miss Catherine dinger he had born to him a large family. John Shengle, the maternal grandfather of Jeremiah Kreider, was also a native of the Keystone state, was a fanner by vocation, and was married in Lan- caster county, Pa., to Miss Mary Bucher, who bore him eight children, five of whom are still living, viz: Susan, widow of Jacob Clapper; Jacob, Poll}', Sally and John; the deceased were named Nancy, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Mrs. John Kreiderj Mr. and Mrs. Shengle were devoted members of the German Baptist church, in which Mr. Shengle served as dea- con for several years in Stark county, where he died at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife at the age of ninety-four. John Kreider, father of Jeremiah, was a farmer all through life, and to his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Shengle, daughter of John and Mary (Bucher) Shengle, were born four children, all of whom reached the years of ma- turity, viz: David, Henry, Jeremiah and Nancy — the latter the wife of Frederick Big- ler. The father died when thirty years old, and the mother at the age of sixty-one, both in the faith of the German Baptist church. Jeremiah Kreider, the subject of this memoir, at the age of two years, had the mis- fortune to lose his father. He nevertheless had the oppurtunity of attending the district school in his native township until seventeen years of age. In the meantime he assisted his mother on the home farm, and when his brothers, who were his elders, left the place to assume the responsibilities of life on their own account, he was placed in full charge and worked the farm for his mother until he reached his twenty- second year, when he engaged in farming for himself in his native county of Stark. De- cember 18, 1880, Mr. Kreider married, in Pike township, Stark county, Miss Catherine Royer, daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Kurtz) Royer, natives of Pennsylvania, but early settlers of Stark county, Ohio, where they still reside, and where the father is still engaged in farm- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Royer have had born to them six children, of whom four are still living, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Light; Will- iam, Moses and Henry; the deceased were OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 461 Mary and Catherine. The parents are mem- bers of the German Baptist church, and are greatly respected in the community in which they Hve. To the marriage of Jeremiah and Catherine (Royer) Kreider were born two children, of whom but one survives — Lydia Estella; Raymond died in February, 1889. Mr. Kreider, however, met with a greater mis- fortune the same year when he was bereaved of his wife, January 20, at the early age of twenty-nine years, a faithful member of the German Baptist church. Mr. Kreider has since remained a widower, and, with his only child, boards with a family in his own house, by special arrangement. Mr. Kreider has been principally engaged, since he came to Portage county, in farming, threshing and sowing, and owns a handsome property. He is an active member of the German Baptist church, and maintains a high place in the esteem'of the resi- dents of Suffield township. ai TLLIAM HENRY KIMBALL, post- master at New Milford, Portage county, Ohio, and station agent at Rootstown station for the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad company, is a native of Hamlin, Monroe county, N. Y., was born No- vember 28, 1858, and is a son of William Henry and Sarah (Burch) Kimball, both na- tives of the Empire state. The Kimball family was founded in Amer- ica by six brothers who name from Scotland just prior to the Revolutionary war, and were all soldiers in the glorious struggle for Ameri- can independence, but whose actual fate was never known; while that of one of their de- scendants, a brother of subject's father, and named Horace Kimball, was equally shrouded in mystery, inasmuch as he started for Cali- fornia, via the plains, and was never heard of afterward. The subject is of the fifth genera- tion of the Kimballs to bear the Christian name of William Henry, and his son is of the seventh. Of the family born to his parents there were two sons and four daughters, of whom Ira T. , the eldest, is now on the old homestead in Hamlin, N. Y. ; Sarah L. is mar- ried to Charles B. Kocher, of Brockport; Hen- rietta L. is the widow of H. F. Austin and re- sides in New York city, and the subject is the youngest; of the two deceased daughters, one died in infancy, and one — Helen — died at the age of fourteen years. William H. Kimball, the subject, received a good common-school education in his native county and graduated from the state normal school at Brockport in 1879. He then studied law two years in Brockport, but failing health precluded his entering upon active practice, and for some months, in 1882, he traveled the "long eastern" routa for the Hiram Sibley company, of Rochester, visiting many points of interest in the United States, and now looks back with satisfaction in this experience as fa- miliarizing him with the manners and customs of the people over a wide extent of territory. He then engaged in farming for several years, and in 1889 came to Ohio, and for a short time was employed in an installment house in Cleveland. He next entered the employ of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railway company in a subordinate capacity — that of clerk in the "car service" department, which he held until April I, 1896, when he was placed in charge of the Rootstown station, and on July 15, fol- lowing, was appointed postmaster of New Mil- ford, the post-ofifice being in the station. Mr. Kimball was united in marriage, in New York state, July to, 1881, with Miss Mary E. Miller, a native of Cooperstown, N. Y. Mr. Kimball formed the acquaintance of this lady while in the normal school, and for two years prior to her marriage she was 462 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD engaged in school-teaching. This union has been blessed with two sons and three daugh- ters, viz: William Henry, Jr., Mary Eliza- beth, Arthur Leroy, Marie Isabel and Edna — all still living beneath the parental roof. Mr. Kimball, wife and elder son are members of the Methodist Episcopal church; the parents are also connected with the various social or- ders within the pale of this church, and both are active workers in the Sunday-school, of which Mr. Kimball is the present superintend- ent — having previously had five years' experi- ence in similar work while in Cleveland, where he served as secretary and treasurer of his Sunday-school. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are also members of the Protective Home cir- cle, and Mr. Kimball is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. In his political sentiments, Mr. Kimball is strongly republican. The family stand very high so- cially, and Mr. Kimball is greatly respected for his urbanity, gentlemanly deportment and unflinching integrity. aLEMEN N. JAGGER, a native of Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, was born June 3, 1827, the eldest in a family of four children — one son and three daughters — born unto Elmus and Hannah M. (Noah) Jagger, of whom there are three living, viz: Clemen N., Lucy Ann, wife of S. H. Webster, a commercial traveler of Shelbyville, 111., and Mary, wife of H. L. Martin, editor of the Shelbyville (111.) Union, a republican organ, and Rebecca, deceased. Elmus Jagger, the father Clemen N., was a native of Massachusetts, was reared to farm- ing and was educated in the common schools, and for a time was a school-teacher. He came at an early date, and located in Richfield town- ship. Summit county, where his father at one time owned about 500 acres of land. Po- litically he was a whig, and he and wife were Methodists. Mr. Jagger's mother was a native of Ohio and her parents had to work for seven years to pay for their passage from Germany to America. Her father was a merchant tailor by trade. Clemen N. Jagger's education was obtained in the pioneer school-house, and is quite lim- ited. He early learned the wagonmaker's trade in Boston township, and about 1852 he came to Hammond's Corners, and here he has resided as an honest and upright citizen and mechanic since. He married Miss Jane Perry, a native of Ohio, who was born February 8, 1836. To this union there were born the fol- lowing children: Elmus H., September 13, 1858, now a resident of Greensburg; Ella, April 29, 1866, and wife of Frank Turner, of Akron; Charles Elmer, January 29, 1873, with his father. Mr. Jagger was called on to mourn the death of his companion in life March 4, 1895. For almost thirty-five years had they lived to- gether sharing the sorrows and joys of life. She had been a loving mother and wife, was a lady who had led a life of usefulness, and was dearly beloved by all who knew her. In politics Mr. Jagger has always been a republican, and has held several offices of trust, such as school director, etc., and probably ini- bided much of his political proclivities from the late Gen. James A. Garfield, of whom he recalls many pleasing and interesting incidents that occurred when they were playmates to- gether. Although the early education of Mr. Jagger was not very comprehensive, and this is proven by the fact that he has been, in all respects, the maker of his unaided way in the world and secured for himself a fortune. He has won the respect of his neighbors, who fully recognize his many good qualities, and cheerfully accord to him the esteem in which, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 463 as one of the oldest residents of Bath town- ship, and as one of its most substantial citizens, he so justly deserves. St 'ILLIAM E. HURD, state food in- spector, residing in Ravenna, Por- tage county, Ohio, was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., August 20, 1852, and is a son of Joseph and Arminda (Pool) Hard, natives of the same county and state, and the parents of four children, viz: William E., the subject of this memoir; J. D. ; Esther A., wife of Charles Benton, of Oswego county, N. Y. , and Anson P., of Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y. Jarvis Hurd, paternal grandfather of sub- ject, was born in Connecticut, of Welsh de- scent. He was an extensive farmer and served in the war of 1812, and at his death was about seventy-two years old, his widow living to be eighty-one. David Pool, the ma- ternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., was also a farmer, was likewise a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in his native county at the age of seventy- five years; his widow survived until seventy- seven years old, and the family born to this couple was quite large. Joseph Hurd, father of William E., was a farmer in early life, but for many years has worked at masonry for the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad company. He lost his wife in 1868, when she was but thirty- seven years of age. She was a very amiable lady and a devout member of the Baptist •hurch, and dearly beloved by her husband and children. Mr. Hurd now lives in Pulaski, Oswego county, N. Y., and is an industrious, hard-working man, although beyond the reach of want, and is highly respected by all who know him. William E. Hurd, the subject of this memoir, was reared a farmer and was edu- cated primarily in the district schools of his native county, which he attended until fifteen years of age; he then attended Union acad- emy until he was prepared for teaching, and this vocation he followed during the winter seasons, employing his time, during the sum- mer, in the making of cheese, until 1876. In April, 1876, Mr. Hurd was united in marriage with Miss Imogene S. Tousley, a daughter of Hiram and Catherine (Graves) Tousley. In 1879 Mr. Hurd and his wife came to Ohio and for one year lived in Geauga county, then came to Aurora, Portage county, where Mr. Hurd taught school two terms, and then for ten years was superintend- ent of the cheese factories operated by Frank Hurd, of the same place. In May, 1893, Mr. Hurd was appointed, by the state food com- missioner. Dr. F. B. McNeal, food inspector for the state of Ohio, a position he still most eff-ectually fills. Politically, Mr. Hurd has always been a republican, and while in Aurora served as township clerk for one year, and has been township committeeman ever since coming to Portage county. He has been a resident of Ravenna for the past three years, and here has made hosts of friends; but here, also, he had the great misfortune of losing his wife in August, 1895 — a loss he has never ceased to deplore. In March, 1897, he was married to Miss Georgia A. Towne, of Orange, Cuyohoga county, Ohio, daughter of Sylvanus and Le- nora Towne. Mr. Hurd has no children. His residence is at No. 319 Elm street, and his official headquarters are also at Ravenna. VINCENT G. HARRIS was born in Wayne county, Ohio, February 7, 1826, the fourth in a family of ten children, four sons and si.\ daughters, born to Aaron and Eleanor (White) Harris. There are only three of the ten living: Eliza- 464 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD beth, wife of Nicholas H. Long, of Wadsworth, Ohio, and an agriculturist; Vincent G., our subject, and Eleanor, wife of Joseph Shoe- maker, a farmer in Bath township. Mr. Harris, the father, was born either in Virginia or Maryland, was reared to the life of a farmer and educated in the common schools, and he and wife were members of the old- school Presbyterian church. The mother was a native of Ohio and her parents were born in Ireland. Mr. Harris received a rudimentary training in the pioneer log-cabin school-house, and when he commenced life the battle was fought empty handed as regards financial sup- port, but, with the aid of his estimable wife, he has accumulated a competency which places them both in such circumstances that their re- maining days may be happily spent in ease and comfort. Mr. Harris chose for his companion in life Miss Magdelana Long, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Creese) Long. She was born March i, 1829, in Medina county, Ohio, and received her education in the common schools. They were married September 13, 1849, and by this union have been born nine children, viz: Rebecca Belle, wife of Moses Huger, of Midland county, Mich. , a farmer with five chil- dren; Mary, wife of John M. Hoertz, of Loyal Oak, Summit county, a farmer with two chil- dren; Joseph, a minister in the church of Christ, who has been a worker in the vine- yards of the Lord in Illinois and Ohio, and is at present in Michigan; he married Miss Au- gusta Van Vorhis, a native of Ohio, is a stu- dent of Bethany college, in Virginia, and has one child living; John died in infancy; Eliza- beth, wife of Jacob Shook, a stonemason by trade, resides in Akron, Ohio, and is the mother of five children; Eliza J., who resides with her parents at Copley Center, was edu- cated in the Copley high school and was a successful teacher in Summit county; Charles F. , of Loyal Oak, married Miss Rosa Wert- man, a native of Ohio, and has one child; Alice S. is the wife of Alvin Freid, a mechanic in Blake, Medina county, Ohio; and Andrew J., the youngest, is a farmer in Copley town- ship, and is married to Metta Robinson, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Vincent Harris' parents were natives of the Keystone state, and died in Wadsworth, Ohio. Father Long was a miller by trade, but devoted much of his later life to farming. He and his wife were members of the Presby- terian society. Their family comprised four- teen children, seven sons and seven daughters, only four of whom are living — two in Nebraska and two in Ohio. The first presidential vote our subject cast was for Gen. Winfield Scott, but since the organization of the republican party has advocated its principles. He served many years as school director, and was town- ship trustee for sixteen to eighteen years. He is a true respector of all religious teachings, and his wife is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have a beauti- ful estate of 146 acres within one mile of Cop- ley and a comfortable home in the village, where they are surrounded by many friends, who esteem them highly for their sterling integrity. ,>^^ ENNIS MONEGAN, an exceedingly I I well-to-do farmer of Richfield town- /^^,_^ ship, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of county Wexford, Ireland, and was born December 25, 18 19, a son of John and Mary (Rhine) Monegan, who were the parents of four children — Dennis, Lawrence, Mary and Catherine. At the age of seven years Dennis Monegan lost his father and was sent to England to learn the tanner's trade under his uncle Will- iam, whom he served six years for his board. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 465 While serving his apprenticeship he united with a club, which, when he had learned his trade, furnished him with means for making a trip through England and France. He then worked at his trade for a year in Manchester, then came to the United States, worked a few months in New York city, and then made a general tour, working at Newburgh, N. Y. , New York city, Philadelphia, Pa., Boston, Mass., again in New York city, Albany, N. Y., where he lived six months, and then came to Cleveland, Ohio, at a time when the site of the present union railroad depot was a mere barnyard; there he was taken sick and went to Chicago, 111., but the cholera becoming epidemic at that point, he returned to Cleve- land, whence, shortly afterward, he came to Summit county, and at Hudson laid the foun- dation of his present fortune, although he had but ten cents on his arrival. For eight con- tinuous years he worked in Hudson at his trade, and then for a short time in Akron for James Christy, but returned to Hudson, and was united in marriage, November 25, 1851, with Miss Lavinia Hill, who was born in John- stown, Pa., in 1830. The father of this lady was William Hill, a very pious and highly ed- ucated gentleman and a school-teacher. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Monegan has been blessed with eight children, born in the follow- ing order: Lawrence, September 29, 1852, and James, March 20, 1856, both of Richfield township; George, September 18, 1857, aprom- inent physician of St. Louis, Mo- ; Morris, December 9, 1 860, in the drug business, in New York state; Ella, January 6, 1863, wife of Edward Murton, of Richfield, Ohio; Charles, of Bath, Ohio; Lillian, January 26, 1869, at- tending college at Oberlin, Ohio; Edgar, as- sisting on the home farm. Mr. Monegan has provided his children with collegiate educa- tions, although his own early opportunities in this respect were not over abundant, yet he is a diligent student, and has been since reaching his majority, is fully impressed with the im- portance of a sound scholastic training, and has seen to it that his children have been well grounded in knowledge. In 1857, Mr. Monegan came from Hudson to Richfield and bought a farm, on which he erected all the buildings, and later purchased his present home place, on which he has over three miles of tiling. His acres number 336, and he is to-day one of the most successful farmers of Richland township. His buildings are all new and of modern construction, and his live stock is of the choicest grades. He is greatly respected in his township and county, and very popular with the republican party, of which he is a stanch supporter and by which he has frequently been honored by offers of nomination for offices of honor and trust, but these offers he has invariably declined to ac- cept, preferring to follow the more congenial pursuit of husbandry. eKING NASH, M. D., one of the old- est and most highly esteemed mem- bers of the medical profession in Summit county, is a resident of Montrose, Bath township, and no history of this region would be complete without men- tion of this venerable physician. His father, Hophni Nash, one of the pioneers of this sec- tion of the state, was born at Williamsburg, Mass., January 10, 1797, and came to Bath in 1817. His life was devoted to farming and in pursuit of that occupation it was well spent. He cleared his farm in Bath township, lot No. 45, then moved to Richfield, where our sub- ject was born, but after a sometime residence there returned to Bath. In 1825 he married Miss Lovisa King, daughter of Eleazar and Mercy (Kingsley) King, who was born Decem- ber 30, 1 801. To them were born five chil- 466 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD dren: Harriet, April 4, 1826; E. King, our subject, April 20, 1828; Ellen, October 20, 1830; Thomas, December 7, 1832; Sumner. May 10, 1836. Mr. Nash died at the home of his son, Sumner, at Akron, in 1882, and his widow survived him until January 6, 1891, when she passed away at the home of our subject in Bath. E. King Nash passed the early years of his life on the farm with his parents, with whom he remained for thirty jears. He was edu- cated in the schools at Richfield and Granger. Turning his attention to the study of medicine he took a course in the medical department of the Western Reserve school, graduating there- from in 1 86 1. He began the practice of his chosen profession in the spring of 1863, and almost immediately afterward was appointed by Gov. Tod to the position of assistant sur- geon in the Fourteenth regiment, Ohio volun- teer infantry. This appointment was dated April 10, 1863, and in November, 1864. he was promoted to the rank of surgeon, remain- ing with this regiment in that capacity until the close of the war. On December 12, 1861, he was married to Mary A. Sloan, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Fuller) Sloan. Mr. Sloan was born in Scot- land December 26, 1808, and came to this country when he was a lad and learned the trade of blacksmith in New York. His wife was a native of the Empire state and was born September 22, 1814. They had the follow- ing children: Emily, born .\pril 26, 1833, wife of N. Hanson, of Copely; Mary A., born May 3, 1839; Alice, August 25, 1841, wife of M. Hulbert, of Bath. To Mr. and Mrs. Nash have been born two children: Nellie Maud, born October 12, 1562, who married Frank Smalley, a government employee, and resid- ing in Chicago; and Claude Bernard, born April 27, 1870, now a resident of Cleveland. Both Dr. Nash and his wife are active members of the Disciples' church, and the doctor is a teacher in the Sunday-school and a leader in all good works. He is a member of Buckley post. No. 12, G. A. R. The vener- able doctor has a good and lucrative practice, and is a power for good in the community, his youthful devotion to his honorable profes- sion being lessened not a whit by reasen of the lightly borne weight of his three-score years and ten. The doctor was in early years a whig, but at the birth of the republican party cast his vote for John C. Fremont, who championed the new cause, and has always ardently supported its principles ever since. (D ARTIX MILLER, one of the most e.\perienced and prosperous farmers of Rootstown township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in Hessen, Germany, November 13, 1822, a son of John and Gertrude (Bassel) Miller, who came to America in 1848, and settled in Rootstown. The father, who was a weaver by trade, fol- lowed this calling for a short time after com- ing here, and then purchased the farm on which Martin Miller now resides, which he cleared up from the wilderness and cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1870, at the age of seventy-five years, his widow fol- lowing him to the grave in 1871, at the age of seventy-three — both being sincere Catholics. To their marriage were born three children, viz: Martin, the subject of this notice; Cath- erine, who is the wife of X'alentine Reis, of Rootstown, and Frances, who died at the age of two years. Martin Miller received a limited education in Germany, and on coming to this country with his parents assisted his father in clearing up his farm from the woods and in cultivating it — being now the owner of the place. He has been twice married — first, to Miss Eva OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 467 Reis, daughter of Valentine and Eva (Derr) Reis, of Rootstown, and to this union one child — Katherine — was born. Mrs. Miller was called away in 1853, at the age of thirty- five years, and Mr. Miller was ne.xt married, in 1854, to Miss Barbara Andes, daughter of Nicholas and Katherine (May) Andes, and this union has been blessed with nine children, of whom eight are still living, viz: Andrew, Elizabeth (wife of Henry Bauer), Valentine, Martin, Joseph, John, Mary and Barbara; the deceased child, Anna Mary, was taken away at two years of age. Mrs. Barbara Miller was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, April 16, 1 836, and came with her parents to the United States in 1850. The family settled in Roots- town, where the father, who was a weaver by trade, for a short time followed his calling, and then bought a farm, which he cultivated several years and then returned to Germany and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1873, at the age of seventy-three years; his wife had died at the age of forty-nine years, and both were devout members of the Cath- olic church. Of their nine children but one survives — Mrs. Miller. The deceased were Adam, Katherine, Nicholas, John and Philip, and three that died unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are consistent Cath- olics and contribute freely to the support of the church, and are among the most highly respected residents of Rootstown township. *w ^ ENRY L. NAPP, an e.x-soldier of l'^^ the Civil war, and a highly respect- M . r ed farmer and small-fruit grower of Richfield township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Franklin county, Pa., Jan- uary 19, 1837, a son of Casper and Catherine (Miller~)Neeb — which was the original German spelling of the name, the parents being of German extraction — but in America the name is variously spelled, as, for instance, Neeb, Napp and Knapp. Casper Neeb was born in Hesse-Darmstad, Germany. July 7, 1800, was the son of a hotel-keeper, and was married in his native province, the result of the union being three children — J. N., Catherine and Elizabeth. In 1833 Casper, the father of these children, sailed from Hamburg for America with his wife and German-born children, and landed in Baltimore, Md. His first wife having died, probably in Baltimore, he married, for his second wife, Elizabeth Baker, who also bore him three children — Elizabeth, Charles and Susan — and likewise died in Baltimore. Mr. Neeb then settled in Mount Hope, Pa., where he worked as a cooper and where his third marriage took place to Miss Catherine Miller, who was born in Germany and who was nine- teen years old when she came to America in company with her parents, John and Adelia Miller. To this third marriage of Mr. Neeb were born eight children, viz: Henry L. , Will- iam, John, Augustus, Adelia, Mary, Daniel and Julius. John Miller, father of Mrs. Catherine Neeb and her brother, Conrad, was killed while working on a railroad at Shippensburg, Pa., an embankment caving in and falling upon him. Casper Neeb came to Ohio in 1842, lived in Akron until 1843, and then settled in Rich- field township, Summit county, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying De- cember 2, 1 88 1, at the age of eighty-one years, a member of the Lutheran church, although his wife was a Presbyterian. In pol- itics he was a democrat, but a strong Union man, and had four sons in the Civil war, he having himself been a soldier in the German army. These four sons were Charles, Henry L. , Augustus and John. The militar}' record of Henry will be given in full further on; of the others it may be briefly stated that Charles 468 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry for three years, took part in many battles and was a prisoner in Cahaba, Ala., for six months; after his release from his rebel prison, and while on his way home, he was blown overboard by the explosion of the boilers of the steamer Sultana and floated down the Mississippi river, on a cabin door, nine hours before being rescued ; Augustus was in the One Hundred and Seventh Ohio infan- try, fought many battles, including Fort Fish- er, and died a natural death at a New York hospital, his remains being interred in the sol- diers' cemetery at Cypress Hill; John was a member of company I, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth infantry and served chiefly as a guard on Johnson's island. Henry L. Napp was nearly seven years of age when his parents settled in Richfied town- ship, and here he was reared to farming and also learned the cooper's trade. October i8, 1 86 1, he enlisted at Richfield Center, in com- pany G, Sixty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, fought at Shiloh. but shortly afterward was attacked with chronic diarrhea, and was confined to hospital at Tuscumbia and Huntsville, Ala., and Nashville, Tenn., al- together about three months, and was so ema- ciated and exhausted, that he was honorably discharged for disability, at Nashville, Tenn., October 30, 1862 — his weight having been re- duced from 172 pounds, at the time of his en- listment, to ninety-one pounds at his discharge. After partial recovery Mr. Napp re-enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio. December 10, 1863 — this time in company I, Capt. Austin McDowell, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio infan- try, for three years or less, if the war should be ended, and served until honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio, July 13, 1865, the war having been brought to an end in April. During his last term of service, Mr. Napp acted as guard on Johnson's island, lake Erie, at the barracks erected for the detention of rebel officers captured in battle. Of these, there were 2,762 then within the stockade, in rank ranging from major-generals to second lieutenants. Their rations were better than those of the guards, as they had good bread and beef, served out in liberal measure three times per day; vegetables in abundance; coffee, rice, sugar, molasses, clothing, blankets, shoes, straw beds, with white ticks,, wood for heating and cooking purposes, and weather- tight sleeping apartments. There were some, of course, who died from sickness incurred be- fore capture, but their funeral services were performed by their own chaplains and inter- ment made by their own comrades. Many of the rebels were possessed of valuables when imprisoned, but these were carefully inven- toried and deposited with the United States Express company at Sandusky and returned to their owners at their release. The captives were also permitted to purchase extras from the sutler at the stockade, or to send to San- dusky for what trifles they desired. Of course they did their own laundry work and cooking, but they were liberally supplied with soap and all necessary appliances. So generously were they supplied with food, they were able to play ball within the inclosure of fifteen acres, using stale loaves of bread and wilted cabbage-heads for balls. In the summer evenings they would dance to the music of the band which played ever}' night at dress parade, and when dis- charged all were fat and hearty, well clothed, and in strong contrast with the eniaciated Union skeletons who had been confined in Libby, Andersonville and other southern prison holes. "Thrice armed is he whose cause is just," and the north had justice on its side, and always was blessed with plenty, while the south, fighting for an unholy cause, could hardly feed its own soldiers, let alone its prisoners of war. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 469 Mr. Napp, while on Johnson's island, had charge of i lo prisoners, and, ranking as cor- poral, called the roll every morning, received the requests of the captives for any extras they needed, made a record of any complaints they had to make, and reported in full to his colonel in command. John Davis, a rebel conspirator, who made an endeavor to release the prisoners, was for a time one of his charge, but, as it was Mr. Napp's duty to post the sentinels, he frustrated the scheme of that contumacious rebel. The marriage of Mr. Napp took place in Peninsula, Ohio, December 15, 1863, to Miss Anna N. Hardesty, who was born in Stark county March 11, 1842, a daughter of James and Sarah (Black) Hardesty. James Hardesty was born in Pennsylvania, was a worker in iron, and was so emplojed for several years in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He was three times married, his first wife bearing him seven chil- dren, viz: Elizabeth, Susan, Thomas, Matilda, Martha, Alexander and Phebe. His second marriage was to Mrs. Sarah Black, whose maiden name was Brant, and who, by her first husband, was the mother of James, Jere and Martin Black. Mrs. Sarah Hardesty died in Stark county, Ohio, and Mr. Hardesty next married Catherine Ackinson, of Stark county, and to this union two children were born — Frank L. and Ann Eliza. Mr. Hardesty was a soldier in the war of 181 2, and had one son, Thomas, in the Civil war. Hr. Hardesty died in Copley township. Summit county, at the age of sixty-four years, a member of the Meth- odist church and a highly respected citizen. Mrs. Anna N. Napp was reared from the age of two years until eighteen by Mrs. Abigail Lockwood, of Akron. After her marriage to Mr. Napp she accompanied her husband to Johnson's Island, and can vouch for the good treatment of rebel prisoners, as has been pre- viously mentioned. Since the war Mr. and Mrs. Napp have lived in Richfield, where for years Mr. Napp followed his trade of cooper, but has now a fine tract of forty-seven acres, on which he raises small fruit and esculent vegetables. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Napp have been born two children — Austin and Kittie. Of these, Austin is a graduate of the high school at East Richfield, and is a member of the Christian Endeavor; Kittie is married to Frank E. Force, a jeweler of Cleveland, and has one child. In politics Mr. Napp is a republican, and is an ex-member of A. N. Goldwood post. No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, at West Richfield, in which he served as junior vice- commander and quartermaster. He is a moral, industrious and useful citizen, and he and his family stand deservedly high in the esteem of the entire community in which they live. ^y^^ R. A. M. POWERS, one of the oldest I I and most experienced physicians /^,__^ and surgeons of Rootstown, Portage county, was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, January 28, 1837, a son of James and Rebecca (Windle) Powers, also natives of the Buckeye state, whose genealog}' will be narrated in the following paragraph. Abraham Powers, grandfather of the doc- tor, was a native of New Jersey and came to Ohio in 1800. He settled at Briar Hill, in what is now Mahoning county, but then a part of Trumbull county, where he bought a farm, his brothers, Isaac, Jacob and John, coming with him to this state, and all marrying and settling in Trumbull county. Abraham was a carpenter by trade, which he followed prin- cipally on coming to Ohio, but passed his later days on his farm. He married Elizabeth Woodruff, to which union were born Isaac, who lived and died in Mahoning county; 470 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD James, the father of Dr. A. M., the subject of this biography; Milton, who died in Mahoning county; Madison, who lives in Trumbull coun- ty; Washington, whose death took place also in Mahoning county, as did that of his brother, Abraham; Phebe A. , was married to A. McCoy, and both are now deceased; Nancy resides in Youngstown, Ohio; Mary and Eliza are also dead. Abraham, the father of these children, was quite prominent in public affairs, was deeply interested in the welfare of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was a life-long member, and died in that faith in 1852; his widow survived him many years, and was called away at the age of eighty-six. James Powers, the father of the doctor, and the second son of Abraham and Elizabeth Powers, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, Sep- tember II, 1819. As he was the eldest mem- ber of the family at the death of his father, the care of the homestead devolved upon him, and, in consequence, his early education was limited, as far as schools were concerned; but he was studious in his habits, became well informed through self-education, and, after he had reached his majority, clerked in a store at Vienna, Ohio, and later embarked in mer- chandizing on his own account at Milton. In the meantime, in 1832, he had commenced the study of medicine with Dr. T. Bronson, of Newton, and later practiced the profession several years. He was prominent as a demo- crat in his county and enjoyed an extended popularity, and in 1846 was elected sheriff of Mahoning county, filled the office two terms, and in 1855 was elected justice of the peace; he also held a commission as colonel of the state militia, served as brigade quartermaster, brigade aide-de-camp, and brigade inspector. While serving as justice of the peace he re- sided on the old homestead until i860, when he purchased a farm near Lordstown, Trum- bull county, to which he removed, and in 1861 enlisted in company H, Twentieth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, was elected, on or- ganization, captain of his company, and served one year, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. He then returned to his Trumbull county farm and followed agriculture until 1871, when he retired to Rootstown, where his son. Dr. A. M. Powers, was located. The marriage of Col. James Powers took place December 16, 1834, to Miss Rebecca Windle, daughter of Francis and Eleanor Win- die, of Milton township, Mahoning county, the union resulting in the birth of the following children: One who died in infancy; Dr. A. M., the subject; Mary E., who died in 1864, and Libbie J., wiie of B. Chapman, of Ra- venna. Ohio. Col. Powers was prominent as an Odd Fellow, and was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Ravenna; he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for nearly half a century, was a trustee and steward of his congregation, and died in that faith February 3, 1890; his wife died Au- gust 21, 1882, and no more worthy couple ever graced the county of Portage. Dr. A. M. Powers received his elementary education in the district schools, which he at- tended until seventeen years of age; he then entered the Poland academy, and also took a course at a commercial college in Cleveland, but remained on the home farm until i860, in the meantime reading medicine with Drs. Will- iam H. and Charles Brown, of Lordstown; in in 1 860 he entered the Western Reserve Med- ical college, remained one term, then practiced his profession in Lordstown until November, 1869, when he removed to Rootstown; in 1869, also, he graduated from the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati. Dr. Powers has been very successful in his practice at Rootstown, where his abilities are well recog- nized and his skill fully appreciated, and he OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 471 stands in the front rank of his brother-profes- sionals of Portage county. The first marriage of Dr. Powers occurred in October, 1858, with Miss Cynthia, daughter of William and Polly Sherwin. of Trumbull county. This lady was born in 1839, and died in Rootstown September 11, 1874, the mother of the following children: Frank R., of Ra- venna, born in 1859; Dr. W. H., a resident of Amherst, Ohio, born in 1863; Jessie A., born in November, 1869; John E. , born Septem- ber 10, 1874, died June 25, 1875. Dr. Pow- ers chose for his second helpmate Mrs. Sarah L. Barlow, whom he married May 10, 1875. This lady was born March 3, 1838, and is a daughter of Nathan L. and Eliza (McCann) Bingham, of Ellsworth, Mahoning county, Ohio. In politics Dr. Powers is a democrat and has served as township trustee; he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1855, and for years has been a steward and trustee. For ten years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and is also a member of the Royal Ar- canum. The doctor's social association is with the best people of the township and county, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of all who know them, while his children have attained positions in life that may well be con- sidered matters of complacency, if not pride, to any parent. m. *ILLIAM REDDING, architect and supervising builder, No. 248 South Howard street, Akron, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state and was born near Mansfield, Richland county, May 6, 1858. His parents, Philip H. and Elizabeth (Dinges) Redding, were both born in Gren- stadt, Germany, came to America when young, were married in Ohio, and both are still living at the respective ages of eighty-five and eighty-three years. The father, during the years of his business activity, was a contractor and carpenter in Ashland and Richland coun- ties, and to him and wife were born eleven children, viz: Katy, wife of Joseph Martien. of Mansfield; Peter, proprietor of a planing- mill and factory, and also a contractor, of Ashland; Mary, deceased wife of John Moore; Frank, who was a conductor on the Erie rail- road and was killed in an accident in 1884; Lena, widow of Philip Hauseman, of Pavonia; Philip, a carpenter of Ashland; George, in the same business at the same place; William, the subject of this sketch, and three others, that died in infancy. William Redding, the subject, early learned the trade of carpenter under his father — a trade that seems to have been the peculiar mechanical feature of the male members of the family, as the great-grandfather, grandfather, father, subject and all his brothers learned and worked at this industry. He was well educated in the public schools and at the age of nineteen years started to work on his own aocount; two years later he began contracting, and in this capacity passed two and a half years in Ashland; he then entered the employ of Shearer & Kagey, planing-mill proprietors and contractors, for whom he did all the drafting and construction superintending for four and one- half years, and then came to Ashland in 1886, and for six and a half years was employed by Weary & Krasmer as draftsman; in the spring of 1893 he again opened business on his own account, and of the many structures he has superintended may be mentioned the Wilcox, the Kempel, the Kubler & Beck, the Clerkin and the Christie blocks, the white wire works, several of the rubber works buildings, and many others too numerous to mention in de- tail. He also made the drawings for the Ak- ron gas plant, and has been an acknowledged 472 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD leader in this line since he has been in bnsi- ness in Akron. Mr. Redding is a member of McPherson lodge, No. 63, K. of P., and of uniform rank, K. of P., No. 21, of which he is commissary sergeant, second battalion, of the second regi- ment, also a member of Ben Hur lodge. No. 1 1, in which he holds the office of chief. Mr. Redding was married, January 14, 1 88 1, to Miss Emily M. Parks, daughter of Edwin Parks, of Mansfield, and this union has been blessed with one child — Edwin Floyd. Mr. Redding makes his happy home at No. 303 West Center street, where he and his wife enjoy the esteem of many warm friends and social acquaintances. "^T^AMES NESBIT, county commissioner m of Summit county, Ohio, and a promi- /t 1 nent farmer of Northfield township, was born in the Ligonier valley, West- moreland county, Pa., December 5, 1828, the son of John and Ann (Matthews) Nesbit, both natives of the Keystone state. His paternal grandfather, William Nesbit, was a native of Scotland, and was one of the pioneer farmers of Westmoreland county, Pa. About the year 1834 he moved to Northfield, Ohio, and died there. The maternal grandfather of our sub- ject, William Matthews, was a native of Ire- land, and was also a pioneer resident of West- moreland county, where he died. Our subject's father settled in Northfield, in what was then Portage county, Ohio, in the early 'thirties, and cleared and improved a farm of 160 acres upon which he lived and died and which is now occupied by his son John. He was a man of much influence in his community; was justice of the peace several terms and was also an elder and a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church. His death oc- curred in 1 86 1. He was the father of nine children, viz: Martha (Mrs. H. Alexander), Esther (Mrs. A. A. Rinear), William, Archi- bald, James, John, Mary J. (Mrs. Alexander McConnell), David, and Margaret A. (Mrs. Horace Palmer). James Nesbit was reared as a farmer on the parental homestead and enjo3'ed all of the advantages of the common schools of that period. He responded to his country's call to arms in the dark days of the nation's peril, enlisting August 4, 1862, as a corporal in com- pany G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. At the battle of Nashville, while guarding a bridge, he was captured and taken to Meridian, Miss., ten days later being transferred to that awful prison at Anderson- ville, where for five months and twelve days he suffered all the historic terror of that loath- some pen. Without shelter, without even a blanket, and with but little clothing, he suffered all but death, during that miserable period of cruel confinement. The fearful sufferings of the Andersonville prisoners are now historically familiar to all, and Mr. Nesbit's experience need not be enlarged on in this connection. Upon the declaration of peace he was honor- ably discharged by special order, June 21, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Nesbit's has been a busy and a useful life. He is largely interested in all the good works of his own community and of the county at large. For eleven years he served as trus- tee of Northfield township, and was elected to the office of justice of the peace, but refused to qualify for this position. He is a stanch republican and his political work and counsels are of much value to his party in Summit county. His capabilities as a man of affairs and his excellent executive qualities have been recognized by the people of the county^ and he is now serving his second term as county commissioner, and is discharging the duties of that responsible position faithfully and well. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 475 He is an honored and active member of the local post, G. A. R. Mr. Nesbit has been twice married. His first wife, Margaret R. , daughter of Henry Deisman, of Northfield township, bore him two children — Henry M. and Margaret R. His second union was with Mrs. Rebecca (Patter- son) Drennen, of Buena Vista, Pa., who has also borne him two children, daughters — Ellen H. (Mrs. Isaac McConnell), and Myrtle M. Mr. Nesbit, upon the expiration of his term of office in September, 1899, will have served the people of Summit county, faithfully and well, a little over seven years — one year by appointment and six years by election — and to-day stands as one of its most popular men. >>j'OHN B. PALMER, farmer and live- m stock dealer of Rootstown township, A 1 Portage county, Ohio, was born in Eng- land, June 23, 1847, but has been a resident of Ohio since infancy. William and Sophia (Brock) Palmer, par- ents of subject, came from England to the United States in 1848, and located in Tall- madge township. Summit county, Ohio. The father, who was a live-stock dealer and farm- er, at once declared his intention to become a United States citizen, and became naturalized as soon as the laws on this subject permitted, and was ever afterward a true American, a a stanch republican in olitics, and a devoted friend of the soldiers at the front during the Civil war, as he well might be, as two of his sons, at least, served in the Union army. He died on his farm in 1884, at the age of seven- ty-eight years; his widow died in March, 1897, at Monroe Falls, Summit county, in her eighty- fifth year. Ten children were born to William Palmer and wife, all of whom are still living, viz: William, in retirement at Cuyahoga Falls; Ellen, wife of Samuel Damp, of Olmstead 17 ' Falls; Clara, wife of F. P. Caley, of Stowe township. Summit county; Fannie, wife of John Damp, of Elizabethton, Tenn. ; Alford, who served nearly four years during the Civil war, and now resides in Shelby county, Ohio; Annie, now Mrs. Hill, of Stowe township. Summit county; John B., subject; Harry A., general manager of the Electric Manufacturing company at Akron; Sadie J., wife of F. Jewell, of Stowe township. Summit county; and Charles, a resident of Uhrichsville, Ohio. John B. Palmer has passed all of his life in farming and stock-raising, of which three years were in Tennessee and the remainder on his present farm. In 1864 he enlisted in com- pany D, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. He served four months, and was then honorably discharged, by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. While in the army he purchased some milk, so called, from a secession woman, but the liquid was a composition of chalk and water, with a liberal component of poison. Two members of the company died from imbibing this deadly beverage, several were injured for life from its effects, and this was the case of Mr. Palmer, who now receives a pension for the disability thus incurred. December i, 1869, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage, in Sumner county, Tenn., with Miss Mary E. Bailey, a native of Stowe town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, and a daughter of J. C. and Mary (Grosvenor) Bailey, an old- established family of that county. This mar- riage has been crowned with five children, viz: Lillian, now the wife of C. M. Bow, crockerj-, china and glassware dealer of Cleveland, but formerly conductor of a general store in Rootstown; Blanche, teacher in the public schools of Rootstown township; John, six- teen years of age, is an assistant to his father and also attends school — having al- ready graduated from the village high school; ^76 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Minnie and Winnie are twins, aged twelve years. The family are connected with the Congregational church at Rootstown, and in politics Mr. Palmer is an active and influen- tial republican. He has served as township trustee, assessor and constable; was president of the McKinley club and also township com- mitteeman during the McKinley-Bryan cam- paign, and is regarded by his neighbors as a good and useful citizen. >^ UDGE CORNELIUS A. REED, presi- M dent of the Second National bank of A 1 Ravenna, was born in Rootstown, Port- age county, Ohio, July 3. 1838, a son of Horace and Lois E. (Baldwin) Reed, who were the parents of four sons and three daugh- ters, viz: Melissa, wife of E. E. Chapman; Ann Janette, married to Alfred Baldwin; John H., Edward A., Cornelius A., Horace L. and Julia A., wife of H. O. Reed. Abram Reed, the paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Connecticut, of Scotch parentage, came to Portage county, Ohio, in 1804, and kept a tavern in Rootstown until his death at an advanced age. He was also a farmer, was classed among the hardy pioneers, and was widely and favorably known through- out the county; his children were seven in number and were all reared in respectability and usefulness. John I^aldwin, the maternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Massa- chusetts of English descent, was a farmer by calling, came to Portage county, Ohio, in 181 1, and located in Charlestown, where he fol- lowed his vocation until his death, also at a very advanced age; his children were four in number — three sons and one daughter — and were likewise among the most respected resi- dents of their township — the daughter, Lois E. , having been a teacher of many years' ex- perience. Horace Reed was born in Rootstown in 1805, and was the first white male native of the township. He was reared a farmer, and actively engaged in large business enterprises all his life, and died where he was born at the age of eighty years; his widow, who was a na- tive of Massachusetts, survived him some few years, and died at the extreme age of eighty- nine years, in the faith of the Congregational church, and was, like her husband, honored and esteemed by all who knew her. Judge C. A. Reed was reared on his fa- ther's farm and received his preliminary edu- cation in the district school, which was supple- mented by an attendance at an academy in Lebanon, and subsequently at that of Hiram. In early life he met with a severe accident, which so crippled him that he could not con- tinue the work of a farmer; neither could he enlist in the military service of his country. At the age of twenty years he left the home farm and engaged in teaching school, first in Warren and then in Portage county. He be- gan studying law in the spring of 1861, at Mansfield, Ohio, in the office of Burns & Dickey, was admitted to the bar in the sum- mer of 1863, and at once entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Ravenna. In September, 1863, he formed a partnership with ex-Gov. Hart, which remained undis- solved for twelve years, during which time he constantly advanced both in reputation and in accumulation of this world's goods. For some time Mr. Reed practiced on his sole account, and having early adopted the principles of the republican party as his measure in politics, he was elected, in 1870, prosecuting attorney, a position he filled, with unsurpassed ability, for four years; he then adhered to his private and lucrative practice until 1883, when his party again called him into the public service by electing him probate judge, the functions of which office he filled with honor and credit to OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 477. himself for six years. In the minor offices he served as a justice of the peace and also as a member of the county school board of exam- iners for a number of years, but on withdraw- ing from the bench eschewed politics and also relinquished his law practice as speedily as cir- cumstances would warrant, and turned his at- tention solely to his business and farming in- terests and to the affairs of the Second National bank, of which he has been the presi- dent for the past three years. Judge Reed was united in matrimony, Feb- ruary I, 1865, with Miss Phebe F. Ray, daughter of Capt. Albert and Mary (Folger) Ray. the result of the marriage being two daughters — Lorena B. and Julia Mae — both at home. Capt. Albert Ray, father of Mrs. Reed, came from the island of Nantucket, Mass. , and settled in Portage county, Ohio, in 1850, his daughter (Mrs. Reed) being then seven years of age. He had been an old sea captain, and with him came quite a number of sea-faring people, with their families, who all settled in the same neighborhood in which the captain made his home. He proved to be a useful and influential citizen, and here followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred about the year 1888. Judge Reed, his wife and daughters are members of the Congregational church, of which the judge is a deacon and also superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. Fraternally he is a member of the Akron commandery, F. & A. M. He has been a resident of Ravenna since September, 1863, and in 1876 erected his elegant residence at the corner of Meridian and Oak streets. He has been fully identified with the development of the city since his residence here, has aided liberally in all move- ments having that object for their aim, and is recognized emphatically as a leading citizen. The social standing of the judge and his family is as a matter of course with the best people in the city and county, and the public at large hold him in the highest esteem and place in him their implicit confidence. * w * EVI REED, who for twenty years was I r engaged in the livery business in Kent, I \ was born in Franklin township. Por- tage county, Ohio, September 8, 1842, a son of James H. and Tersey (Scranton) Reed, natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. He was reared on his father's farm, and was educated in the com- mon schools, supplemented by an attendance for one term at Oberlin college. In February, 1865, Mr. Reed enlisted in company I, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served on gar- rison duty at Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., until September, 1865, and on his return from the war married Miss Clara C. Stratton, a native of Franklin township and a daughter of Joseph B. and Ruth Stratton, who early came from Vermont with an ox-team and settled in Franklin township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Reed, after his marriage, worked his father-in-law's farm for three or four years, and then came to Kent and for three years worked in the rail- road shops. He then, in partnership with a brother, engaged in the coal and feed trade, and also purchased the Earlville hack line and carried the mail between Kent and Earlville, adding, soon afterward, livery, andsubsequently groceries, to their business, under the firm name of Reed Brothers, this firm being com- posed of L. G., L. A. and Levi Reed. A few years later the firm dissolved, the subject retaining the livery department, and this he has successfully conducted from 1876. To the marriage of Levi Reed and wife have been born five children, viz: William W., a dentist of Kent; Leora, married to Harry L'Hommedieu, 478 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD a resident of Akron; Leona, who is attending Buciitel college at Akron; Roy Ralph, at home, and Asa, who died in infancy. He owns valuable real estate in Kent, and has been very successful in managing business. He is straightforward and obliging, and con- sequently popular and prosperous. In politics he is a republican and fraternally is an Odd Fellow and a member of A. H. Day post, No. 185, Grand Army of the Republic, at Kent. Mr. Reed retired from business in April, 1897. ISAAC N. REID, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, and a respected citi- zen of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was born at Addison, Addison county, Vt., Jan- uary 8, 1840, a son of Robert and Jane (Bas- ken) Raid. He received the usual common- school education and came with his father and mother to Cuyahoga Falls in June, 1852, and here learned the trade of a butcher. He en- listed at Cleveland, Ohio, in June, 1862, was appointed to the quartertnaster's department for a year, but remained about two years, under Lieut. Irvin and Capt. Smith at Nash- ville, Murfreesboro and Tullahoma, Tenn. In February, 1864, he re-enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, in company B, Capt. John McGrath, One Hundred and Eighty-eigthth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve one year, or during the war, and served until September 26, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn. He participated in the second battle at Nashville. Mr. Reid was always an active soldier and was never sick, nor in hospital, nor wounded, nor a prisoner. After the war, Mr. Reid returned to Cuya- hoga Falls and married. May 4, 1869, Sarah Fillingham, who was born in England and came to America when a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Reid have been born Carrie, Arthur, Theodore and Grace. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reid are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been trustee and steward. He is a member of the G. A. R., Eadie post, and once held the office of post commander. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Howard lodge. No. 62, in which he has passed all the chairs, including the office of noble grand, and is now recording secretary; he is also a Mason, and has served as senior warden, senior deacon and secretary of Wash- ington chapter. No. 25, at Akron, Ohio. Po- litically, Mr. Reid is a republican and has held the office of township trustee for fourteen or fifteen years. He is a thrifty and substantial citizen and owns valuable real estate. He has learned the carriagemaking business since the war closed, and is now following that trade. His father, Robert Reid, came to Cuy- ahoga Falls in 1852, and his children were Isaac N., Ellen Lettie, John C, Richard, Charles and Eliza. Three of the sons were soldiers in the late Civil war, John, Isaac N. and Richard, and the family enjoy in a high degree the esteem of the citizens. >T^OHN C. REID, of Cuyahoga Falls, m Ohio, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, A 1 and an honored citizen, was born Au- gust 27, 1845, at Middlebury, Vt., and is a son of Robert and Jane Reid, mentioned in the sketch of Isaac N. Reid. He received a common-school education and was brought by his parents to Ohio, in 1849, and to Cuy- ahoga Falls when four years old. He learned telegraphy and the drug business before the war and enlisted, in September, 1861, at Akron, Ohio, in company G, Sixty-fourth reg- iment, Ohio volunteer infantry, to ser\e three years, and re-enlisted January i, 1864, at Strawberry Plains, Tenn. in the same organi- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 479 zation, for three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged and mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, in December, 1865, reach- ing home January 4, 1866. He fought at Green River, Ky., Chickamauga, Nashville, Franklin, with Sherman on the Atlanta cam- paign, at Dalton, Dallas, Rocky Face Ridge, Pumpkinvine Creek, Peach Tree Creek, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw mountain and in the bat- tle in front of Atlanta. He was then at Nash- ville and Franklin. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Missionary Ridge and was sick in hospital a short time at Camp Dennison, Ohio. He was detailed as scout under Gen. Thomas, and did a great deal of this danger- ous duty outside of the lines. He acted part of the time as postmaster, and was promoted for meritorious conduct to sergeant. He also served a while, in Texas, whence he was sent home. After the war he became a clerk in the drug store of F. S. Heath & Co., and also was operator for the Western Union Telegraph company for eighteen years, was post- master four years, and in 1895 engaged in the grocery business under the firm name of Hatfield & Reid. He is a member of the G. A. R. , Eadie post, and held the office of quartermaster. He is a Freemason and has held the office of master of Starr lodge; also a member of Washington chapter, and Akron commandery. He is a K. T. of Cleve- land, and a noble of the mystic shrine. In politics he is a republican, and is a member of the town council. Mr. Reid was married, in 1869, to Eunice A. Grim, and to them have been born Emma M. and Carl H. Mr. Reid descends from sterling Scotch-Irish ancestors who came to America in old colonial times. The family has always maintained a prominent position in whatever part of the country in which its members may have happened to reside, and the Cuyahoga Falls branch is by no means remiss in maintaining the good name of its ancestry. ^2^— Y'ALENTINE REIS, a prosperous fami- ly / er of Randolph township. Portage ^Y county, Ohio, is a native of Hesse- Darmstadt, GerinSny, and was born September 23, 1837, a son of Valentine and Eva (Derr) Reis, who were born in 1800 and 1796, respectively, and came to Ohio in 1853, settling in Portage county on the farm on which Valentine, the son, now lives. They were the parents of five children, of whom Eva, wife of Martin Miller, died in 1858, at the age of thirty years; the survivors are Catherine, wife of Francis Bassel; Valentine, the subject of this notice; Margaret, married to Philip Heims, and Elizabeth, wife of Frank Shueman. The father of the family died in 1872, at the age of seventy-two years; the mother is also deceased, and both were devout members of the Catholic church. Frank Reis, paternal grandfather of sub- ject, also reared a family of five children, of whom four came to America, viz: \'alentine, father of subject; Magdalena, who was mar- ried to Michael Kissel; Margaret, married to John Yaner, and Bardlea, all now deceased; Catherine, who was the wife of John Sharpe, passed away in the old country. Valentine Reis, the subject, came to Port- age county with his father, being then about sixteen years of age, and assisted in clearing up the farm his father had purchased, and worked in his father's interests until twenty- one years old, when he bought the homestead, the father retiring to private life. In August, 1862, subject married Miss Catherine Miller, daughter of John and Gertrude (Bassel) Miller, and this union has been blessed with three children — Martin, Adam and Catherine — the 480 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD last named being the wife of John Kline. The parents of Mrs. Reis were natives of Germany and came to the United States in 1850; the father was a weaver by trade, and followed this calling to some e.xtent after reaching America, but his chief occupation here was farming, having purchased a tract of land in Randolph township. His family comprised three children, two of whom were born here — Mrs. Reis and Martin. Both parents are now deceased. In politics Mr. Reis is a democrat, and has served as township supervisor and as school director for several years. He and family are conscientious members of the Catholic con- gregation at St. Joseph, in which Mr. Reis has held the office of councilman for five 3'ears or longer. Beside general farming, Mr. Reis has given considerable attention to live stock, and is regarded as one of the most intelligent and substantial husbandmen of the township. eETER J. RIEDINGER, a retired farmer and a highly respected citizen of Randolph township. Portage coun- ty, Ohio, was born in Baden, Ger- many, March 19, 18 19, a son of George P. and Mary (Weigold) Riedinger, who were par- ents of four children, of whom two are still living — Eva, widow of Adam Wetzel, and Peter J. Of the deceased, Mary died in Ger- many; Jacob, who was born in 1812, was burned to death on lake Erie, in 1841, three other members of the Riedinger family losing their lives on the burning vessel, which was bound for Cleveland. George P. Riedinger, the father, died when over sixty 3'ears of age, and his widow in 1872, aged eighty-two years, both in the faith of the Reformed church. Peter J. Riedinger attended the common schools of Germany until fourteen years of age, learning, in the meantime, the trade of shoemaking, at which trade he worked in the old country until 1840, when he came alone to the United States, arriving in Cleveland, Ohio, without a cent or a friend. He suc- ceeded in securing board, however, at a hotel for a week, when he secured work at his trade, receiving as compensation fifty cents per day. He remained in Cleveland but a short time, and then came to Randolph township. Portage county, and for some time worked among the farmers, clearing up land, etc., finally accu- mulating sufficient means for the purchase of a small place for himself, which he also cleared up, and for several years cultivated his place with the aid of two oxen. His crops he hauled to Akron, a distance of sixteen miles, where he received fifty cents per bushel for wheat and ten cents per bushel for oats; his butter he carried on his shoulder to Ra- venna, a distance of ten miles, and there he disposed of it at five cents per pound, receiv- ing payment in trade, calico being valued at twenty-five cents per yard, and other articles at equally high rates. The marriage of Mr. Riedinger took place in Randolph, December 8, 1840, to Miss Mary Leitwein, daughter of Adam and Margaret (Fuhr) Leitwein, and to this marriage have been born seven children, of whom five are still living, viz: Rev. Philip J., born Novem- ber 24, 1844, and now minister of the Pres- byterian church at Richville, Ohio; Peter D., born April i, 1848, and a resident of Kent; Martin, born March 30, 1852, and still on the homestead in Randolph township; Mary, born June 26, 1856, is the wife of Virgil J. Crockett, and John, born May 12, 1861, resides in Kent; two others died in infancy. The parents of Mrs. Riedinger were also natives of Baden, and came to the United States in 1831; they resided in Pennsylvania until 1835, and then came to Randolph township. Portage county, Ohio, and here the father engaged in farming OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 481 until his death, which occurred December 31, 1859, at the age of seventy-four years, while his widow lived until June, 1869, when she was called away at the age of seventy-five — both members of the Reformed church. Mr. Riedinger came to Randolph a poor young man and has worked his way upward until he is now the owner of two excellent farms and is one of the most substantial citi- zens of Randolph township, living in retire- ment on the fruits of his early industry. In politics he is a democrat, and has served as supervisor and school director, and he and wife are members of the Reformed church, in which he has filled all the lay offices, and there is no one more honored than he is in Portage county. *-|-* EIDIGH H. RHODES, a well known I j and prosperous farmer of Franklin ^^^^ township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in Medina county, Ohio, Decem- ber 12, 1843, a son of Frederick and Barbara (Hausley) Rhodes. George Rhodes, grandfather of Leidigh H., was born in Pennsylvania, was a farmer by oc- cupation, and was among the early setters of Stark county, Ohio. To his marriage with Miss Margaret Smith there were born seven children, of whom three are still living, viz: Frederick, Joseph and Polly — the last being the wife of Henry D. Daley. The deceased were named Sallie, Magdalen (Mrs. Henry Wenderhoof), Hannah and David. The father of this family died in February, 1843, when sixty years of age, but his widow survived until 1872, when she expired at the advanced age of eighty-five years — both in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which they had long been faithful members. The father of George, and the great-grandfather of Leidigh H., bore the name of Frederick, was a native of Ger- many, and came to America some time in the latter part of the eighteenth centurj-, had a family of six children, and eventually came to Ohio, where his death took place in 1S20, at a very advanced age. Frederick Rhodes, father of Leidigh H. Rhodes, was born in Stark county, Ohio, Jan- uary 13. 1816. He was educated in the sub- scription schools of his native county and has nearly all his life been engaged in farming, although for about twenty-two years he has operated a threshing machine. December 8, 1842, he married Miss Barbara Hauslej', a daughter of Levi and Mar}' fLuman) Hausley, and to this union were born eight children, of whom the following five are still living: Leidigh H., whose name opens this biography; Mary, wife of George Meachem; Lewis; Catherine,- who is married to John Newton, and Frank, who is employed by the Standard Oil company at . Cleveland. The deceased were named Daniel, who died in 1859, aged two years; Henry, who was aged fourteen years at his death in 1862, and Annie, who was married to J. B. Wilcox, and died in September, 1896, at the age of thirty years. In 1859 Frederick Rhodes bought his present farm in Portage county, on which he settled in i860. Here he lost his wife in 1881, who died at the age of sixty years, a devout and earnest Christian, a faithful wife and de- voted mother, and a kind neighbor. Mr. Rhodes is a consistent member of the Lutheran church, and now, at the age of eighty-one years, is remarkably well preserved, with the exception of his eyesight, which is beginning to fail. Leidigh H. Rhodes was reared to farming and remained with his father until Jjwpnty years old, when he took charge of a farm on his own account; in 1882 he settled on his present place, which is known as the Celery farm, one and one-half miles from Kent, inas- 482 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD much as he devotes about one-third of his place to the cultivation of this edible, growing the iinest in the state of Ohio. He has been verj' fortunate in his farming, which has been his occupation through life, with the exception of three years, during which time he was em- ployed on the Atlantic & Great Western rail- road as brakeman. Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage, De- cember 23, 1863, with Miss Catherine Gross, born July 8, 183S, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Flickinger) Gross, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz: Amanda A., wife of J. H. Reidinger; F. E., who married Miss Lillian Kreager, and Charles E.. who graduated from the Kent high school, and at present makes his home with his par- ents. In politics Mr. Rhodes is a republican, and for eight years has filled the ofi&ce of town supervisor; his religion is that of the Lutheran church, of which he and wife have been mem- bers for many years. Christian Gross, father of Mrs. Rhodes, and his wife, Elizabeth Gross, were both na- tives of Portage county, and to their marriage were born four children, viz: Elizabeth, John, Priscilla and Catherine (Mrs. Rhodes). The father died at the age of seventy-three years, and the mother, aged seventy-five — both in the faith of the Dunkard church. Mr. Rhodes and family stand very high in I the social circles of Franklin township, and Mr. Rhodes is individual!} very popular with j his fellow-citizens, who esteem him for his thoroughly upright course through life. @EORGE O. RICE, the well-known , real-estate and insurance agent of Kent, Ohio, is a native of Brandon, Vt. , was born April 22, 1819, and is a son of Hastings and Nancy A. (Bates 1 Rice, ' who were born in Massachusetts, but were ' married in Brandon, Vt., where both passed the remainder of their lives — the father dying in 1829, and the mother many years later, at the age of seventy-eight. George O. Rice, the subject, was the only child of his parents, and at the early age of about ten years lost his father. He was reared on a farm, but received a good common-school education and for a few terms was himself a school-teacher. He next engaged in farming on his own account, and at the age of twenty- five years married Miss Joanna P. Lincoln, daughter of John H. Lincoln, of Pittsford. Vt., and to this union were born three children, none of whom now survive. In the meantime Mr. Rice had learned harnessmaking, and in 1850 came to Ohio and opened a harness shop in Kent, which he conducted nearly ten years, and then, for a few years, was engaged in the coal trade, and then in the general produce business, which he followed until about 1875, ■when he became interested in insurance and real estate. The death of Mrs. Rice occurred in Kent, December 19, 1874, and on June 19, 1877, Mr. Rice married Miss Helen E. Parmelee, daughter of Luther H. Parmelee, of Kent. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are members of the Con- gregational church, in which Mr. Rice is a deacon and was for eighteen years Sabbath- school superintendent. In politics Mr. Rice was in his early days a whig of the strongest anti-slavery proclivities, and on the formation of the republican party became one of its stanchest adherents. Although he has nevei had a desire for public office, he has done his duty as a citizen b\- serving in the cit}- council of Kent. In the insurance and real-estate business Mr. Rice has made a success, and is probably one of the best-posted men in Kent to-day as to realty. To facilitate his many real-estate transactions he secured, nearly twenty-five OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 483 years ago, a commission as notary public, which, in his line, is a very convenient docu- ment to have. As a citizen Mr. Rice is enter- prising, liberal and public spirited, and is ever among the foremost in contributing to all projects designed for the public good or the improvement of his adopted city of Kent. He has been attentive to every line of business in which he has been engaged, and through his own efforts has realized a competency and earned the universal respect and esteem in which he is held. HNDREW B. RINEHART, general manager of the Akron Belting com- pany, was born in Allen county, Ind., near Fort Wayne, November 14, 1862, a son of Andrew and MaryE. (Trimmer) Rine- hart, both natives of Knox county, Ohio. The father, while \et a single man, left his home in Kno.x county, went to Allen county, Ind., purchased his farm, then returned to his home and married, went back to his new home and followed farming until some time prior to his death, which occurred in the mountains of California November 18, 1889. His widow then returned to her native county of Knox, where she still resides. They had born to them four children, viz: Florence A., wife of J. B. Wright, of Rich Hill, Knox county, Ohio; Ida J., wife of Elwood Montgomery, also of Rich Hill: Ellis F., farmer of the same place, and .Andrew B., the subject. Andrew B. Rinehart was born on his father's farm and attended the district schools of Allen county, Ind., regularly until twelve years of age, and from that age until fifteen attended during the winters only, working on the home farm in the summers. At the age of twenty-one years he began to learn teleg- raphy, but continued his work on the farm morning and evening, walking a considerable distance to receive instruction in his art, which he soon mastered and was given a position at night work. He worked alternately at farm- ing and telegraphing at various points as op- portunities presented themselves, and finally was appointed to day work at Cuyahoga Falls, where he remained until February 21, 1887, when he associated himself with the Akron Iron company as shipping clerk and time- keeper, which position he held six months, and did general office work until October, 1888, when he was appointed traveling sales- man for the territory of the United States east of the Rocky mountains. For this class of work he was especially fitted, and became one of the most successful salesmen on the road. While thus engaged, in the fall of 1891, he be- came salesman, also, for the Brigger Belting company of Akron, and the following year bought stock in this concern and then became its -president, holding the position until its con- solidation, in 1893, with the Akron Belting company. The Akron Belting company was incorpor- ated October i, 1885. by A. M. Barber, C. E. Sheldon, Samuel Findley, Sumner Nash and Charles T. Bodifield, for the purpose of man- ufacturing leather belting and mill supplies. Its present officers are George \\'. Crouse, president; A. M. Barber, vice-president: A. B. Rinehart, general manager; Sumner Nash, secretary and treasurer; George Wince, assist- ant secretary, and \\'ebster Thorpe, superin- tendent. The plant is located at what is known as the Allen mills, at the corner of Cherry and Canal streets, and it employs some thirty-seven people. Its output is disposed of all over the United States and much of it taken by foreign purchasers, and has been constantly increasing, notwithstanding the stagnation in trade from 1893 to 1896. Mr. Rinehart has been a prime factor in the success of this con- cern, and his abilitv as a business man, and 484 " PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD especially as a salesman, is universally con- ceded. In 1893 Mr. Rinehart also became connected with the Whitman & Barnes com- pany as manager of the advertising and credit department, and later as sales manager, which position he now holds. Mr. Rinehart is a republican in politics, but has never been an office seeker. Frater- nally he is a member of Adoniram lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M., and of Washington chapter; he is also a member of Akron commandery. No. 25, K. T. His marriage took place Jan- uary 23, 1889, to Miss Minnie M. Miller, daughter of Virgil T. and Helen S. Miller, and this marriage has been blessed by the birth of one child — May Irene. Mr. and Mrs. Rine- hart are consistent members of the Congrega- tional church, and their pleasant residence is at No. 204 South Forge street. t^^ AVID L. ROCKWELL, president of I I the City bank of Kent, Portage >^^_^ county, Ohio, was born in Franklin township. May 13, 1843, of good old New England descent, his grandfather, Har- vey Rockwell, having been born in East Wind- sor, Conn. About 1808 or 1809 the latter gentleman came to Ohio and settled in Ashta- bula county, where he engaged in farming. He was also a soldier in the war of 18 12, was a true American and died in his new home, the father of nine children. Hon. David L. Rockwell, Sr. , son of this patriot and father of the subject of this mem- oir, was born in Pierpont, Ohio, November 22, 18 1 2, was reared a farmer, and there mar- ried Miss Mary E. Pal miter, who was born in Bridgewater, N. Y., a daughter of Ephraim Palmiter. Mr. Rockwell came to Portage county in 1838 or 1839, and for a year kept a hotel in Brimfield, and then moved to Frank- lin Mills (now Kent), and for two years kept the hotel known as the " oldWoodard stand;" later, he kept the Franklin exchange for a year, and then engaged in merchandizing, which he followed until his death, February 28, 1868. His widow survived until 1875, when she died at sixty years of age. Both were members of the Episcopal church. In politics Mr. Rockwell was first a whig, but afterward became a republican, and for a number of years served as justice of the peace. In 1848 he was elected a member of the Ohio general assembly, and in 1861 was re-elected to the same office. Fraternally he was a Freemason and Odd Fellow, and was prom- inent, and, it may be said, distinguished throughout his useful life. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell, four grew to mature years, viz; Dorena A., wife of Judge U. L. Marvin, of Akron; David L. , the sub- ject of this memoir; Charles Henry, a graduate of West Point, who held a commission as captain in the United States army, and died in Washington, D. C, in 1888, and Orlo Scott, an attorney of Kent, Ohio. David L. Rockwell, whose name intro- duces this sketch, was educated primarily in the public schools of Kent and then attended Hiram college, after which he taught school a year or more, and also passed some time in his father's store. He read law in the office of Judge Marvin, then of Kent, but now of Akron, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1866, and was in partnership with Judge Marvin for two years, or until the judge removed to Ak- ron, after which he practiced alone until a stroke of paralysis, in 1884, forbade him longer continuing in the profession. During this period he had law offices in Kent and Ra- venna, and since 1878 has had his residence in the latter city. Mr. Rockwell was one of the directors of the Kent Savings bank from its organization until 1878, when he sold his stock, and in 1881 OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 485 associated with himself other citizens and or- ganized the City bank of Kent, with a capital of $50,000, and of this bank Mr. Rockwell has since been president. This institution has al- ways had the confidence of the public, and has been well managed, as has been proven by the fact that its deposits exxeed $100,000; that it has always declared its dividend and has a surplus. Its present officers are David L. Rockwell, president; John H. Williard, vice- president; M. G. Garrison, cashier, and C. M. Davis, assistant cashier. Mr. Rockwell was most happily married, May 30, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Metlin, a daughter of Samuel Metlin, of Summit county, and this union has been blessed with three children — Mollie E., Dorena A. and David L. , Jr. In politics Mr. Rockwell is a democrat, but, while he has never desired public office, still takes an active part in forwarding the in- terests of his party and has represented it in various state conventions and in the national convention at Chicago in 1896. Fraternally he is a Freemason. He has made his own way through life, being wonderfully energetic and enterprising, and has acquired consider- able property in Portage and other counties, and has also erected several buildings in Kent, for renting purposes, and has done much other- wise toward promoting the growth of the city by freely aiding all projects designed for its benefit. He is, indeed, what is usually de- nominated a useful citizen, and has won the highest esteem of the whole population of Kent and surrounding country. ORLO S. ROCKWELL, attorney at law, of Kent, was born in Franklin township. Portage county, Ohio, March 26, 1851, a son of David L. and Mary E. (Palmiter) Rockwell, also natives of the Buckeye state. His preparatory educa- tion was acquired in the public schools of Kent, and his legal instruction was imparted by his brother, David L. Rockwell, of whom mention is made in full on an adjoining page, and this instruction was supplemented by a course of study under Judge U. L. Marvin, of Akron. In 1873 he was admitted to the bar of the dis- trict court, before the establishment of the circuit court. In 1873-74 he held the office of deputy clerk of probate court of Summit county, and in 1875 engaged in the active practice of his profession in Kent, and here he has since built up a lucrative legal business, which has claimed his entire attention up to the present time, with the exception of two years — one year in the early part of his legal career — 1876 — when he went to Fort Hayes, Kans., where his brother, Charles H., was an officer in the regular army, and where Orlo S. himself served for the time as civilian clerk in the "quartermaster's department — and one year, 1883, which he passed in Akron in partnership with Judge Marvin. With this exception he has always been alone and has done an exten- sive general practice. Mr. Rockwell was united in the bonds of matrimony in September, 1876, with Miss Nellie M. Sawyer, daughter of Francis and Margaret (McMean) Sawyer, of Brimfield town- ship. Mrs. Rockwell was born October, 1857, in Davenport, Iowa, at which place her par- ents made their home one year, all the re- mainder of their lives having been passed in Portage county, Ohio. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell has been crowned by the birth of two children — Mary Dorena and Charles Henry. From 1883 to 1885 Mr. Rockwell found time between his professional engagements to manage and edit the Kent News, a democratic organ, but when he resigned the chair editorial of the journal the plant was sold and removed to Ravenna and issued as the Graphic for a 486 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD short time, and was finally absorbed by the Ravenna Republican. Mr. Rockwell, it will easily be inferred, is in politics a democrat. He cast his first presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1S72, and has since acted loyally with the democracy. Under the auspices of this great party he served one term as city so- licitor of Kent, and has twice been elected as mayor, serving from 1882 to 1884, and from 1892 to 1894. From 1888 to 1892 he was postmaster of Kent under President Cleveland. In this last office he was ably assisted by Mrs. Rockwell as his deputy until her death, which occurred in 1890, in the faith of the Episcopal church, a most highly esteemed and accom- plished lady. Mr. Rockwell has also served as clerk of the county board of election, and has ever been alert in advancing the interests of his party during campaigns, and has invaria- bly held a position on some one of the impor- tant committees, but has never slighted his legal business for the sake of politics, and is recognized as an attorney of unblemished in- tegrity. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Royal Arcanum, and is as highly respected so- cially as he is professionally. <>^ OBERT M. RISK, of Kent, county I /^ commissioner, was born in Brimfield 1 W township. Portage county, Ohio, No- vember S, 1840, and is a son of George and Isabella (McCauley) Risk, natives of Londonderry, Ireland. George Risk, father of subject, was a farmer by vocation, was married in Ireland and had born to him in that county one child. In I 829 he brought his little family to America and first located in Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio, where he purchased and culti- vated a farm for a few years; he then came to Portage county, and bought a partially im- proved farm of 100 acres in Brimfield town- ship, which he fully improved and lived on thirty odd )-ears; he lost his wife in 1866, then removed to Franklin township, where he pur- chased a small place; his own life was spared until 1886, wtien-he also died, respected by all who knew him. To George Risk and wife were born eight children, vi^: Samuel, a farmer of Brimfield township, who died and left two children, one of whom is also de- ceased ; George, who was crippled with rheu- matism at the age of six years, was never able to walk afterward, but nevertheless accu- mulated considerable propert}' in Kent, and there died, universally respected; Eliza died in childhood; Sarah Jane is the wife of Wilber Sapp, of Carroll county, Ohio; Martha, mar- ried, resides in Allegheny, Pa. ; John is a stock dealer and farmer, of Battle Creek, Neb. ; Robert M. is the subject of this sketch; Will- iam, a soldier in the Union army, died in the pursuit of the rebel raider, John Morgan, at the age of twenty years. Of this family, four sons served in the Civil war, viz: Samuel, John, Robert M. (subject) and William. Robert M. Risk, with whom this biography has most to do, was reared on the home farm in Brimfield, Portage county, and received something more than the education usually vouchsafed to farmers' lads, and himself taught school several years in the states of Michigan and Indiana. April 19, 1861, be- fore reaching his twenty-first year, he enlisted in company F, Seventh Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and was mustered in for three months at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, and after having served his term was honorably discharged, but re-enlisted for three years at Camp Dennison. Under this enlistment his first engagement was at Cross Lane, W. Va., and he was kept at marching, skirmishing and fighting until he entered the conflict at Cedar Mountain, Va. , where he was shot through the left thigh by a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 487 rifle ball, which effectually brought his fight- ing days to a close. He was again honorably discharged March 5, 1863, and on his return home and after recovery from his wound he employed his time in farming on his father's land until he rented a farm in Ravenna town- ship, in 1865, in which year he married Miss Mary Madole, a native of Franklin township and a daughter of George and Sarah Madole. Some little time after marriage he purchased a farm of fifty acres in Ravenna township and ran in debt for the full amount of its cost, but was industrious, managed well, and soon paid off his obligation; later, he sold this farm and bought the old homestead in Brimfield town- ship, and also purchased another farm of fifty- five acres, both of which he still owns. He also purchased a home in Kent, and in Sep- tember, 1894, moved to the city. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Risk have been born eight children, in the following order: Sarah Isabell, a teacher; Josephine married Edward Elliott and lives in Ravenna; May, a teacher; Harry W. , also a teacher; George, a street-car employee, who married Belle Bush- nell and resides at Cuyahoga Falls; Edward, also a street-car employee; Maud and Iva. In politics Mr. Risk has always been a re- publican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1893 he was elected county commissioner, and during his incum- bency it was that the electric street-car line was run through the county. So satisfactorily did Mr. Risk perform his duties in this office, he was re-elected in 1896, and is now filling his second term, having been nominated for re-election in convention by acclamation, with- out a dissenting vote, the public falling into full accord with the action of the convention. Mr. Risk has also served as delegate to several county and district conventions of his party, and has well shown himself able to be a party leader. The subject of this sketch lost his wife January 13, 1891, and was married again Au- gust 18, 1895, to Miss Julia Blake, daughter of Buel and Sallie Blake; to this marriage has been born one child, Dorothy. *y-» UCIUS E. RODENBAUGH, a noted I r builder and contractor of Kent, Ohio, I jl was born in Springfield township. Summit county, June 3, 1844, a son of John and Laura A. (Purdy) Rodenbaugh, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont. Peter Rodenbaugh, grandfather of subject, was a German by birth and early settled in Pennsylvania, where he married and reared a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom the following reached the years of ma- turity: Isaac, a potter and farmer of Spring- field township. Summit county, Ohio; John, the father of subject; William, a farmer of Parke county, Ind., where he followed his calling until his death; Peter, who was a pot- ter by trade and died in Akron, Ohio; Eliza, whose second husband is a Mr. Humniiston and a resident of Iowa. Peter Rodenbaugh, the father of this family, soon after marriage, came to Ohio and followed his trade of potter and his vocation of farmer, but eventually came to Portage county, and died in Franklin township at the advanced age of near!}- eighty years. Solomon Purdy, the maternal grand- father of subject, on coming to Ohio from Vermont, first located in Summit county, where he, like the paternal grandfather, followed his callings of potter and farmer, and eventually came to Portage county and co'ntinued in the same vocations until his death, at the age of eighty-four years. John Rodenbaugh, father of subject, on coming to Ohio, located in Summit county, was there married, and there followed his 488 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD trades of potter and niillwrigjht until 1853, when he came to Portage county, where he became a farmer and auctioneer, and in the latter capacity was widely known, not only in Ohio, but in adjoining states. He owned a good farm, a portion of which is now used as the meeting ground of the Spiritualistic asso- ciation. He was universallj' popular, but met with a sudden and tragic death. October 24, 1865, when returning home from Kent in his wagon, he was assaulted with clubs on his wagon-seat b}- demoniacal ruffians, brutally murdered for his valuables, and despoiled of $285 in cash and his watch. For this heinous crime Jack Cooper was hanged at Ravenna in April, 1866, and his partner in the nefarious act, Joel Beery, was sentenced for life to the state's prison, where he died in 1879. To John Rodenbaugh and wife were born five sons and one daughter, viz: John Milford, a rail- road employee, in Kent; a son that died in in- fancy; Henry Clay, will be again mentioned in the following paragraph; Calvin Perry, a grocer in Denver, Colo., and also an auction- eer; Lucius Edward, the subject, and Emma R. , wife of Jerome Converse, of Denver, Colo. The mother of this family died May 7, 1888. Henry Clay Rodenbaugh, mentioned above, was a turfman and had purchased the hotel Woodford at Versailles, Ky., for his son James, who was a cripple, aged twenty-three years. A short time after the purchase had been ef- fected an intoxicated Kentuckian named Lane came into the hotel August 5, 1865, and shot both father and son, who expired immediately. This Lane, a very wealthy man, has never had a final trial for the commission of the dastardly crime. Lucius E. Rodenbaugh, at the age of seventeen years, left the home farm and en- listed in company D, Eighty-fifth Ohio volun- teer infantry, served seven months, and was honorably discharged at Annapolis, Md., on account of physical disability. August 8, i 1862, he re-enlisted and was mustered into company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio infantry, which was assigned to the Twenty- third army corps, under Gen. J. M. Schofield. He fought at Knoxville and was in the Atlanta campaign as far as Lovejoy Station, Ga. , when the regiment was ordered back to inter- cept Hood's rebel corps, which was encoun- tered at Columbia, Tenn; then followed the sanguinary struggle at Franklin, November 30, 1864, and the two days' fight at Nashville, December 15 and 16, when Hood's army was annihilated. The One Hundred and Fourth was then sent to Cincinnati and thence bj' railroad to \\'ashington, D. C, and by gun- boats to Wilmington, N. C, which city was captured, and at Goldsboro was received the news of Lee's surrender. The regiment was here detailed to take charge of the munitions of war, and to parole Johnston's army, which closed its service, and Mr. Rodenbaugh was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, June 17, 1865. Twice during the war Mr. Roden- baugh was wounded — both times, however, accidentally — the first being through the dis- charge of a gun in the hands of a comrade at Dallas, Ga. , which sent him home for sixty days, and the second bj' the awkward hand- ling of a hatchet on the part of another comrade. After the war Mr. Rodenbaugh became a brakeman on a passenger train of the Atlantic & Great Western railroad, in which capacity he served seven years, and while in this em- ploy was united in marriage, September 29, 1867, with Miss Flora Buzzell, who was born near Ravenna, Ohio, a daughter of Ozias Buzzell, but of this marriage there is no off- spring. After leaving the railroad company, in 1872, Mr. Rodenbaugh engaged with a con- tractor and builder, and within two weeks was made foreman, he himself thus learning the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 489 carpenter's trade. He next worked as a journeyman two years for one man, and then took a contract to erect a residence, and from that time on his services were in constant de- mand. He erected man}' business blocks in Ravenna and Kent and also several school- houses; eleven skating rinks in Ohio, and a number of buildings in Saint Louis, Mo., for Marvin Kent, and continued in the business until November, 1895, and then for a time engaged in the liquor trade. In politics Mr. Rodenbaugh is a stanch republican, and al- though he has never aspired to public office, takes an active part in the campaigns of his party. He is a genial and even-tempered gentleman, is quick of perception, and has earned for himself a handsome competence. His residence is on North \\'ater street, and the social standing of himself and wife is with the best circles in Kent. •"V'AMUEL G. ROGERS, of the law •^^^k* firm of Sauder & Rogers, Akron Sav- ^^ y ings bank building, is a native of this city, was born November 6, 1865, and is a son of Joseph M. and Sarah J. (Gray- bill) Rogers, of English and German extrac- tion. Joseph M. Rogers, father of the subject, was a mechanic, and settled in Akron early in 1865, where he followed his vocation until his death, in 1888, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a republican of the stanchest kind in his earlier political associations, but afterward became one of the organizers of and leaders in the union labor party and was one of its first candidates for congress, but, not being an office seeker, was nominated on his own mer- its and as a mark of recognition for the serv- ice he had rendered to the new organization. As a patriot, he fought in the war of the Re- bellion, as a member of the First Nebraska volunteer infantry, company C, in which he enlisted in 1861, and served for two years, when he was discharged as a sergeant for dis- ability, after having bravely fought at Forts Henry and Donelson, and at Pittsburg Land- ing. To his marriage were born five children, in the following order: Samuel G., subject of the present memoir; Ella M., a teacher in the Akron public schools; Francis E., a sten- ographer in New York city; George S. , a letter- carrier in Akron, Ohio, and Gertrude M., at home with her parents. Samuel G. Rogers, the especial subject of this biography, was primarily educated in the public schools, worked thereafter in the mold- ing rooms of the Buckeye company until he had secured the means of self-education pre- paratory to entering the office of Judge U. L. Marvin, a student at law, in 1885. He then took a full course in the Cincinnati Law school from which he graduated in 1887, with honors, was admitted to the bar the same year, and at once began practice in Akron. He held the position of clerk under Mayors Seward and Miller, under whom it was part of of his duty to act as prosecutor in the police court during the years of 1889-90-91, and in 1892 was elected prosecuting attorney of Sum- mit county, which office he filled with marked ability for three years. Since 1891 he has been a conspicuous figure in the ranks of the democratic party, and to-day stands foremost in its ranks, having been a delegate to its conventions each year since that date and an effective orator in its campaigns. The legal firm of which Mr. Rogers is a member was formed January i, 1893, and has now the management of some of the most im- portant law cases in which the citizens of Akron are interested; and already, in one case, before the supreme court of Ohio, involving the validity of the government of the citj' 490 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD itself, it has won a signal victory as attorneys for the city. March 6, 1895, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage with Miss Chloe Faust, daughter of Joseph Faust, of Akron, and they have been blessed by the birth of one child — Virgil E. The societary relations of Mr. Rogers are with the American Bar association, the Summit county Bar association, the Summit lodge, No. 50, I. O. O. F., iEtolia lodge. No. 24, K. of P., and Akron division, uniform rank, K. of P. The residence of Mr. Rogers is at No. 424Buchtel avenue. ,>^ EV. DAVID DAVIES (Dewi Emlyn) I ^T was a native of South Wales, having J , P been born in the year 18 17, in Car- marthenshire, near the line of Car- digan. His ancestry has been traced as far back as 1667, through a long line of distin- guished bards. From his illustrious ancestor, Morgan Rhydderch, is descended more than forty ministers. There are now in America more than one hundred of this Rhydderch's descendants, among them being the Hon. Horatio Gates Jones, of Philadelphia, now dead, and Maj. General Gershon Mott, of New York. He united with the Congregational church at Iwan chapel, and v/as received by the renowned Rev. Morgan Jones, Trelech. Much attention was given to his early educa- tion, and his advantages in that line were bet- ter than most boys of his time, so that he be- came an efficient school-teacher. In 1843 he commenced preaching; in 1845 he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Williams, born in 1815. They emigrated to America in 1852, and, in the same year, he was ordained at Paris, Portage county, Ohio. During his long and useful ministry he labored at Tallmadge, Thomastown, and Brookfield, Ohio. He died at the age of seventy-one, August 2, 1888, at Paris (Wayland) Portage county, where his ministr}' began. His widow died September 19. 1895. H's son. Rev. D. Davies, is a suc- cessful minister connected with the East Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. His eldest daughter, Mary, is the widow of James Geer Brewster, of Thomastown, near Akron, and his youngest daughter, Rachel, re- sides with her sister, Mrs. Brewster. He was a man of distinct and prominent characteristics, and was familiarly known, both in the mother country and in this, as "Dewi Emlyn." His literary and bardic productions, as well as his ministerial standing, have made him. known wherever the Welsh language is spoken. His writings were confined to that language, but had he composed in English, with which he was as familiar, his genius would undoubtedly have been recognized and honored by the English press and public. His life was devoted to the advancement of the pure and good. He was an ardent and uncompromising defender of truth and right in political and religious affairs. As a spiritual- minded and faithful minister, he was highly es- teemed. His acquaintance with books was wide; he kept abreast with the times, and en- couraged the progress of every legitimate re- form. He was a quiet man, who shunned conspicuousness, and gladly served his Master in quiet country places where he received but moderate compensation. His death was the result of a brief but not violent illness. He was buried with great re- spect, and memorial services were held in sev- eral places within the circle of his work. His last lines of poetry were composed a few days before he was taken sick. One who reads them now cannot fail to be struck by their e.\- pression of his strong aspirations after that higher, purer existence to which he was soon to be called. oCh-c^r^fL-. KJTU^z-^^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 49» eETER ROTHERMEL, a thriving and respected farmer of Rootstown town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Germany June 24, 1835, a son of Peter and Margaret (Brotzes) Rothermel, the former of whom was a weaver by trade, and to whom was born a family of eight children, five of whom are still living, viz: Theressa, widow of Andrew Rettig; Mary, wife of Andrew Horn- ing; Adam, Peter and Matthias. The de- ceased were George, who died April 3, 1897, aged sixty-seven years; John, who died March II, 1862, aged twenty-four, and Philip, who died at the age of three. The family came to America in 1840 and settled in Randolph town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, and here the father, for a short time, followed his trade of weaver, and then bought a farm, which he cultivated until his death, which occurred at the age of eighty years, in the faith of the Catholic church, in which faith, also, the mother was called away May 21, 1890, aged eighty-four. Peter Rothermel was but five years of age when brought to Randolph township by his parents, and was here reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving but a limited edu- cation. At the age of twenty-one years he hired out among the neighboring farmers as a helper until his first marriage, which took place Octo- ber 4, i8s8, to Miss Elizabeth Elmerich, daughter of Joseph and Mary Elmerich, but to this union there was no issue, as Mrs. Rother- mel was called away July 12, 1859, in the faith of the Catholic church. Octobers, 1S59, Mr. Rothermel was united in wedlock with Miss Mollie Weidaman, who was born in Ran- dolph township June 27, 1842, a daughter of of John and Magdalena (Spellman) Weidaman, and this union has been blessed with ten children, viz: Margaret, Frank, Henry, An- drew, Annie, Otto, Clara, Joseph, Edward and Leo. 18 John Weidaman, father of Mrs. Mollie Rothermel, is a native of Germany and a car- penter by trade. He came to Ohio in 1840, settled in Randolph township, and here engaged in farming, working at his trade meanwhile. In 1 84 1 he married Miss Spellman, the union resulting in the birth of seven children, viz: MoUie; Margaret, wife of Conrad Hauff; Barn- hard, John, Charles, all still living, and Eliza- beth and Abbie, deceased. The mother of this family died August 25, 1892, at the age of seventy-nine years, a devoted member of the Catholic church. The father now resides in Rootstown, a highly respected citizen, having filled several township offices and having been a steward in the Catholic church for many years. In 1877 Peter Rothermel settled on the farm he now owns in Rootstown township, which he has brought to a fine state of cultiva- tion and improved with a good dwelling and all necessary farm buildings. He began life a poor man, but was very industrious and eco- nomical in his earlier days of labor, and is now one of the most respected and substantial citizens of his township. Politically he is a democrat, and for many years has served as supervisor of his township and as school director, and in religion is a Catholic, to which faith all his family devoutly adhere. ^"V* AMUEL S. ROTHTROCK, one of the •^^^k* representative men of Copley town- K^ y ship. Summit county, Ohio, is a na- tive of Stark county, was born De- cember 12, 1846, and is the eldest in a family of ten children born unto Samuel and Cather- ine (Stauffer) Rothtrock: Samuel S., the sub- ject; Christian, a resident of Copley, farmer, and married to Miss Sarah Ritchie; David, who died June 8, 1897; Amos, a resident of 494 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Portage county and an honored teacher there, was educated in a common school and was a student four years at Otterbein university; Levi died in 1861; Susan, widow of David Morhier, is a resident of Akron; Marj, wife of WilHs Bissel, resides in Polk county, Iowa; Margaret, wife of Elias Hoagland, resides in Copley township; Anna, wife of E. W. Soil- man, resides in Copley township; Jacob re- sides in Medina county, Ohio. Samuel Rothtrock, father of the subject, was a native of Nothampton county. Pa., born OctDber 20, 1820, and was reared a farmer, and received a limited education in the com- mon schools. He emigrated to Ohio at the age of fifteen, in the j'ear 1835, and first lo- cated in Stark county, and in that county mar- ried Miss Stauffer, daughter of Christian and Christina (Ensminger) Stauffer. He came to Summit county in 1853 and purchased 160 acres in Copley, and in 1863 added eighty acres to his original purchase, and in 1870, 102 acres, making a total of 344 acres. Here he remained until his death, in 187 1. As a poli- tician, he was an old-line whig, and when the republican party was born he cast his lot with it. He was an ardent friend of the public- school system. He and wife were members of the Dunkard society, and he died a man respected by all who knew him. The mother of the subject of this sketch still survives her husband, resides in Copley, aged seventy-three years, has her mental faculties intact, and is an adherent of the United Brethren church in Copley township. The name Rothtrock is of German origin. Mr. Rothtrock, of this biography, is a typical Ohioan, having spent his entire life in Stark and Summit counties, was reared to agricult- ural pursuits, and received a common-school education as well as a short course at the Copley high school. He commenced life for hiuiself empty-handed as regards money, his first earnings being $20 per month, given by his father. He is a man of industrious and frugal habits, and his competency places him and his family in easy circumstances. He married Miss Mary E. Yoey, a native of Wayne count}'. They were married Jan- uary 26, 1 87 1, and five children, all daugh- ters, grace this union. Gertrude Elnora was educated in the common schools and the Cople3'high school; she has been one of Sum- mit county's successful teachers, and is a lady whose close companions are good books and authors. She is a member of the Ohio Teach- ers' Reading circle; Nellie May also received a good education in Copley high school and a normal course at the normal school at Ada, Ohio. She is also a teacher of note in her township; Almeda J. is at present a student in the high school and will graduate in the class of 1898; Mabel Fern died September 22, 1894. She was a bright little miss of nine summers, and a great deal of the golden sun- light of the home circle went out when she was called to her heavenly home; Blanche Yoey is the youngest in the home and is very bright in her school work. Mrs. Rothtrock was born January 6, 1850, in \\'ayne county and was the second child born to George and Hannah (Wagoner) Yoey, the eldest child of the family being Kate A., wife of Eli Fretz, residents of Doylestown, Ohio; Mrs. Roth- trock is next in order of birth; and Adaline J. died aged twenty-eight; she was a teacher; Benjamin Franklin, resident of Copley, mar- ried Miss Rose Ream. Mrs. Rothtrock's fa- ther was born in Pennsylvania about 1850 and died December 14, 1877. He was a farmer by occupation, although a man of fair educa- tion, and taught school successfully. He was about six years of age when his parents emi- grated to Ohio. He and wife were members of the Reformed church, and he was a stanch republican in politics. The mother was a na- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 495 tive, also, of Pennsylvania, and is aged seventy-three years. Mrs. Rothtrock received a good common- school education and is a lady of pleasing ad- dress, and possesses the cardinal points in character which make the true wife and mother. Mr. Rothtrock is a democrat in pol- itics, casting his first presidential vote for Hon. Horatio Seymour, of New York. Officially he was township trustee from 1873 until 1876, and a member of the board of education for years, as well as director of the schools for six years, justice of the peace from 1886 to 1895, receiving his commissions fromEx-Govs. For- aker and McKinley, and he was also real es- tate assessor of Copley township in 1 890 and township assessor in 1887. Socially, Mr. and Mrs. Rothtrock are members of Copley grange No. 1298 and have been since 1878. He was master of the grange for five years. Miss Gertie is lady assistant steward. Miss Nellie is lecturer of the grange. Mrs. Rothtrock is a member of the German Reformed church, and the three daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Copley. The Rothtrock homestead comprises 102 acres of land lying within two miles of the village of Copley, and the home is the abode of hospitality, and the friends as well as the strangers receive a cordial welcome. HRTHUR JAMES ROWLEY, city so- licitor of Akron and a young lawyer of great merit, with his office at No. 43 Akron Savings Bank building, is a native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, was born December 4, 1868, and is a son of William and Mary J. (Wills) Rowley. Enoch Rowley, grandfather of subject, came to America from Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England, about 1848, and with his family located in Akron, Ohio. He was a potter by trade, and soon after his arrival es- tablished the first pottery of the city, which he conducted for many years — a part of the time in partnership with his son, the father of subject, and on his retirement from business sold the entire plant to the latter. He was a republican in politics and for eight years served as councilman from the Sixth ward. His family consisted of himself, wife and eleven children, of whom four of the latter were born in Akron, the other seven, with the father and mother, having come from England together. He died at the age of seventy-three years, an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Rowley, father of Arthur James Rowley, was born in England, and was a lad of about ten years of age when brought to Akron, Ohio, by his parents, he being their eldest child. He spent his boyhood days here, receiving in the meantime a solid com- mon-school education, and, as stated above, eventually succeeded his father in the stone- ware business. He married in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and his union was blessed with four children, viz: Florence, who died in in- fancy; Arthur J., subject; Maud L. and Zelle I. Mr. Rowley, like his father, was also a stanch republican in politics, and for six years was a member of the board of equalization. Fraternally, he was a member of Apollo lodge, I. O. O. F. , and as a business man bore a name that was everywhere respected for its unblemished integrity. He retired from active business life in 1886, and lived in peace on his income until his death, which occurred in November, 1891, at the age of fifty-four years. Arthur fames Rowley was reared in the city of Akron and graduated from its high school in January, 1886, and from Buchtel college, in the same city, in June, 1890. He then read law with Charles Cobbs, and later 496 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD with Green, Grant & Seiber; was admitted to the bar in March, 1892, and was elected a member of the board of education upon the repubhcan ticket in 1893, which position he resigned on being elected city solicitor in 1895. In the spring of 1897 he was re-elected for a further term of two years, receiving the largest plurality of any officer elected. He has filled this office, as he did his former office, with ability and credit to himself and to the satis- faction of the public, and is now one of the most promising young attorneys of the city. He is a member of the Summit county Bar association; of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, and also of his college frater- nity. Delta Tau Delta; he is likewise a mem- ber of the Akron club, and of the Akron cham- ber of commerce. The family residence is at No. 1044 East Market street, and its members are among the most reputable and respected of the city of Akron. aHARLES E. RUGG, a practical and prosperous farmer of Franklin town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, is a na- tive of the Buckeye state, and was born in Northampton township. Summit coun- ty, September 3, 1850, a son of Ora and Jane (Everett) Rugg, of New England and Penn- sylvania descent. Elias Rugg, the paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of New Hampshire, was a cabinetmaker by trade, and married Sarah Wellman, to which union were born twelve children, of whom two are still living — Jo- seph, and Mary, the wife of Benjamin Batch- elder; the deceased were named Betsey, Sallie, Elias, Francis, Bial, Ora, Elvira, Lucinda, Walter and George. The father of this family was called away in 1840, and the mother June 20, 1854. -Ora Rugg, father of Charles E., was born in Keene, N. H., October 30, 1807, was a wood- turner by trade, came to Ohio in 1837, and located at Cuyahoga Falls, where he followed his trade for a short time. In the spring of 1839 he bought a farm in Northampton town- ship, which he cleared and improved, and when, in 1869, he sold this farm, it was con- sidered one of the finest farms in that town- ship. He then removed to Earlville, Frank- lin township, Ohio. March 29, 1839, he mar- ried, at Ravenna, Miss Jane Everett, and of the four children born to this union, Charles E., the subject, and Minnie A. still survive; Wilson died May 11, 1851, aged seven years, and Charles S. died September 12, 1846, at the age of seven months. Ora Rugg was called away October 3, 1880, in his seventy- third year, and his widow passed away March 2, 1886, at the age of seventy years, in the faith of the Methodist church. John Everett, the maternal grandfather of the subject, was born in Northumberland county. Pa., September 10, 1781, was a black- smith by trade, and married, in his native county, September 3, 1807, Miss Jane Hart, to which marriage were born eleven children, of whom two only are living — Ann, wife of S. S. Prior, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Florence, wife of George Whaley, of Hudson; the nine deceased were named Susan, Mary, Rachel, John, Matthew, Jane, Rebecca, Sarah and David. After coming to Ohio, Mr. Everett was engaged in farming until his death, in January, 1872, at the extreme age of ninety- one years. Charles E. Rugg, the subject proper of this biography, received a very good education in the district schools of Summit county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood on his father's farm. In 1869 he came with his parents to Earlville, Portage county, and in 1885 pur- chased his present farm, which was but partly cleared. He at once cleared up this place in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 497 full, set out an orchard and erected a hand- some and commodious dwelling, and within the past twelve years has so improved his farm that it is one of the most productive and prof- itable in the township. Mr. Rugg was united in marriage, at Ra- venna, April 3, 1 88 1, with Miss Rose M. Gray, who was born in Limaville, Stark county, Ohio, May 27, i860, a daughter of Thomas L. and Mary Jane (Carver-Webster) Gray, who were of Irish and English extraction, re- spectively. This union has been blessed with three children, the eldest of whom, born Jan- uary 8, 1884, died, unnamed, January 14 of the same year; Edna M. was born August 12, 1888, and Ruth A. was born May 16, 1892, and these two still live to add happiness to subject's pleasant home. Thomas L. Gray, the father of Mrs. Rose M. Rugg, was a native of Pennsylvania, and by trade was a wheelwright. He was still young when he came to Ohio and settled in Limaville, Stark county, where he engaged in farming. In 1862 he moved to Louisville, Stark county, Ohio, and in 1866 sold his farm and moved to Earlville, Franklin township. Portage county, Ohio, where he remained until his death, which occurred March 25, 1890, at the age of seventy-seven years. He had been thrice married, and the only child born to his first union, John, died while serv- ing in the late war; his second marriage, which was with Sophia Rech, resulted in the birth of three children, of whom William and Frank are still living, but Leander died in June, 1880; to his third marriage, which was to Mrs. Mary J. Carver Webster, two children were born — Mrs. Rugg and Sherman T. — the latter born Aprils, 1864. The mother of this family was called away February 12, 1892, a member of the Disciples' church, at the age of sixty-four years. In politics Charles E. Rugg is a decided republican, although he is not very aggressive and has never been an office seeker; his fam- ily are members of the Methodist church, to the support of which they freely contribute, and he is a liberal supporter of all movements designed for the good of the public. He holds an exalted place in the esteem of his fellow- citizens, and is recognized as one of the most progressive and useful farmers in Franklin township. BRANKLIN P. RUSSELL, M. D., an eminent practitioner of surgery and medicine in Suffield, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Valparaiso, Porter county, Ind., October 29, 1852, the eldest son of Newell and Paulina (Blakeslee) Russell, of whom further mention will be made in a par- agraph yet to follow. Franklin P. was edu- cated primarily in his native city, which is somewhat renowned for its educational institu- tions, and when about fourteen years of age came to Portage county, Ohio, where his lit- erary studies were completed. In 1877 he commenced the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. C. L. Belden, of Ravenna — a graduate from the Eclectic Medical college of Philadelphia, with the class of 1859, and one of the most experienced physicians of Ra- venna. Being thoroughly prepared by this scientist for a course of lectures, Mr. Russell entered the university of Wooster, at Cleve- land, from which he received his diploma, in in 1880, as M. D., and at once engaged in practice in Streetsboro, Portage county, where, for nearly two years, he met with the most flattering success, but finding the field too contracted for the exercise of his acknowl- edged ability, he sought the broader field of Suffield in 1881, where his practice has been most satisfactory to himself. In his professionally fraternal relationship, the 498 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD doctor is a member of the Northeastern Ohio Medical society — his only other fraternal con- nection being with the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a democrat, and during the last administration of President Cleveland he was a member of the board of Portage county pen- sion examiners; he has also served as a mem- ber of the school board for several years, and in both positions has fully and creditably at- tended to his duties. The marriage of Dr. Russell took place May 13, 1880, to Miss Lillie E. Tucker, a daughter of Daniel and Betsey (Willcox) Tucker, of Streetsboro, and the result of this union has been three children, viz: Cora Leona, Bessie P. and Hortense Ardell. Daniel Tucker, father of Mrs. Dr. Russell, was a na- tive of Portage county, born March 29, 1820, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, but later in life became a farmer. His marriage with Miss Willcox was crowned by the birth of one child only — Lillie E., the wife of Dr. Russell. Mr. Tucker passed away April 20, 1887, aged sixty-seven years, and his wife died February 19, 1896, at the age of sixty-eight. Newell Russell, father of Dr. Franklin P. Russell, was born in Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, March 29, 1820, of Connecticut parent- age, and was married in Porter county, Ind., to Miss Paulina Blakeslee, a native of the same county. Some years after marriage he re- moved to Iowa, lived in that state until 1862, when the family removed to Quincy, 111., the father January 5, 1862, having enlisted in company H, Fifteenth Iowa volunteer infantry, and served three years in defense of the integ- rity of the flag of his native country. At the close of the war he went west and engaged in silver mining, and died in Denver, Colo., November 3, 1872, at the age of fifty-five years, his wife having died in Ouincy, July 29, 1867, at the age of thirty-four, in the faith of the Presbyterian church, leaving a family of five children, all still living, and respectively named, in order of birth, F"ranklin P., Chester M., Agnes V. (wife of A. C. Seaton, of Omaha, Nebr.), Lola L. (wife of W. A. Folger, of Ak- ron, Ohio), and Charles Henry. Dr. Russell is a successful physician. Sr— * ON. HENRY C. SANFORD, attorney i'^^ at law, Akron, Ohio, was born in ^ _ P New Portland, Me., September 11, 1833, a son of John and Priscilla (Delano) Sanford, also natives of the old lum- ber state. John Sanford, grandfather of subject, was a native of Massachusetts, was of English descent, was captain of a sea-going vessel, married Mary Wilson, and in his middle age retired to Topsham, Me., where he passed the remainder of -his days. John Sanford, Jr., the father of subject, was born in Topsham, where he was reared to manhood and in his earlier days was engaged in the lumber trade, but later became a farmer. His lumber business was very extensive, but the embargo of 18 12- 13, ruined his trade and his lumber and ships rotted on his hands. Nevertheless he had ac- quired a competence long before he retired to his farm. He was of an ingenious turn of mind, and among his numerous inventions was a. mill to grind feed, the motive power of which was the ebb and flow of the tide; he invented the process for the manufacture of straw board; a device for turning a grindstone; a winnowing machine; a windlass for raising heavy weights; also, the curved plowshare — and to secure patents for these he rode horseback to Wash- ington, D. C. He was married in Maine, in I Si I, to Priscilla Delano, who bore him a family of nine children, viz: Judah and Will- iam T. , deceased; Elizabeth, wife of A. S. French; Susan, of Portage county, Ohio; OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 499 Harriet, wife of William Lettys; John, de- ceased; Henry C, the subject; Lucia, wife of E. Sawyer, and Thomas, deceased. The father of this family died in Maine in 1841. The mother, who was born in Plymouth, Mass., December li, 1793, was a daughter of Capt. Judah and Penelope (Sampson) Delano, also of the Bay state. This venerable lady died July 9, 1897, at the extreme age of 103 years. Henry C. Sanford attended a private acad- emy at Manchester, N. H., and then, for a period of a year and a half, was employed in the Amoskeag Locomotive works of Manches- ter. He then came to Ohio, locating in San- dusky City, and, for several years, was em- ployed on the Lake Shore railroad. In 1855 he went to Ouincy, 111., and ran the first pas- senger train on the C, B. & Q. road from Quincy to Galesburg, and remained as engi- neer with the company for six years; was next in mercantile business in Lorain county, Ohio, a year, and in 1861 went to Meadville, Pa., as engineer for the Atlantic & Great Western road, and when the division was established in 1864, at Kent, Ohio, was placed in charge as engine dispatcher. In 1867 he quit railroad- ing and spent a year in the law department of the university of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. In 1868 he was admitted to the bar at Ravenna, Ohio, where he practiced until September, 1870, when he came to Akron. As a repub- lican he was elected, in 1S72, prosecuting at- torney, and served one term; in 1876 was elected city solicitor; in 1887 was elected to the state legislature and re-elected in 1889, when he introduced and secured the passage of numerous important bills. January 19, 1857, Mr. Sanford was married, in Lorain county, Ohio, to Miss Emily J. Fair- child, a native of that county and a daughter of Elam and Lydia (Wilcox) Fairchild, and this union was crowned by the birth of three children, viz: William H., attorney and reaU estate dealer; Burton ]., grocer of Akron, and May F., who is a graduate of the Cleveland Art school, and who possesses superior art qualities. The mother of these children died January 6, 1890, a member of the Congrega- tional church, and was a woman filled with charity and good will toward mankind and of more than ordinary mental ability. Mr. San- ford, in his fraternal affiliations, early became a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Outside of his regular practice, he is the attorney for the Peoples' Savings bank. William H. Sanford, elder son of Hon. Henry C. Sanford, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, February 2, 1859, and was eleven years of age when his parents came to Akron. Here he was graduated from the high school in 1 877, after which he attended Buchtel college two years, and then entered the Cincinnati Law school, from which he was graduated in 1883, since which time he has been engaged in legal practice in Akron, making a specialty of real estate. He is associated with his father in business, and, like him, is a republican. * y ^ ON. GEORGE SACKETT, one of 1'''^^ the prominent citizens of Cuyahoga I , * Falls, and an old resident, springs from an old New England family which was among the founders of Connecticut, and the early settlers of Litchfield county. Homer Sackett, grandfather of our subject, was born in Kent, now Warren, Litchfield county, married Sarah Carter and lived on a farm in Warren township, which farm is still in the Sackett name. Homer Sackett was the father of Theron, Augustine, Polly, Aurelia, Aaron, Seth (a Congregational minister), Orange, Homer, Sarah, Pattie, Maria and Chester (who died young). Mr. Sackett and family were members of the Congregational 500 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD church; he was a prosperous farmer and sub- stantial man and the family was one of promi- nence and sterling worth; he lived to be about ninety years of age and died on the homestead — a farm originally owned by the family prior to Homer Sackett's birth. Aaron Sackett, father of our subject, was born January 7, 1891, on the old Sackett homestead, received the usual common educa- tion and became a school-teacher. He fol- lowed farming all his life and married in War- ren, Conn., Hulda C. Tanner, a native of Warren and daughter of Deacon William Tanner, a lieutenant of the Revolutionary war, who fought under Gen. Anthony Wayne at Stony Point. In 1836 Aaron Sackett moved to Canandaigua, N. Y., where he lived two years in order that his children might attend its excellent academy and seminary. In 1838 he came to Ohio and settled in Tallmadge township. Summit county, where he bought a farm of 160 acres, but in 1868 re- tired and lived with his son William, at Copley, until his death, in 1872, at the age of eighty-four years. He was a man of stanch traits of character, temperate and moral, pros- perous through life, and reared an excellent family. His children were Theodosia, Har- riet T. , George, Sarah, Emiline, William, Seth, Maria, Francis and Sarah (who died in childhood.) Hon. George Sackett, son of above, was born January 6, 1821, at Warren, Litchfield county. Conn., and received his education in the common schools and then attended the academy two years, at Canandaigua, N. Y., and at the academy in Tallmadge, Ohio, three terms. He has always been a farmer. Mr. Sackett married the first time, September 10, 1848, Miss Helen Williams, a native of Au- burn, N. Y., and a daughter of Nelson Will- iams, of Connecticut. They had no children, and Mrs. Sackett died June 10, 1 8 5 1 . Mr. Sack- ett next married February 9, 1854, at Tall- madge, Ohio, Frances V. Grant, who was born December 8, 1882, at Orange, New Haven county. Conn., daughter of William and Esther (Treat) Grant. William Grant was born in North Fork, Va., July 30, 1807, son of Richard and Elizabeth A. Grant. Mr. Grant went to New Haven, Conn., when a boy of sixteen, with his employer, Andrew Smith, a shoe manufacturer for the southern market, who setttled in Orange township, New Haven county. Conn., about 1823 or 1824. William Grant remained in Orange all the rest of his life, was long in the employ of Mr. Smith, and afterward engaged in the manu- facture of shoes on his own account. William Grant married, at Orange, and his children were Matilda E., Frances V., Henry Clay, Frederick, Anna Elizabeth, Charles R. , and Emily A. Mr. Grant and wife were members of the Congregational chnrch. He was an honored citizen, a justice of the peace many years, and was a member of the Connecticut state legislature in 1843-4. He lived to be seventy-five years old and died in July, 1882, in Orange, a highly respected man. His wife, Esther Treat, was born at Orange, Conn., March 2, 18 10, a daughter of Samuel and Clarissa (Wetmore) Treat. Samuel Treat enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, at the age of sixteen years. He was the son of Maj. Samuel Treat, of the same war, and well known as Deacon Samuel Treat. He was born August 6, 1728, at Mil- ford, Conn., descended from Gov. Robert Treat, of Connecticut, who was descended from Richard Treat, who came from England in 1630. Maj. Samuel Treat was first ap- pointed ensign in the continental army, August 31, 1768, was promoted to second lieutenant, then promoted to lieutenant in 1772, and to captain in the Revolutionary army in May, 1775, and- resigned in 1779, being injured. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 501 He died August 17, 1787, aged fifty-nine years, a man of the highest character. Samuel Treat, son of Maj. Treat, was the grandfather of Mrs. Sackett. He was born August 16, 1760, at Milford, Conn., married April 22, 1794, Clarissa Wetmore, and their children were Sarah, Mary, Samuel, Orin and Oriel (twins), Clarissa, Erastus Scranton, Almira and Esther F. Samuel Treat lived to be fifty-three years old, was a prosperous farmer and a member of the Congregational church and gave the land for the church in his town. He was a private in a regiment of light-horse artillery, commanded by Maj. Beckus, served imder Washington, was dis- charged October 30, 1776; in May, 1777, enlisted under Col. Joseph Thompson and marched, October 5, 1777, to Becksville and was discharged October 27, 1777. At marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sackett settled on their present homestead, which Mr. Sackett had bought, in 1847, the farm then consisting of 200 acres, which he had acquired when a young man, being very industrious and hard working and of great energy. He engaged in the wheat raising and wool business, and had good prices, rapidlj' accumulating property and bought more land, until he owned about 1,400 acres, but laid out and sold property in town lots. He laid out Sackett's addition to Cuyahoga Falls, also Sackett's addition to Salida, Colo., and part of Laredo, on the Rio Grande, Tex. For several years he engaged in papermaking at Cuyahoga Falls, and has been engaged in mining silver and gold in Colorado and Nevada. In politics he was one of the founders of the republican party in Summit county, Ohio, was chairman of the Fremont and Dayton club and took a very active part in all the early campaigns. He was present at the first inauguration of Abra- ham Lincoln, and was county commissioner of Summit county in 1868, and a member of the state board of equalization in 1880-81; also member of the town council, and treas- urer of the township before the organization of Cuyahoga Falls, and assisted in its organiza- tion. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sackett are mem- bers of the Congregational church. Mr. Sackett has lived a most remarkably active life, and has been generally successful. Mr. and Mrs. Sackett adopted a daughter, Mary Pauline Sackett, now married to Augustus F. Smith, of Cleveland, Ohio, in the Pennsyl- vania railroad office, and they have one son — Leslie Grant Smith. HLBERT H. SARGENT, a prominent citizen of Akron, Ohio, was born in Bloomfield, Prince Edward county, Ontario, Canada, October 31, 1846, a son of George A. and Lydia (Blount) Sar- gent, the mother being of English Quaker ex- traction. John Sargent, paternal grandfather of sub- ject, was a native of Battle, Sussex county, England, and was the third in the family bear- ing that name, being a son of John, who was a son of John, both the latter farmers of Sus- sex county. John Sargent, grandfather of subject, was a carpenter by trade, and came to America about 1825, settled in Jefferson county, and there died early in the 'fifties. His wife, Susan Luff by birth, was a native of Sussex county, England. Her father was a miller by occupation, and an early pioneer of Jefferson county, N. Y. George A. Sargent, the second son of John and Susan (Luff) Sargent, was born in Hast- ings, Sussex county, England, Septemcer 6, 18 1 3, was brought to America by his parents, was reared from twelve years of age to man- hood in Jefferson county, N. Y. , and after learning the carpenter's trade from his father, went, after reaching his majority, to Prince 502 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Edward county, Canada, where he worked at carpentering and contracting until 1878, when he retired on a competency and Hved in comfort until his death, which occurred June 3, 1888. His wife, although a native of Prince Edward county, Canada, was of New England Quaker descent or parentage. She bore her husband four children, in the following order: John G. ; Walter \V. (deceased), who left one son; Marshall B. , a resident of Chicago, 111.; Albert H., our subject, and Marshall B., de- ceased. Albert H. Sargent received a good com- mon-school education, taught school two years, and was also graduated from the Com- mercial college of Montreal in 1866. In 1867 he located in Rochester, N. Y., where he read law in the office of his uncle, Henry Sargent, four years, and then became bookkeeper for James Vick, the famous florist and seedsman, which position he filled ten years. He next studied landscape gardening and engineering under Charles W. Seelye, and was engaged in the laying out and adornment of the city parks of Rochester until February i, 1880, when he was called to the superintendency of the Ak- ron (Ohio) Rural cemetery, which position he has filled with consummate ability until the present time. In 1882 Mr. Sargent was ap- pointed by the Akron city council on the com- mittee to organize the board of health, and of this committee he was clerk for three years. As a republican, he was elected, in the spring of 1885, a member of the board of education of Akron, served six years, and for the last two years of his term was president of the board. In 1886 he was elected coroner of Summit county and in 1888 was re-elected, thus serving a double term of four years. Again, as far as political positions are con- cerned, Mr. Sargent was elected a member of the board of health and served during 1892- 93-94, and in the incumbency rendered effi- cient service in quelling the small-pox epidemic that waged during the winter of 1892-93. Mr. Sargent was united in marriage June 26, 1873, with Miss Sue S. Sargent, whose ancestry on the paternal side was the same as that of subject, and on the maternal side the descent is traced through Capt. Nathan Seelye, for five years a soldier of the Revolu- tion, to Nathaniel Seelye, who came from Wales in 1695 and settled in Bridgeport, Conn. Mrs. Sue S. Sargent is also a great- granddaughter of George Morehouse, who, in the same glorious war, was quartermaster on the staff of Col. Morris Graham, under com- mand of Brig. -Gen. Clinton. This lady is a member of the Cuyahoga-Portage chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution; Mr. Sargent is a thirty-second-degree Mason, is past eminent commander of knights templar and past master Akron council No. 42, royal and select Masons. To Mr. and Mrs. Sargent have been born two children — Albert H., de- ceased, and Jennie L. EENRY K. SAUDER, of the well- known and highly reputable firm of Sauder & Rogers, attorneys at law, Nos. 34 and 35 Savings Bank build- ing, Akron, is a native of Smithville, Wayne count}', Ohio, was born in March, 1852, and is a son of Benjamin and Caroline (Kreiter) Sauder, the former of whom is now deceased, but the latter still living. They were both born in Pennsylvania, of German descent. Benjamin Sauder, father of Henry K. , was reared in Lancaster county, Pa., in the Men- nonite society. He there married Miss Krei- ter, whose father was a man of great intelli- gence, was one of the pioneers of Canal Dover, Ohio, and was one of the founders of the Mo- ravian church of Tuscarawas county. Shortly after marriage, Benjamin Sauder came to Ohio OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 503 and established a wagon factory in Wayne county, employing several hands, and to this interest he devoted himself until within a few years of the close of his life, which were em- ployed in farming. He was a radical anti- slavery advocate, and his early party affiliations were with the whigs, but on the organization of the republicans became an ardent member of that party. He died at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years, the father of fif- teen children, viz: Elvina, who died in early childhood; Joseph K., a molder of Akron, Ohio; John M. , with William Buell & Co., druggists of Akron; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph M. Morrett, carpenter, also of Akron; Jacob, a lumberman of Wilson, Mich. ; Mary Ann, married to Jesse Hare, a farmer of Portland, Mich.; Henry K., the subject of this memoir; Ellen, who died in infancy; Benjamin, a life- insurance agent, of Akron, Ohio; William M., lumberman, of Wilson, Mich.; Elmer E., a carpenter, of Akron, Ohio; Caroline, wife of Perry Krummell, of Barberton; Emma, de- ceased wife of Milton Sell; Edwin T. , of Pe- oria, 111., and Minnie L., wife of E. A. Kra- mer, dentist, of Wadsworth, Ohio. Henry K. Sander, the subject of this biog- raphy, was reared until he had nearly reached his majority in Smithville, Wayne county, Ohio, received a common-school and academ- ical education, and for some time worked as a farm hand in the summer season; he learned the trade of printing subsequently, also taught school and filled a position as clerk in the post- office. In 1875 he came to Akron, studied law for two years with Green & Marvin, was ad- mitted to practice in 1877, and for two years carried on an initiatory business in this city. He then went to Seville, Medina county, but, on account of failing health, relinquished prac- tice for about three years, but in 1882 re- sumed his profession in Akron, and in his leis- ure hours practiced shorthand. In 1884 he was appointed court stenographer of Summit county, which position he held for seven years, performing its duties in conjunction with his legal practice. In 1893 he formed his present partnership with Mr. Rogers. Together they do general law business and a first-class one, and owing to the fact that Mr. Rogers was prosecuting attorney, a great deal of criminal practice was brought to their office. In politics Mr. Sander is a democrat, and for three years was a member of the library board, two years of the time being its secre- tary. He had always been a devoted student of literature and was admirably well fitted for the position. In 1893 he was nominated for the probate judgeship, and in 1896 was renom- inated. In 1894-95 he was president of the Ohio Stenographers' association. He is still un- married and resides with his mother at No. 229 North Main street. He is one of the best known men in the county and is recognized as one of its brightest legal lights. He is urbane and gentlemanly in his deportment, and is highly esteemed by the profession as well as by the public at large. VICTOR P. SAWYER, a prosperous farmer, was born in Brimfield town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, Septem- ber 12, 1848, and here he has always made his home. Uriah Sawyer, paternal grandfather of Vic- tor P., was a native of Massachusetts, was a cooper by trade, and settled in Brimfield town- ship in 1817, and here followed his trade and also engaged in farming. He married Miss Sallie Spofford, the union resulting in the birth of eight children, of whom only one — Hannah — is now living; the deceased were named Oliver, Henry, Uriah, William B. , Frank B., Lockhart and Sallie. Mrs. Sallie (Spofford) Sawyer died at the age of eighty-two years, 504 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and Mr. Sawyer at the age of eighty-four, in August, 1862. Uriah Sawyer, Jr., father of subject, was born in New Hampshire, July 14, 1810, and was brought to Ohio by his parents in 1817; here he was reared a cooper, and likewise a farmer. July 3, 1836. he married Miss Caro- line Pike, daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Walbridge) Pike. Jeremiah Pike was also a native of Massachusetts, and settled in Brim- field township in 1820. Miss Caroline Pike was born in Massachusetts December 28, 1816, and came to Ohio with her parents; by her marriage to Mr. Sawyer she became the mother of two children — Adelaide R., who died Jan- uary 6, 1 86 1, aged fourteen years and four months, and Victor P., the subject of this me- moir. Mrs. Sawyer died February 23, 1879, at the age of sixty-two years. Her husband, Uriah Sawyer, when he started in life on his own account, located on lot No. 20, in Brim- field township, which he cleared up and im- proved, and on which he resided until i860, when he purchased the farm on which Victor P. Sawyer now resides. Uriah was a very successful farmer and a popular gentleman, and for a number of years served as a justice of peace. His death took place on his last- named homestead, November 2, 1881, at the age of seventy-one years. Victor P. Sawyer attended the public schools until twenty years of age and continued to work for his father until the latter's death, when he fell heir to the farm on which he still lives. September 27, 1870, he married Miss Eunice S. Kelso, daughter of William R. and Lucy (Sawyer) Kelso, and this union has been blessed with -three children, of whom two — Lucy C. and Addie C. — are still living; Frank E. died April 20, 1876, at the age of four years. The parents of Mrs. Victor P. Sawyer were natives of the state of New York, and the father was a blacksmith, but having lost an eye while at work, he afterward engaged in hotel keeping for a number of years; he also served as county commissioner several terms. Their marriage took place October 16, 1834, Lucy Kelso being a daughter of Asa and Eunice (Bruce) Sawj-er, and of their twelve children four still survive, viz: Mary, wife of E. D. Saw3'er, of Cleveland; Sarah, wife of A. T. Porter, of Brimfield; George, and Eunice S. (Mrs. V. P. Sawyer). Two of the twelve chil- dren died in infancy unnamed; the si.\ others were Albert, Eunice, Franklin, Carrie, Cornelia and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. V. P. Sawyer and children are members of the Universalist church, and Mr. Sawyer is superintendent of the Sunday-school, as well as a trustee. So- cially, the family hold a very high position. m ILLIAM T. SAWYER, one of the most astute young attorneys of Akron, was born near the center of Springfield township, Summit county, Ohio, December 3, 1862, a son of Robert V. and Martha Ann Sawyer, natives of Penn- sylvania, but now deceased, the father having died March 7, 1877, and the mother February 3, 1892. They were the parents of six chil- dren, viz: Mary, wife of Isaac Madleni, at- torney at law, Omaha, Neb. ; Robert V. , who was engaged in the secret service, and died in Chicago, 111. in 1889; Jennie and Anna, who died in early childhood; Elizabeth Adell, wife of T. O. Spessard, baker and confectioner, of Knoxville, Tenn. , and William T. , the subject of this notice. The great-grandparents of subject were Benjamin and Margaret (Haynes) Sawyer, who were the children of English colonists. Their children were Thomas, William, Hannah Peters and James. Thomas, paternal grandfather of subject. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 505 was born in Dauphin county. Pa., in 1782, and was married to Elizabeth Day, March 6, 1806. In 1 8 10 they moved to Union county, Pa., and in October, 1829, they moved to the "Old Sawyer" farm in Springfield town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, bringing with them their ten children. The trip was made in covered wagons and they were on the road fourteen days. Their children were James S., Thomas H., Matilda M., John B., Ann E., Robert V., father of subject, Hannah S., William G. W., Benjamin F. and Mary J. Margaret C. , was born after her parents came to Ohio. James Sawyer, youngest child of Benjamin and Margaret Haynes Sawyer, was the mater- nal grandfather of subject. His wife was Mary Fife, granddaughter of John Fife, who was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1721, and came to America from county Tyrone, Ire- land, in 1756. The children of James and Mary (Fife) Sawyer were Benjamin, Margaret Kelly, Martha Sawyer, mother of subject, Hannah, Mary, Thomas, William, John and Isabel List. William T. Sawyer was reared on his fa- ther's farm in Springfield township, where he attended the district school. After his father's death his mother moved to Akron, so that the children could have better educational advan- tages. After spending two years in the city schools and two years in the preparatory de- partment of Buchtel college he was admitted to the college proper, where he studied four years and graduated with his class June 23, 1887. He then made an extensive trip through the west and south, visiting nearly twenty states, and finally settled down at Kno.wille, Tenn. , where he read law under the direction of the firm of Kornic & Caldwell. After pass- ing the examination for admission to the bar of Tennessee, in May, 1888, he returned to Akron, making the trip on a bicycle. He was employed as a reporter on the Akron Daily Telegram for about si.\ months, at the same time diligently prosecuting his studies of law, and was admitted to practice at the Ohio bar in June, 1890. He at once opened an office, and some months later formed a partnership with James V. Welsh, his present associate. They transact a general law business and are meeting with more than ordinary success. Their firm ranks well up toward the head of the Summit county bar, and they are known throughout northeastern Ohio as conscientious and successful lawyers. Fraternally, Mr. Sawyer is an Odd Fellow and is a member of Summit lodge. No. 50. Politically, he is a democrat, is particularly active in his party, and has done earnest work in its behalf. His voice has been heard on the hustings in every campaign since 1884. He is a fluent speaker and has frequently held the attention of his audience for two hours and a half at a time. He has repeatedly served his party as a member and twice as chairman of the county executive committee. He has held the office of police prosecutor, and in 1895 was elected treasurer of Portage township and re-elected to that office in 1897. At the solicitation of his ardent party friends he made the race for state representa- tive in 1895 and has ever since rejoiced in the fact that he was defeated. In 1896 he was the nominee of his party for representative in congress, made a thorough canvass, and re- ceived twice as many votes as any other dem- ocratic nominee for that office ever received in the district since its organization. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Daily Democrat in 1892 and is still a director and treasurer of the company by which it is published. For several years after the paper was started he was frequently re- ferred to as the "Daddy of the Democrat." 506 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD He is a member of the Akron club and is a trustee of Buchtel college. Mr. Saw3er was married October 15, 1889, to Miss Bessie C. \'oris, j-oungest daughter of Gen. A. C. Voris, and their union has been crowned by the birth of one child, Lucy Martha. Mrs. Sawyer is a woman of artistic and literary tastes. The walls of her home are covered with pictures from her brush, in oil and water colors, which show much more than ordinary ability. In addition to her familiar- ity with all the standard authors, she has written a number of short stories, which her friends have fruitlessly urged her to of^er for publication. She is a member of the Univer- salist church and the Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution. The family residence stands on the brow of North Hill and is surrounded by spacious rus- tic grounds, upon which many of the native forest trees still flourish. Mr. Sawyer and his wife are among the most respected resi- dents of Akron. <>^ROF FREDERICK SCHNEE, a II 9 prominent educator of Summit ^ county. Ohio, and for the past twelve years superintendent of schools at Cuyahoga Falls, was born at Freeburg, Pa. , April 30, 1848, a son of John F. and Hannah (Young) Schnee. The great-great-grandfather of subject, Johannes Schnee, came from Germany in the ship Phoenix in 1743 and settled in Pennsyl- vania. After the Revolutionary war there were four Schnees, and three of them changed or translated the name to Snow. Johannes Schnee was a member of the Lutheran church. His son, John, settled in Lebanon county, Pa. , was a miller and business man, and mar- ried Elizabeth Stehr. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His son, Joseph, was the grandfather of Prof. Schnee, and was born in Lebanon county. Pa. His brothers are John, Jacob, Henry, Philip, and George. John Schnee married Elizabeth Fisher, and their children were William, Mary L. , Joseph F., John F., Jacob F., Sarah, Susannah, Peter F., Ann M., Henry F. , and Elizabeth. Joseph Schnee learned the printer's trade and surveying. He moved to Union count)'. Pa., and bought a large farm near and partly on the Shade Mountain. He also engaged ex- tensively in the manufacture of coverlets, and had three manufactories, at Lewisburg, Free- bury and Schnee's Mill, or Mount Pleasant. Mr. Schnee was a colonel in the Pennsylvania state militia, and was in the war of 18 12. He was well educated for his time and kept school on his farm. He was an active politician and well and favorably known; he lived to be about forty-eight years old and died at Free- burg, Pa. He was justice of the peace at one time and married many people. He surveyed a great deal of land in Pennsylvania and taught others the surveying business. John F. Schnee, father of the professor, was born in Perry township. Union county. Pa.. May 17, 1823, received a common-school education and attended the academy at Lewis- ton, Pa., and taught school for a few terms. He learned the tanners trade, and married Hannah Young, a native of New Berlin, Union county, Pa. , a daughter of Frederick and Eva (Spotts) Young. The Youngs were of Scotch descent; the Spotts were of German ancestry. Frederick Young was a carpenter. His children were John, Samuel, Jacob, Bar- bara and Hannah. Mr. and Mrs. Schnee settled, after marriage, at Freeburg, Pa., where he carried on the tanning business until 1864, when he came to Summit county, Ohio, and bought a good farm of 149 acres in Springfield township, and here he lived until his death, a Lutheran in religion and a deacon OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 507 for many years. In politics he was a demo- crat, was a constable in Pennsylvania and a township trustee in Springfield township. He was a substantial farmer and much respected. His children were Frederick, Joseph and Eliza- beth E. Mrs. Schnee died at F"reeburg and Mr. Schnee married Lydia Swengel, and to them was born one son, now living — Charles M. Lydia Swengel was born in Union county, Pa., a daughter of Michael and Esther (Has- singer) Swengel. Mr. Schnee lived to be fifty years of age, and died November 9, 1873. Prof. Frederick Schnee received his educa- tion in a common school and then in the Freeburg academy until sixteen years old. He came to Ohio in 1864, attended the high school at .Akron and Greensburg seminary at Inland, in Summit county, which was a prosperous school of the Evangelical associa- tion. He taught school in Summit county four consecutive winters, and then became principal of the Richfield Central -high school and remained one year. Prof. Schnee married, in Springfield town- ship, December i, 1870, Caroline M. Gilcrest, who was born August 14, 1848, within the township limits, a daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Myers) Gilcrest. Robert Gilcrest was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and John Myers, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Schnee, was a soldier in the war of 18 12. Robert Gilcrest was born in Washington county. Pa., a son of William, a pioneer. Robert was a millwright by trade and came when young to Summit, Ohio. He married Rebecca Myers, of Summit county, a daugh- ter of John Myers, of Union county, Pa., but formerly of Berks county. Pa. Robert Gilcrest engaged in the milling business in Springfield township and owned and operated Gilcrest's mill for many years, and also bought a farm. His children were Caroline M., Thomas J., Matilda E., Mary A., and Robert Anson. Mr. Gilcrest was an honored citizen and held the office of township trustee and treasurer, was a successful man and died aged eighty-four years. His wife still lives, aged eighty years. After marriage, Mr. Schnee taught school a few years, and then located in Akron and engaged in the life-insurance and school-fur- niture business until 1877, and then was su- perintendent of schools at Magadore, Ohio, for six years, and in 1883 was superin- tendent of the township schools of Norton, Ohio, and in 1885 came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he has been superintendent since, and has charge of all the school buildings and fourteen teachers. He has been successful in building up the schools and improving the tone of scholarship. Prof. Schnee has been a member of the county board of school exam- iners since April, 1883, and in former years did much institute work. Prof. Schnee and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee; in politics he is a democrat. To Mr. and Mrs. Schnee have been born Robert G. and John T. His son Robert G. is a graduate of the Cleveland college of Physicians & Surgeons, in which institution he teaches bacteriology and practices medicines with Dr. Rogers. Prof. Schnee gained his education by his own efforts, is a self-made man, and has suc- ceeded through his individual ability. He stands high as a man and citizen, as well as in the educational profession. BENRY SCHULTZ. the well-known tinner, roofer and spout and gutter- maker, in Ravenna, was born in Ran- dolph,, Portage county, Ohio, March 4, 1845, a son of Adam and Elizabeth (Beisel) Schultz, natives of Germany and parents of seven children, viz: Peter, who died a soldier 508 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in the Civil war; Eva, wife of Jacob Ginter; Adam; Elizabeth, married to Jacob Laubert; Henry, the subject; Willie and his twin brother, Albert. The paternal grandfather of Henry Schultz had been a soldier in the German army, was a farmer by vocation and the father of four or five children; he brought his family to America at a comparatively early day, about 1830, set- tled in Portage county and followed his voca- tion until his death, which occurred in 1856, at the age of eighty years. The maternal grandfather of subject died in Germany. Adam Schultz, father of subject, came to America with his father and grew to manhood in Randolph township, where he still lives on his farm, one mile from the old home of his father He and wife are members of the Ger- man Reformed church and are highly respect- ed in their community. Henry Schultz, the subject of this biography, was reared on his father's farm and received the usual education accorded farmers' lads in the district schools. He rendered his faithful assistance to his parents until he was twenty- two years of age, and then started in the butcher business in Akron, Summit county, where he remained four years and nine months, after which he worked two years at the carpenter's trade. In 1884 he started in the tin roofing and spouting business in Suf- field, Portage county, and did a prosperous business until 1889, when he moved to Ra- venna, where he has been more successful than ever before. The marriage of Mr. Schultz took place in June, 1880, with Miss Ida Moatz, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Agne) Moatz, and this union has been blessed by the birth of four children, who are named Edith, Nettie, Floyd and Clinton. In their religious affiliations Mr. and Mrs. Schultz are Congregationalists, and fraternally, Mr. Schultz is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the National Union. In politics Mr. Schultz has always been a republican, but has never held positions of emolument or doubtful pub- lic honor, preferring to exercise his franchise, pure and simple, in support of the nominees of his party, provided that they be good and capable men and worthy of support. Mr. Schultz has always maintained a spot- less reputation as a business man, has been attentive to the needs of his customers, has been thrifty and industrious, owns a good home and place of business, and enjoys, with his family, the respect of a large circle of friends and also that of the general public. >-j* AMES GEER BREWSTER (deceased). M who was the twin brother of Jonathan ft J H. Brewster, county commissioner of Summit county, and with whom he was in partnership, and for many years one of the leading business men of Summit county, was born at Thomastown, this county, Janu- ary II, 1834, a son of James G. and Martha (Hasson) Brewster. Receiving a good com- mon-school education, he remained on the farm until gaining his majority, when he went to California, where he was engaged in mining for twelve years, or until 1867, when he re- turned to the county of his nativity and en- gaged in farming, and about this time he, in company with his brother, Jonathan H., be- gan operating the coal mine which was located upon their farm. This occupation he continued for many years, doing the controlling business of northeastern Ohio. He was also interested for a long period in the Buckeye Sewer Pipe works of Middlebury, and for many years was engaged in the flouring-mill business in Cov- entry township. He was a man of sound busi- ness ability, and in politics an uncompromis- ing republican, in which party he was a prime ^/Ck/ynM ^ ijyU^tfjy^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 511 factor, and his counsel along this line was much sought after. May 25, 1870, James Geer Brewster was united in marriage with Miss Mary Davies, daughter of Rev. David and Rachel (Williams) Davies, natives of Wales, where Mrs. Brew- ster was also born. To Mr. and Mrs. Brew- ster were born nine children, of whom eight are living — Albert James; Martha V., now Mrs. John Shaffer; Mary I., Rose V., Modena R., Louise M., David Davies, and James Geer. Of these children, Laura S. is now deceased, and Mr. Brewster, it is sad to add, died January i, 1897. To better educate her children Mrs. Brew- ster has removed from the homestead at Thomastown to Akron, and now resides at No. 1 19 Johnson street, where she will readily be enabled to secure the means, through the excellent educational institutions of the city, of carrying out the commendable purpose which brought her to Akron. The Davies family, from which Mrs. Brew- ster descends, came to the United States in 1852 and settled in Portage county. Her father, of whom a sketch is given in full on another page, was born in 18 17 and died at Paris (now Wayland) in Portage county, Au- gust 2, 1888. He was prominent as a Con- gregational minister and noted as the Welsh poet and wrote over the nom de plume of Dewi Emlyn. His wife was born in 1815 and died September 19, 1895. Of the nine children born to Rev. and Mrs. Davies three survive: Mary, Rev. David and Rachel, and no family of Portage county was ever more closely en- deared to the population. BREDERICK W. SCHUMACHER, one of the best known, most pros- perous and most highly respected farmers of Bath township, is a na- tive of Germany, and is a descendant of an 19 old and honored family in that country. His great-grandfather, Henry C. Schumacher, born June 12, 1749, in Wiensen, county of Usler, province of Hanover, was in the seven-year war with Frederick the Great, joining the mil- itary in November, 1767, and serving for six years and a half. Following this service he went to Hanover and turned his attention to letters, thoroughly equipping himself for the profession of teaching. In 1775 he was ten- dered a position as teacher in the village of Marienhagen, in the county of Lauensteiu, which he occupied with honor for forty years. The next in line was George Henry Ludwig, born September 13, 1780, in Neuhaus, prov- ince of Hanover. He was a merchant, an extensive landowner and speculator, and had amassed a large fortune, which by unfortunate investments he lost. His son, Albert, the father of our subject, was born at Bevern, in the dukedom of Brunswick, Germany, July 30,- 1827. He began the active duties of life as a merchant, and later as atraveling salesman, after several years of which experience he en- tered the military service, in 1848, serving two years in the artillery. After this duty to his country he established a cutlery factory and store, which he conducted and is still con- ducting with much success. He married Louisa Buse, who was born September 14, 1835, a daughter of William Buse, and to them were born three sons: Frederick William, our subject, born April 15, 1858; Theodore, born in i860, now a leading jew- eler in Germany; and Hermann, born in 1868, a prosperous merchant in his native country, whose army services were performed in the in- fantry between the years 1894-1896. Frederick William Schumacher received his education in the public schools of his na- tive town of Bevern and at the normal school at Holzminden. After a brief experience in the mercantile way he entered the army when 512 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD he was sixteen years of age, serving in the cavalry until 1879. He then had charge of his father's business for a year. Determining that there were wider possibilities in this country, he decided to come to America, and in 1880 landed in New York city. He came directly to this county, and has managed the farm on which he npw resides in Bath town- ship, and also owns a residence in Akron. This farm consists of 200 finely-kept acres of rich river bottom land, well improved, and possesses good buildings and excellent apple and peach orchards. Mr. Schumacher stocked the farm well with full-blooded Holstein cattle and fine horses. He is a special lover of a hne horse, and has a number of which he may well be proud. On April 14, 1880, Mr. Schumacher was united in marriage to Miss Frances, daughter of William and Mary Cranz. To them were born two children: Katie, born August i, 1881, and Ferdinand, born September 26, 1882. A sad bereavement to this household was the death of the wife and mother. Mr. Schumacher afterward married Miss Clara Emig, daughter of Martin and Sophia (Wehrly) Emig, who were the parents of the following chidren: Clara, born November 19, 1868; Edward, January 11, 1870; Charles, December i, 1872; Mary, July 11, 1879; and Albert, March 5, 1 88 1. Martin Emig was a veteran in the late war, serving with company C, One Hundred and Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry. To our subject, by his second marriage, four children have been given: Herbert O. , born July 8, 1890; Helen S., March 12, 1S92; Hermine E., March 19, 1894; and Louisa, February 9, 1896. Mr. Schumacher and his family are de- lightfully situated in their pleasant home, and he is well liked by all who know him. In ad- dition to the superior education he received in his native tongue, he has acquired a compe- tent knowledge of English and keeps well in- formed on current affairs. Incidentally, he is a nephew of Ferdinand Schumacher, the oat- meal magnate. In politics Mr. Schumacher is an ardent supporter of the principles of the republican party. He is a member of the Ivnights of Maccabees, lodge No. 281, and a member of the German military organization at Akron, Ohio. Both he and Mrs. Schumacher are members and earnest supporters of the Ger- man Lutheran church at Akron, Ohio. *'|-» OUIS G. SCHWEITZER, a well- I I known business man of Ravenna, 1^^^ Portage county, was born in Cleve- land, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, Janu- ary 4, 1856, and is a son of Frederick and Catherine (Engelhorn) Schweitzer, natives of Bavaria, Germany, born, respectively, June 18, 1829, and January 3, 1829. Frederick Schweitzer received a good edu- cation in his native land, and in 1847 came to the United States with his parents, who set- tled on a farm near Parma, about nine miles from Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and there he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Cleveland and for three years served an apprenticeship at the black- smith's trade in the shop of Mr. Burrows. For the seventeen years following he was em- ployed as foreman in the John Drum Carriage works, and then moved to Marquette, Mich., where for three years he was employed by a brother, and in 1867 returned to Cleveland, where he took charge of Goodfellow's hall and conducted a wine, liquor and restaurant business until September 25, 1871, when he moved into his own building, known as Schweitzer's hall, at the corner of Pearl and Bridge streets, and here conducted a large billiard room, in conjunction with a sample OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 513 room, until his death, which occurred July 24, 1893. To the marriage of Frederick Schweit- zer with Miss Engelhorn were born five chil- dren, viz; George, now deceased; Louis G., the subject; Lizzie, now Mrs. Metzger; Fred- erick, Jr.', and Catherine, now Mrs. Lang. Louis G. Schweitzer attended the public schools of Cleveland until thirteen years old, and then worked for his father until his mar- riage, November 30, 1887, with Miss Lena Gretzinger, of Ravenna, a daughter of Martin and Lena Gretzinger, old and respected resi- dents of Portage county. Martin Gretzinger was the owner of the oldest tannery in the state of Ohio, it having been started in 18 10 by Jared Mason, who came from Beaver coun- ty, Pa., and did a lucrative business for three years, dying in 18 13. In 1815 J. T. Wells married the widow of Mr. Mason, and thus be- came possessor of the tannery, which, in part- nership with Jesse R. Grant, father of Gen. U. S. Grant, he conducted for several years, when it passed into the hands of Mr. Gret- zinger, who ran it for many years, or until 1867, when it was disposed of to C. F. Goeppinger. This old tannery was located southeast of the court-house grounds, and some of the vats are still to be seen in the cellar of the original building on Jefferson street, Ravenna. To the marriage of Mr. Schweitzer with Miss Gretzinger have been born two children — Karl Frederick, June 20, 1892, and Fritz Lewis, October 5, 1894. Mr. Schweitzer is engaged in the wine and liquor business at No. 1 17 Chestnut street, the building having once been occupied by a school taught by Mrs. President Garfield in her younger days, but now owned by the parents of Mrs. Schweitzer, and here he is doing a prosperous trade. He is a member of Lake Shore lodge, No. 6, K. of P., of Cleveland; of lodge No. 295, B. & P. O. E., of Warren, and of the Ravenna Gun club — being an en- thusiastic sportsman. In politics he is a re- publican, and is a useful and popular citizen. Mrs. Schweitzer is a consistent member of the Congregational church and is a most estimable lady in every respect. >T^AMES HENRY SEYMOUR, ex-treas- m urer of Summit county and a member /> J of the firm of J. H. Seymour & Co., proprietors of the Excelsior laundry of Akron, Ohio, was born in Colebrook, Litch- field county. Conn., July i6, 1842, a son of Henry R. and Ann P. (Gross) Seymour. Rufus Seymour, the paternal grandfather of subject, was also a native of Colebrook, Conn., and of Puritan stock, being of the same family from which the Govs. Seymour of Con- necticut and New York descended. He was a farmer and lumberman by vocation, and passed his entire life in Colebrook. His son, Henry R., and wife came to Hudson, Ohio, in 1850, the son being at that time a traveling sales- man for the American Whip company, of Chicago, which he represented in Ohio and other western states until about 1856, and then engaged with another wholesale Chicago house as salesman of cigars and tobacco, re- taining the position two years, and during these two years made his home in Chicago. He then returned to Hudson and purchased a bakery, which he conducted up to the breaking out of the Civil war, and next carried on a grocery until his death, which occurred m 1864. He had been twice married, his first wife having been Ann P., daughter of Israel and Sarah (Ellsworth) Gross, of Torringford, Conn., to which union were born two chil- dren — James H., the subject, and Anna M. (Mrs. Z. P. Allee), now deceased. His second wife was Sarah Bush, of Westfield, Mass., who bore him one son — Ernest W. James Henry Seymour was reared in New England and in Ohio, and received an academ- 514 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ical education in Hudson, Summit county. During the Civil war he was a member of the Second Ohio cavalry, going out as a musician in 1862, and being honorably discharged after one year's service. In the spring of 1864 he was appointed clerk in the quartermaster's department at DuVall's Bluff, Ark., but re- signed in December and returned home, on account of his father's death. He then suc- ceeded to the latter's grocery and provision business, which he conducted until 1S86, when he was elected treasurer of Summit county, and was re-elected in 1888 — thus serving two full terms of two years each. In 1891 he became identified with the Akron Queensware company, of which he was secretary and treas- urer about two years. In May, 1895, as a member of the firm of Badger & Seymour, he became a purchaser of the Excelsior laundry; Mr. Badger sold his interest in May, 1897, and the firm became J. H. Seymour & Co., which has since been doing a most thriving business. Mr. Seymour has been twice married, his first wife having been Louise Case, of Hud- son; his second marriage was to Martha L., daughter of Joel and Marion (Anderson) Webb, of Mogadore, Summit county, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with two chil- dren — Marion and Ruth. Mr. Seymour is a member of the First Congregational church, of which he is a trustee, and Mrs. Seymour is a member of the Universalist church. In pol- itics Mr. Seymour is a stanch republican; fra- ternally he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of this great army he was department commander of Ohio in 1878, and for several years was commander of Gen. Sheridan post, at Hudson, Ohio. As a busi- ness man, Mr. Seymour is universally re- spected, and as a citizen he is held in great esteem for his public spirit and untiring use- fulness. ^r^^USTAVUS SEIBERLING, a repre- ■ ^\ sentative farmer of Norton township, %^^f Summit county, Ohio, was born on the farm he now owns and occupies June 19, 1854, and is of remote German an- cestry, being the descendant of one of two brothers, Jonas and Michael Seiberling, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America in 1745. Of these two Michael died without issue and Jonas became a substantial farmer of Lehigh county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life. Christian Seiberling, only son of Jonas, was a noted hunter and Indian fighter, and died in Lehigh county. Pa., at the age of eighty-four years. His son, Frederick Seiberling, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and in the early Indian wars. He was a farmer of Lehigh county, and his nearest courthouse was at Philadelphia, whither he went once a year to pay his ta.xes, making the trip on horseback. He died on his farm at the age of seventy- seven years, the father of the following chil- dren: Christian, John F., Peter and Jonas. John F. Seiberling, grandfather of subject, was born in Lehigh county, Pa., in 1783, was postmaster at Linville, Pa., fifty-five years, and it is said he was the oldest postmaster in the United States. He married Catherine Bear, by whom he had a family of si.x sons and four daughters, the second son being Nathan, the father of our subject. In his old age John F. Seiberling came to Summit coun- ty, Ohio, and here died December 25, 1876. Nathan Seiberling was born in Linville, Pa., April 14, 18 10, was reared to farming and on December 6, 1829, married Catherine Peter, who was born June 27, 181 1, a daugh- ter of Jacob and Margaret (Moser) Peter, of Northampton county, Pa., the marriage re- sulting in the birth of the following children: Kittie A. , deceased wife of Paul Wall; John F. ; James H. ; Sarah, wife of Jacob M. Harter; OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 515 Monroe; Mary (deceased), wife, first, of John Biery, and, secondly, of Joseph Kemmerer; Frank, deceased; Eliza, deceased, wife of Sherman Baughman; Charles; Septimus, de- ceased; Columbus; Milton and Gustavus, all, with the exception of the first named, born in Ohio. In April, 1831, Nathan Seiberling brought his wife and first-born child to Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, and bought ninety acres of timber-land, cleared it up, built a log cabin, and erected the first saw- mill in the township, which was operated by water power, and this farm constitutes part of that on which our subject now resides. Mr. Seiberling was strictly a temperance man, was zealous in the Lutheran faith, was an elder in the W'alsh Lutheran church, of which he was a pillar, and, although he never sought official preferment, consented to serve for a short time as justice of the peace. He was modest and unassuming in his deportment, yet was a wide-awake business man and was worth over $100,000 at his death, which occurred No- vember 4, 1889, his widow surviving until February 27, 1894. Gustavus Seiberling received a very good common-school education, and from early manhood has been closely identified with the agricultural interests of his township and county. November 18, 1875, he married Miss Julia Kulp, who was born September 8, 1856, a daughter of John M. and Sallie A. (Bechtel) Kulp, of Medina county. John M. Kulp is a son of Isaac Kulp, of Pennsylvania, who mar- ried a Miss Miller, and was one of the pioneers of Medina county, Ohio. John M. Kulp was born in Centre count}', Pa., in 1821, and was married in Medina county, Ohio — his wife being also a native of the Keystone state. His family consists of Mary A., wife of Rus- sell Griswold; Sarah J., wife of Frederick Williams; Fietta C, wife of Samuel Richards; William H., and Julia A., now Mrs. Seiber- ling. Mr. Kulp is now a prominent farmer of Guilford township, Medina county, is a repub- lican in politics, and is a Lutheran in religion, while his wife affiliates with the Reformed church. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Seiberling have been born five children, viz: Wilson F., Cloyd, Sarah C, Pauline and Raymond G. Mr. Seiberling owns a fine farm of 233 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with two sets of buildings, making it one of the best farms in the county. His residence is situated within the corporate limits of Western Star, of which village he has filled all the offices and has ma- terially assisted in developing, and of which he is now mayor. An ardent republican in politics, he has been active in the service of the party in county, state and national affairs, but has never sought public office, although he has consented to serve in the positions mentioned above in order to promote local progress. He has been liberal in his aid to the Lutheran church, of which he and wife are members, and he and family are esteemed as among the most refined and respectable residents of Nor- ton township. eVELYN L. SHALL, of West Rich- field, Summit county, Ohio, was one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and is a straightforward man. He was born August 15, 1847, at West Richfield, Ohio, a son of Robert and Abigail (Suley) Shall, the Shalls being of Mohawk, N, Y., German stock, and the Suleys coming from an old Connecticut family. Evelyn L. Shall re- ceived a common-school education and learned the harnessmaker's trade when young. He enlisted at Akron, Ohio, February 13, 1864, in the Ninth Ohio volunteer battery, independ- ent, to serve three years or during the war, and 516 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was discharged July 25, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, the war having closed. His services were at Tullahoma, Tenn., Bridgeport, Ala., and on garrison duty most of the time. He was in the last battle at Nashville and in sev- eral skirmishes. He was not wounded nor a prisoner, nor sick in hospital, but was always an active soldier, with but one day off duty. After the war Mr. Shall returned to West Richfield, but later was in the government service at Washington, D. C, in the postal department, from April, 1889, to November, 1895. He is a member of A. N. Goldwood post, G. A. R. , and has held the office of quartermaster. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant on the occasion of his second nomina- tion. Mr. Shall has never married. He is a respected, industrious citizen, well known for his integrity of character. I^obert Shall, father of our subject, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y. , a son of Leonard and Catherine (Brummer) Shall. Robert Shall was a merchant tailor by trade, and came when young to West Richfield, worked at his trade many years, and married here Abigail Suley, daughter of Amigo and Mary (Baldwin) Suley. Their children were Eugene, Evelyn L. , Mary, Charles, Frank, George, William and Clarence. Mr. Shall was a pioneer citizen and a respected and sub- stantial man, but died when only fifty-two years of age. In politics he was a republican, and had two sons in the Civil war — Eugene, serving in company H, One Hundred and Sev- enty-seventh Ohio infantry. QERWIN SHAW, one of the most substantial agriculturists of Norton township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Medina county, Sep- tember 23, 1826, and is of English descent, although the -family has long been listed among the residents of America, and for the three past generations of the Buckeye state. Moses Shaw, grandfather of subject, was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y. , where he grew to manhood and was married, and whence he came to Ohio overland by wag- ons and settled in Guilford township, Medina county, but afterward moved to Wadsworth township, where he passed the remainder of his life and died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. His children were named, in order of birth, Joshua P., Moses, Hannah, Phebe and James. Joshua F. Shaw, father of subject, was also a native of Dutchess county, N. Y. , was born January i, 1798, and was reared a farmer, which calling he followed throughout life. He was not yet fully grown when he came to Ohio and settled in Medina county, where he attended school a short time and on attaining his majority married Miss Rhoda Agard, who was born in Litchfield, Conn., July 23, 1802, To this union were born three children, viz: Merwin, Mary and George. Of these three, Mary, who was married to George Wise, is now deceased. Mrs. Rhoda Shaw died in Wadsworth township, Medina county, and for his second wife Mr. Shaw married Mrs. Betsey Johnson, widow of Thomas John- son. Here, Mr. Shaw died August 5, 1869, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which church his widow was also a member. Mr. Shaw was in his earlier days a whig in politics, had filled various offices, and was a gentleman of standing and respect with his neighbors. Merwin Shaw, with whose name this biog- raphy is opened, was educated in an old-time log school-house, but nevertheless received a solid education. With the exception of two years his practical business life has been passed in farming, and these two years were spent in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 517 a grist-mill at Johnson's Corners, Summit county. From September 2, 1862, until No- vember of the same year, he served with the Twenty-ninth regiment of Ohio volunteer in- fantry in Maryland, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of his term of enlistment. In politics Mr. Shaw is a republican and has served his fellow-citizens as township trustee. In religion he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he has contributed most liberally to the support there- of, having at one time donated $3,000 in cash toward the erection of the Methodist church edifice at Johnson's Corners. For forty years he was Sunday-school superintendent, and may justly be called a pillar of the church. Fraternally he is a Freemason, a Patron of Husbandry, and has served as post commander and chaplain of post No. 267, Grand Army of the Republic. His farm comprises 267 acres of excellently improved land, and his dwelling and other buildings are of substantial and mod- ern construction. To Mr. Shaw four children were born by his first marriage, viz: Frank J., George A., Ella E. and Hattie. Mr. Shaw was next married, in 1879, to Mrs. Clara Nichols, of Medina county, Ohio. Frank J. Shaw was born in Norton town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, June 7, 1850. He lived on the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he married Ruth Wilder, daugh- ter of Wells Wilder, and to this union have been born four children, named Frank M., Daisey A., Dora E. and Earnest W. Mr. Shaw owns a farm of 100 acres and also oper- ated a portable saw-mill for about thirty years, and also now runs a threshing machine. He is a republican in politics and in religion is a devoted Methodist, being a Bible-class teacher and church chorister and a liberal contributor to the support of his denomination. His daughter, Daisey A., is wedded to Ward Ware, who was born June 24, 1871, in Norton town- ship, and is a son of Josiah and Lovina (Bark- hammer) Ware. Ward Ware is a farmer and carpenter and is a steady-going young man who enjoys the respect of all who know him. Mr. Shaw and his son-in-law. Ward Ware, are now engaged in general merchandizing at Johnson's, and are doing a good trade. ^""^EORGE A. SHAW, of Barberton. ■ ^\ Norton township. Summit county, ^^^^ Ohio, is a native of the township, was born in September, 1853, and is a son of Merwin Shaw, whose biography pre- cedes this mention, and in which will be found full details concerning this honored family. George A. Shaw was graduated from the high school of Doylestown and later from the Wadsworth college, both of Ohio, after which he lived on his father's farm for a few years, when he sold his interest in the home estate and went to Mitchell, Dak., where he was employed by the C, M. & St. P. Railway company as yardmaster for about eighteen months, and six months as conductor on a train running between Mitchell and Woon- socket. He then returned to Ohio and en- gaged in general mercantile business in New Portage, where he was also postmaster during the last Harrison administration; later he lo- cated in Barberton, where he has since done a prosperous trade. He is an ardent repub- lican in politics and organized the first Mc- Kinley club in Barberton, of which he was the president, and in the spring of 1896 was elected by a majority of seventy-two votes mayor of Barberton, at that time considered to be a democratic stronghold. The societary connection of Mr. Shaw is very extensive, he being a charter member of K. of P. lodge, No. 486, of Barberton, in 518 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD which he has passed all the chairs, and which he has represented in the grand lodge ; he is a member of the G. A. R. , also of Daniel Webster lodge, No. 90. O. U. A. M., of which he was also a charter member; of this body he has likewise acted in every official capacity, was once elected representative to the grand lodge, but was prevented by business engage- ments from attending, and is now deputj' of the local lodge. He has also passed all the chairs in the U. R. K. P., Akron division. In religion he is a Methodist, and is a charter member of and elder in the Barberton congre- gation. He is exceedingly popular, and is un- tiring in his efforts to promote the prosperity of his township. ,>^ WIGHT SHUMWAY, an old soldier I I of the Civil war and a respected citi- /<^^_^ zen of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Peru, Berkshire county, Mass., Aprils, 1S3S, and is a son of Stewart and Mary (Lelandi Shumway. Dwight received the usual education of the common schools, came to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, March, i860, at twenty-two years of age, and worked at farming. He enlisted at Cuyahoga Falls, August 28, 1861, in Captain Joseph A. Agard's company K, Nineteenth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. December 31, 1863, he veteranized in the same regiment, in Capt. Joseph Venney's company, at Flat Creek, Tenn. , and served until honorably dis- charged, October 24, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio, on account of the closing of the war. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Stone River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge; and in the Atlanta campaign at Dallas, Dal- ton, Resaca, Pumpkinvine Creek and Kene- saw Mountain. He was shot through the right arm by a minie-ball, which completely disabled it, the bone being shot out for two inches, and shattered from three to four inches. He was taken to hospital on the field, and a few days later to Chattanooga, where he was confined in hospital one month, and then at Nashville, Tenn., two months, and at |ef- fersonville, Ind., and at Cleveland, Ohio, for about six months, and then at Cincinnati, then Camp Dennison, and then taken to Columbus, where he was mustered out. During this time he suffered greatly and many pieces of bone worked out of his arm. It became finally healed, yet the bone is entirely lacking for the space of two inches, but he can use it to some extent. On returning from the war, Mr. Shumway engaged in the drug business, in 1866, in Cuyahoga Falls, remaining in this for fifteen years, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He married, in 1866, in Cuyahoga Falls, Miss Eunice James, of this city, a daughter of Orin and Betsey James. Mrs. Shumway is a member of the Method- ist church. In politics Mr. Shumway is a re- publican, and has served as postmaster of Cuy- ahoga Falls for eight years. He is a member of the G. A. R. , Eadie post. No. 37, in which he has held the offices of senior vice-commander and quartermaster. Until disabled, Mr. Shum- way was an active and efficient soldier, prompt to do his duty, and was in some of the hardest- fought battles of the war and in many skir- mishes, and well deserves the esteem in which he is universallv held. KON. AARON MORGAN SHERMAM, M. D., of Kent, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Brimfield, Mass., March 24, 1826, and descends from one of the very old English families of New England. Of two brothers and a cousin of the name who came to America in 1634, one brother settled in Massachusetts, the other in Connecticut, and the cousin in Providence, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 519 R. I. From the settler in Massachusetts the doctor is descended, while Gen. \V. T. Sher- man and Senator John Sherman descend from the settler in Connecticut. The great-great- grandfather of subject. Dr. John Sherman, was one of the two brothers who came from Eng- land; the great-grandfather of subject was named Thomas; and the grandfather, also named Thomas, lived and died on his farm in Brimfield, which farm is still owned by the family of the late Elijah Sherman. Capt. Harris Sherman, father of the doc- tor, was born February 22, 1790, was reared on the home farm, and married Sally Morgan, a native of Brimfield, Mass., born June 30, 1790, a daughter of Aaron Morgan. After marriage he purchased a farm near the old homestead and continued in the pursuit of agriculture. In early life he had been a member of a mili- tary organization, in which he held the rank of captain, and during the war of 1812 was twice commissioned to recruit a company of soldiers, in which he was successful, but did not enter into the war himself, owing to the severe illness of his father. In 1831 Capt. Sherman disposed of his home farm and took in exchange, as part payment, a tract of 250 acres in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, of which he took immediate possession, and brought hither his wife and six children. This farm is now one of the best improved and best cultivated of any in its immediate vicinity. He was always active in politics, being first a whig and later a republican, and held several local offices. He was one of the founders of the Pioneer association of Portage and Summit counties, and he and his wife were pioneer members of the Universalist church, in the faith of which his wife died Au- gust 3, 1870, and he February 14, 1878, the parents of eight children, viz: Lewis M., a resident of Kent, Ohio; Caleb, who was a farm- er and died in Kent, Portage county, in 1856; Caroline, who died unmarried; Sarah, who is married to William R. Matthews, and resides in Lynnville, Jasper county, Iowa; Dr. Aaron M., the subject; Thomas, a farmer of Jasper county, Iowa; John Warren, who was a farm- er and died in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, and Otis S., who died at eight years of age. Dr. Sherman was but five years of age when brought by his parents to Ohio. The trip was made from their farm to Albany, N. Y. , by wagon, and by canal and lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio (that city containing a population at that time of only 1,000), and from Cleveland to Akron by the Ohio canal. He was reared on his father's farm, and re- ceived such education as the district schools of the day afforded. He then taught school four winters, and at night taught singing school — all the family being excellent vocal- ists. At the age of twenty years he com- menced reading medicine under Dr. John A. Knowlton at Garrettsville, Portage county, and in 1851 was graduated from the Cleveland Medical college, which was then the medical department of the Western Reserve univer- sit)'. He at once entered upon his practice in Garrettsville, and there remained until 1857, when he removed to Kent, being now the old- est physician in the city. From 1857 until i860 he was also engaged in the drug trade and met with much success both as a practi- tioner and as a pharmacist. In 1864-65 he was assistant surgeon in the Lincoln general hospital at Washington, D. C, but with that exception his practice has been confined to Kent and vicinity since 1857, having been sur- geon for several railroad companies for many years while pursuing his general practice. The doctor is a member of the Union Medical asso- ciation of northeastern Ohio, and was its sec- ond president; the State Medical society and the Portage county Medical society, before all of which he has made many interesting ad- 520 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD dresses, and has, beside, contributed many valuable articles to the better class of medical journals of the day. In politics the doctor was originally a whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor. He united with the repub- licans on the formation of that party, and his first public office was that of coroner of Port- age county, and was acting in that capacity when the distressing railroad accident hap- pened at Ravenna, July 3, 1891, through which twenty-three lives were lost — nineteen of the victims being burned beyond recogni- tion. In 1884 he was elected a member of the Ohio general assembly, and ser\ed on sev- eral highly important committees, and he has, beside, held many local offices. The doctor is now the president of the Pioneer association of Portage and Summit counties, which he assisted to organize in 1874, and of which he drew up the constitution and by-laws, having been the first secretary of the association — a position he filled twentj' consecutive years. Since the association was formed there have been over 600 deaths of its members, the average longevity of whom was over eighty years, and of whom the doctor has written the biographical sketches of over 500. Dr. Sherman was made a Mason at Garretts- ville, Ohio, in 1S56, is one of the charter members of Rockton lodge. No. 316, of Kent, which was organized in 1858, and of which he was the first master, serving ten years. He is also a member of Washington chapter, R. A. M., at Akron. The first marriage of Dr. Sherman was solemnized in 1851, with Miss Henrietta Ta- bor, in Garretsville. This lady was a daugh- ter of John Tabor, and died in 1854, without issue. The second marriage was celebrated in October, 1854, with Miss Harriet A. Gray, a native of Ravenna township, Portage county, and a daughter of Watson I. Gray. This happy union has been blessed with one son, Harris G., now a celebrated oculist of Cleve- land. The doctor has been an extensive traveler throughout the United States, visiting forty states and territories, and the winters of 1893-94 and 1895-96 were passed b}- himself and wife in Pasadena, Los Angeles county, Cal. They are members of the Universalist church and have a pleasant home, but the doctor has never had any inordinate desire for wealth, and his ambition is gratified by the fact that he stands at the head of his profession and he and his wife are deservedly esteemed by all who know them. '^tt'OHN SISLER, retired merchant and ■ farmer of Franklin township. Summit /• 1 county, Ohio, and now a resident of Manchester, was born in Lycoming county. Pa., December 16, 1817, and is a grandson of Lewis Sisler, who was a native of Germany and was there married, but about 1775 came to America, before any of his chil- dren were born, and first located in Boston, Mass., where, for a short time, he taught school; later he moved, to Lancaster county. Pa., thence to Lycoming county, and, being a highly educated man, followed the profession of educator until his death, which occurred in Lycoming county about 1820. His chil- dren were born in the following order; George, Nicholas, Lewis, Houston, Betsey, and Mary. Lewis Sisler, son of Lewis, the immigrant, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., about 1790, was a farmer from childhood, and about the year 1812 married Margaret Marsh, daugh- ter of George Marsh, a German, and to this marriage were born eleven children, viz: George W. , Houston, John, William, Thomas, Adam, Charles, Mary A., Lewis, James and Marga- ret. In 1824 the family moved to Erie coun- ty, N. Y. , where the father engaged in farm- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 521 ing until his death, in August, 1855, and in 1856 the mother came to Summit county, Ohio, and passed the remainder of her life with her daughter Margaret, dying on the 28th day of March, 1872. John Sisler was reared on a farm, received a good academic education, taught school one term in York state, and on September 10, 1839, came to Franklin township. Summit county, Ohio, and here taught several years. He was married in this county, June i, 1853, to Miss Mary C. Justes, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daughter of Michael J. and Margaret (Hoy) Justes, and this union has been blessed with the following children: Ida, wife of Hiram Allen; William W., Cassius C, John M., deceased; Abbie, now Mrs. Price; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Prout; Mary, mar- ried to Isaac Myers ; Arthur, Bertha and Earnest. W^hen Mr. Sisler first came to Franklin township the country was quite new to civilization, although log cabins were nu- merous and all the school-houses were built of logs, as were many of the churches, and he has been an eye-witness of hundreds of changes for the better, and in these changes he has himself been a prime factor. His present homestead comprises twenty acres, to which he has retired to pass in peace the remaining years of his long and useful life. In politics he is a republican; he has filled the of^ce of justice of the peace many years, and has served in minor offices when called upon to do so. He and wife are members of the Disciples' church, of which he has been an elder for a number of years, and they have reared a fam- ily which is a credit to the township. A. G. Sisler, of the firm of Sisler & Co., general merchants of Manchester, and a son of John and Mary C. Sisler, was born in Franklin township September 19, 1867, and passed his earlier days on his father's farm. He received a good common-school education, which was supplemented by an attendance of three years at the Valparaiso (Indiana) normal college. For the past four years, in partner- ship with his brother, William W. , he has been doing a very successful retail business in general merchandise, their stock in trade being well asorted and equally well adapted to the wants of the community, while their affable treatment of their patrons make them uni- versal favorites with the buying public. May 9, 1896, A. G. Sisler was happily united in marriage with Miss Cora Reifsynder, daughter of Edward Reifsnyder, a resident of Green township. Summit county. In politics Mr Sisler is a strong republican, and in religion he adheres to the faith of his forefathers and is very Hberal in his financial aid to the church. William W. Sisler, an elder brother of A. G. and his partner in business, was born in Franklin township January 16, 1855, and is still unmarried. In politics he is also a repub- lican, and fraternally is a member of lodge No. 173, Junior Order American Mechanics, of Clinton, Ohio. Like his brother, he is very popular both as a merchant and citizen, and the entire Sisler family stand among the fore- most of the residents of Franklin township and Summit county. Mrs. Sisler was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and was educated in the common schools. There were nine children in the Justes family, four sons and five daughters, only five now living, of whom Elizabeth is the wife of Elijah Troxel, of Defiance, Ohio, a plasterer by trade; Ellen, wife of Lewis Farris, of Garretts- ville, Ohio; Nancy, wife of a Mr. Brown, a miller of Evansport, Ohio; Samuel, of Striker, Ohio, and a plasterer by trade; and Mrs. Sis- ler, of this biography. Those deceased are William, Susan, James and David. For almost one-half century have Mr. and Mrs. Sisler traveled life's journey hand in hand, sharing the joys and sorrows of life, and 522 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD now in the declining years of their lives are living in peace and contentment, surrounded by their loving children and dear friends, who will be glad to read this excellent life sketch of this worthy couple. J. M. Sisler, M. D. , son of Mr. and Mrs. Sisler, was a young man of brilliant promise. He graduated from the Cincinnati Medical college March i, 1882, and located in Man- chester, Ohio, and three years after his grad- uation his life labors ended, he dying at twenty-seven years of age. He married Miss Ella Kaufman, a native of Manchester, Ohio. During his short but useful life he had also engaged in teaching, and was successful to a marked degree. HDAM SISLER, M. D., of Manches- ter, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of Lycoming county. Pa., and was born December 30, 1823. He traces his ancestry to Germany, whence his paternal grandfather came to America after marriage, and bought a farm in Lycoming county, Pa., where, after taking part in the war of 1812, he died in the faith of the Presbyterian church and in politics a whig. Lewis Sisler, son of the immigrant men- tioned above, was born in Lycoming county, Pa., in 1790, there grew to manhood and married Margaret Marsh, who was born in 1795, a daughter of George Marsh, who came from Germany, and to this marriage were born the following children: George W., Houston, John, William, Thomas, Adam, Mary A., Charles, Lewis, Margaret and James. In 1827 Lewis Sisler moved his familv to Erie county, N. Y., where he purchased a farm with a log cabin on it, but with no other im- provement. This farm Mr. Sisler cleared from the wilderness and erected on it good, substantial buildings, and made it one of the best homesteads in the county. He became a man of wealth and influence, and gave all his sons academic educations, and, as a whig, was elected to several township offices. He died on his farm in August, 1855, in the Presby- terian faith; his widow subsequently came to Summit county, Ohio, and died March 28, 1872, in Manchester. Dr. Adam Sisler was but four years of age when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to New York, and in the latter state attended the academy at Aurora, where he later taught school a 3'ear and then came to Manchester, Ohio, where he taught four j'ears, in the meantime reading medicine with his brother, ^^'illiam. In the fall of 1847 he entered Cleve- land Medical college, studied one year, then practiced three years, after which he re-entered college and graduated therefrom in 1853. He immediately returned to Manchester, and for twenty years was associated with his brother, who finally removed to Akron, and there passed the remainder of his life. In the earl}' years of the doctor's practice here the country was new and the roads little better than trails, and he was forced to travel a radius of thirty or forty miles on horseback in order to attend to his patients; but he has been very successful, and his reputation, hard earned as it is, is as high as that of any physician in the county. In politics the doctor was at first a whig, but is now a prohibitionist. In religion he is of the belief of the Disciples, in whose church he has for many years been an elder. April 6, 1848, the doctor married Miss Aman- da E. Hoy, who was born in February, 1828, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Troxler) Hoy, natives of Pennsylvania and early pio- neers of Summit county, Ohio. Mr. Hoy ran the first stage line between Wellsville and Cleveland, Ohio, and was also the first inn- keeper in Manchester. He was a leader in the whig party, held office as associate county OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 523 judge, was land appraiser two terms, and for a long time a justice of the peace. He was an elder in the Disciples' church and died in that faith August 6, 1S83, having lost his wife June 20, 1866. To the marriage of Dr. Sisler and wife have been born the following chil- dren: Frances E.. wife of Lafayette Swigart; Charles E. ; Clara A., wife of Frank Raber; Caroline B. ; Lewis E. ; Everett B. ; John L. ; Jennie L., wife of Prof. Rood, and William H. Dr. Sisler is now probably the oldest as well as the most prominent physician in Stmimit county, is known far and wide, and has ac- quired a competency in his practice, but is too closely devoted to his profession to abandon it, although he could easily afford to do so, but such a step would prove a matter of re- gret and an irreparable loss to a large portion of the suffering invalids in his community. "^ EWIS E. SISLER, M. D. , and coun- I I ty auditor of Summit county, Ohio, 1^ ^ was born April 8, i860, a son of Dr. Adam and Amanda (Hoy) Sisler, the place of his nativity being the village of Man- chester, in the county of which he is now the auditor. Lewis E. Sisler was primarily educated in the district school of Manchester, graduated from the high school, ne.xt attended the.Smith- ville academy, and then entered the North- western Ohio normal university at Ada. Fol- lowing his graduation from the latter institu- tion, he taught school two or more years in Manchester and its environs, and in 1879 be- gan reading medicine. When he had been sufficiently prepared by diligent study for a full comprehension of oral utterances, he at- tended lectures at the medical department of the Western Reserve university at Cleveland, from which he received his diploma in the spring of 1883. He then practiced his pro- fession, in partnership with his father, for a year or more, in his native village, whence he moved to Clinton, Summit county, where his practice was so remunerative that he re- mained there fourteen years, establishing an imperishable reputation for unusual skill and proficiency. In politics Dr. Sisler is an uncompromis- ing republican, and for eleven years has been a member of the republican county executive committee, of which he was vice-chairman three years, and chairman in 1890. In 1889 he was appointed, by President Harrison, a member of the Akron board of pension exam- iners, and in 1895 elected auditor of Summit county by the handsome plurality of 1,600, and was qualified for the office September 14, 1896, and up to the present writing no word of disparagement has been uttered against him, but, on the other hand, constant praise has been his, for the able manner in which he has filled the duties of his office. The first marriage of Dr. Sisler took place in 1884, to Miss Metta B. Miller, of Canal Fulton, and to this union were born two chil- dren — Dreamond Miller and John Rutherford. The doctor was bereaved of his amiable wife May 25, 1891, and in December, 1895, he married Miss Eva Tilton, a highly accom- plished lady, also of Canal Fulton. In relig- ion Mrs. Sisler adheres to the Methodist Epis- copal church, while the doctor worships N\ith the Christian society. The fraternal relations of Dr. Sisler are broad and extended, as he holds membership with the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Knights of Maccabees, in which last-named order he is medical examiner-in-chief for the state ot Ohio. The doctor and his amiable lady hold a very high position in the social circles of Akron, as they also did while residing in Man- 524 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Chester, and his professional success has ever been a matter of satisfaction to himself as well as of cong;ratulation b}' his numerous friends. m. *ILLIAM G. SMITH. M. D., the well-known physician and surgeon of Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, was born in New Wilmington, Law- rence county. Pa., July ii, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Banks) Smith. Both parents were born in Pennsylvania — the father in Beaver county and the mother in Latrobe, Westmoreland county, and there were born to them nine children — four sons and five daugh- ters — of whom the following are still living: Dr. William G. ; Robert A., of New Wilming- ton; Ella, wife of N. A. Philips, of Bedford, Ohio; Edward H., of Cleveland, Ohio, and Edith, who resides with her mother in New Wilmington, Pa. The father of this family was a farmer and died at New Wilmington in May, 1875, at the age of forty-four years, a member of the old-school Presbyterian church; the mother still lives on the home farm, and is a member of the same religious denomina- tion, as are also all the surviving children. Jacob Smith, the paternal grandfather of subject, was also a native of Pennsylvania, was of German parentage, a butcher by call- ing, and was the father of twelve children, of whom Samuel, father of Dr. William G. , was the eleventh in order of birth. Robert Banks, maternal grandfather of the doctor, was like- wise a native of the Keystone state, was a cooper and farmer, was of English descent, and married a Miss Coulter, of Irish extrac- tion. This lady lived to be upward of sev- enty years of age, and her husband reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. William G. Smith, the subject proper of this memoir, was reared on the home farm in Pennsylvania until thirteen or fourteen years old, then went to New Wilmington, where he clerked during the summer months and at- tended the public school in the winter, grad- uating finally from the high school. W'hile still employed as a clerk in a drug store, he commenced the study of medicine about 1874, and in the fall of 1875 entered Miami Medical college, from which he graduated in the spring of 1877. In the same year he came to Ohio and began practice in Palmyra, Portage county, where he enjoyed a lucrative patronage for over fourteen years, constantly increasing his knowledge of the profession both by study and experience. The winter of 1890-91 he passed in the city hospital at Cin- cinnati, further enlarging his experience. In the spring of 1891 he brought his family to Ravenna, whither his fame as a practitioner had preceded him. and here has since stood among the foremost physicians of the city and surrounding country. The marriage of the doctor was solemnized October 26, 1879, with Miss Mary A. Force, daughter of David and Abigail (Merwin) Force, which marriage has been blessed with three children, Charles W., George Merwin and Ada Lillian, but of these the parents have been afflicted with the loss of the second born, George M., who died when one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist church, in which the doctor is a steward, and for two years was superintendent of the Sun- day school while residing in Palmyra. 'Frater- nally the doctor is a Freemason, an Odd Fel- low, is examining surgeon in the Royal Ar- canum, and is also a Forester of America, of which order he is the grand chief ranger of Ohio. He is likewise a member of the State Medical society, the Northeastern Ohio Med- ical union, and the Portage county Medical society, and of the last named was one year president. His practice is general in its scope OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 525 and extensive in its dimensions. He is, more- over, a genial and affable gentleman, and he and wife hold distinguished positions in the social world of Ravenna and of the county. @EORGE J. SNOOK, the artistic pho- tographer, of Akron, Ohio, is a native of Brantford, Canada, was born March 9, 1857, and is a son of George and Amy (Hull) Snook, natives of England. George Snook, father of subject, learned the trade of miller in his native county of Somerset, and came to America while yet a single man and located in Canada, where he met and married Miss Amy Hull, and there operated a mill until 1863, when he brought his family to Akron, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, working at his trade. To his marriage were born seven children, viz: William P., foreman of a spice mill in Chi- cago, 111.; Thomas B., orange grower. Weirs- dale, Marion county, Fla. ; John I., miller of Akron, Ohio; George J., the subject; Henry W., orange grower, Marion county, Fla.; Charles A., foreman in the City Roller mills, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Amos B., plumber, Jacksonville, Fla. The death of the father of this family occurred April 24, 1868, in the faith of the Episcopal church, in which faith his widow still lives. George J. Snook, from about the age of six years, was reared in Akron and educated in its public schools. When fourteen years old, he entered the studio of G. W. Manley for the purpose of learning photography, and with him remained about three years; later and for one year was in the employ of B. F. Battles, and afterward with Epley, Howard & Co. In April. 1882, he opened a gallerj' on his own account at No. 186 South Howard street, where he established a high reputation and remained twelve years, when he removed to his present elegant parlors and studio, which form the only ground-floor gallery in the city, and which he has especially fitted up for his purpose, and where he executes every variety of photography, including portraits, views and commercial work. In connection with his gallery he conducts an art store, in which he carries a complete line of works of art, artists' supplies, picture frames, etc. Mr. Snook is a member of the State Pho- tographic association; of Nemo lodge, of Akron encampment, I. O. O. F. ; of Adoniram lodge, Washington chapter, and Akron commandery, F. & A. M., and of Akron senate, A. E. O. In politics he is a republican. The marriage of Mr. Snook took place September 19, 1882, with Miss Mary I. Bart- lett, daughter of A. A. Bartlett, but after four- teen years of wedded life Mrs. Snook was called from earth November 13, 1896. eETER I. SNYDER, an enterprising young farmer of Norton township. Summit county, Ohio, was born on the farm which he still occupies, in the original log cabin erected by his parents in 1852, and in which his birth occurred on the 4th day of July, 1863. Jost Snyder, grandfather of subject, was a native of Sweden, but while still a young man came to America, and was married in Penn- sylvania to a Miss Baughman, who bore him the following-named children: Abraham, Joel, Paul, Jonas, Joshua, George, Daniel, Isaiah, Nathan, Sophia, Elizabeth and Peter. Some time after his marriage Jost Snyder came to Ohio and settled on a farm in Springfield town- ship. Summit county, became a substantial citizen, and died highly esteemed March 27, 1876. Isaiah Snyder, father of subject, was born 526 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in Springfield townsiiip May 7, 1821, and was reared on his father's farm. Although he learned the stonemason's trade after having acquired as good an education as could be ob- tained in the pioneer log school-house of his early youth, farming was the chief occupation of his active life. He married Elizabeth Grube, who was born November 2, 1829, in Lehigh township, Lancaster county, Pa., but who was six years of age only when brought by her parents, Peter and Nancy (Landis) Grube, to Norton township. Summit county, Ohio. The Grube children were four in num- ber and were named in order of birth David, Peter, Margaret and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Snyder resided for some years after marriage in Springfield township and then came to Norton township, where Isaiah bought the farm on which subject now lives in 1852. Isaiah was a democrat in politics, was an elder of the German Reformed church, was respected as an honest and substantial citizen, and died February 9, 1876. His widow afterward mar- ried Tillman Koons, and her death took place in Doylestown, Ohio, January 25, 1895. Peter I. Snyder received all the advantages in the way of education that the common schools of his district afforded, and has been identified all his life with the farming interests of Norton township. November 4, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice V. Miller, who was born in Sharon township, Me- dina county, Ohio, April 4, 1869, a daughter of Joseph B. and Rebecca J. (Lower) Miller, of whom further mention will be found in the biography of M. L. Miller, on another page. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder has been blessed with six children, who are named, in order of birth, as follows: Ollie L. , William E., Elsie M., Charles L., Harry R. and Ira P. The farm of Mr. Snyder comprises fifty acres, and, although comparatively small, is extremely fertile and well kept, comparing favorably with many of greater dimensions both in tillage and yield. In politics Mr. Sny- der is a democrat. He is a deacon in the Waltz German Reformed church, and is well known as well as respected throughout the en- tire township of Norton and the townships adjoining. J OHN L. REID, the popular proprietor of Reid's livery establishment, at the corner of Mill and High streets, Akron, Ohio, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scot- land, June II, 1854, a son of John and Jane L. (Lowe) Reid, and came to Akron in 1868. John Reid was a carpenter and contractor and also came to America in 1868, first located on a farm near Lodi, Medina county, Ohio, but later came to Akron, where he followed his trade until his death, in 1873. His widow has now reached her seventy-fifth year. They were the parents of seventeen children, of whom six died in Scotland in early childhood. Mrs. jane L. reed. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 529 and eleven came to the United States with their parents. Of these, George resides in Cleveland; Mary is the wife of Gad Wheeler, of Akron; John L. is the subject of this notice; Charles and Duncan, twins, are shoe dealers in Akron; Frank, also a shoe dealer in Akron, is the twin of Jennie, the wife of William Dunham, of Berea; Helen, wife of Edward Mitchell, of Akron; James R. , a cabinetmaker of the same city; Fannie, wife of C. Wells, of Cleveland, and Willie, deceased. John L. Reid drove a team — a horse and cart — for his father in the highlands of Scot- land until coming to the United States, at- tending school in the meantime, and on com- ing to Akron found employment in the Stone cereal mill as engineer and remained in that employ about ten years. He then engaged in the livery business on North High street for several years, then removed to the rear of the Buchtel hotel and conducted the livery at that place until 1892, when he removed to his present location, where he has fitted up one of the largest and best equipped livery estab- lishments in the city, having erected a building to suit his own ideas of conveniences and facilities for transacting his business. His barns are well stocked with rigs for general livery purposes, for the transfer trade and for funeral purposes, as well as for picnic parties, weddings or other festivities. He at first started in business with two horses and two buggies; he now owns twenty-nine horses, six fine coaches costing $1,200 each, surreys, bug- gies, phaetons, traps and other vehicles of the daintiest as well as of the most substantial description. He keeps a full corps of assist- ants, who clean, clip and otherwise care for his own and his • ' boarding " stock, and sharpen and cork shoes according to the season. The barns are well ventilated, and lighted by elec- tricity, and by this power he grinds his feed. In fact, he is up to date in everything. 20 Mr. Reid was married, March 7, 1876, to Miss Anna Flowers who has borne him four children: William, Robert, Jennie and one deceased. In politics Mr. Reid is a repub- lican, and as a citizen he is wide-awake, public spirited and law abiding; his integrity is marked in his every act, and he is well worthy of the high esteem in which he is universally held. HDAM G. SPANGLER, general mer- chant of Manchester, was born in Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, June 18, 1853, and is a son of Joseph and Caroline (Smith) Spangler, who were the parents of three younger children, viz: John (deceased), Charles, a resident of Clinton, Ohio, and Jennie, wife of O. W. Baum. David Spangler, grandfather of subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, but was one of the pioneers of Summit county, Ohio, where he entered a tract of land from the government, and until his death was identified with the agricultural development of the county. Joseph Spangler, son of David and the father of the subject, was born in Summit county November i, 1820, and is now the oldest man in Franklin township, who has since that date been a continuous resident thereof. He was educated in a pioneer log school-house, has always been a farmer, and now owns a farm of 1 54 acres in this township, and another of 160 acres in Kansas. He first married Caroline Smith, daughter of John and Jane Smith. This lady was born in 1828, and gave birth to the children named at the opening of this article. The second marriage of Mr. Spangler took place March 12, 1868, to Adeline Hoy, who Was born in Warren county, Ohio, January 2, 1838, a daughter of David and Jane (Hutchinson) Hoy, and to this union have been born David E., July 22, 1869; 530 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Irwin H.. August 4, 1870, and Joseph G., Jan- uary 30, 1873. David Ho}-, father of Mrs. Spangler, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Adams county April 25, 1805, and his wife, a native of the same state, was born March 19, 1809. They were married in Adams county, and soon afterward moved to Wayne county, Ohio; but their declining years were passed in Hocking county, where Mr. Hoy died October 22, 1883, and Mrs. Hoy, October 19, 1881. Mr. Spangler is a member of the Reformed church, to the support of which he has always contributed freely of his means, and in politics is a democrat. Adam G. Spangler was reared on his father's farm and was well educated in the common schools. For eighteen years he fol- lowed plastering as a trade, and in 1889 opened his general merchandizing establishment in Manchester, designed especially for the supply- ing of the needs of farmers and miners. He is a lirst-class business man and possesses the tact of so treating a patron that when he once makes him a sale he ever after holds him as a customer. In politics Mr. Spangler is a stanch democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, but has never had any overweening desire for public office. In religion his faith rests with the Reformed church, in which he is very active, having been for several years a Sabbath-school teacher, and which he aids with a liberal hand. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Gen. Joe. Hooker council No. 173, of Clinton, Ohio, and a Ma- son, being a member of Elliott lodge, of Canal Fulton, Ohio. Mr. Spangler was united in marriage Jan- uary 13, 1874, with Miss Mary A. Serfass, who was born in Franklin township in 1856, a daughter of James and Julia (Shoup) Serfass, who came from Cumberland, Pa., to Franklin township in a very early day, and here passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying March 9, 1896. and the mother February 2, of the same year. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been born two chil- dren, viz: Charles E., born November 10, 1875, but who died May 9, 1896, and Claude C, born July 10, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Spangler stand high in the social circles of Manchester and Franklin township, and as a business man the name of Mr. Spangler is without a blemish. IRVIN H. SPANGLER, a leading young farmer of Franklin township. Summit count}', Ohio, is a son of Joseph and Adeline (Hoy) Spangler, of whom full mention is made in the biography of Adam G. Spangler, given above. . I. H. Spangler is a native of Franklin township, born August 4, 1870, received a good common-school education, and has been a farmer since his boyhood days, having been reared on his father's farm. December 18, 1890, he married Miss Laura E. Bender, who was born in Lake township. Stark count}', Ohio, June 14, 1872, a daughter of Harvey and Mary (Miller) Bender. Mrs. Spangler, when quite young, was bereft of her mother, but her father, who now resides in Kalamazoo, Mich., is a prosperous farmer, is a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics is a dem- ocrat. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Spangler have been born four children, who, in order of birth, were named Florence L. , Robert R., Lydia (deceased) and Charles B. Mr. Spangler owns and resides on a snug farm of forty-two and a half acres, which he keeps in an e.xcellent state of cultivation, and has improved with modern accessories. He and wife are members of the Reformed church and its teachings constitute the rule of their daily walk through life. In politics Mr. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 531 Spangler is a stanch democrat and he cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, but he has never yet sought official honors. He is recognized as one of the most indus- trious and capable young agriculturists of the township, is liberal in his support of church and school, as well as all commendable en- terprises, and socially he and wife enjoy in a marked degree the esteem of their neighbors. aHARLES OLIVER SPRENKEL, a prosperous farmer of Springfield town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, was born October 14, 1859, in Snyder county, Pa., a son of Charles and Charlotte (Hoff) Sprenkel, who still reside in Snyder county. Charles Sprenkel, father of Charles Oliver, is a native of the Buckeye state and was reared a shoemaker, but on relinquishing his trade engaged in farming and in dealing in live stock, and on removing to Snyder county, Pa. , fol- lowed farming and saw-milling. He there married Miss Hoff, a native of that county and a daughter of Josiah and Magdalena (Bickel) Hoff, the fruit of the union being nine children, viz: Cordelia, wife of Christopher Regie, of Selin's Grove, Pa. ; John F. ; Matilda, widow of Moses Fisher; Charles Oliver; Zeno W. , of Kantz, Pa.; Ida S.. wife of Henry Shum- bach, of Snyder county; William H., Isaac C, and Mary O. , deceased wife of John A. Straub. Mr. Sprenkel and wife are members of the Reformed church, are greatly respected in their community, and Mr. Sprenkel has served his fellow-citizens in various official capacities. Charles Sprenkel, paternal grandfather of Charles Oliver, was born in Germany, came to Ohio in early life, was twice married, reared two large families, and died at the advanced age of eighty-six years. The maternal grand- parents of Charles Oliver were natives of En- gland, and earl)' settlers of Pennsylvania; they had born to them ten children, of whom Mary Ann, wife of William Crist, Charlotte, wife of Charles Sprenkel, and Margaret, widow of Henr}' Kessler, are still living; the deceased were Matilda, Sadie, John, George, Samuel, Martha and Maria. The father of this family died in 1 88 1 , at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife in 1887, aged eighty-one years, and both sincere Methodists. Charles Oliver Sprenkel was reared on his father's farm in Pennsylvania until eighteen years of age and then worked about nineteen months in a grist-mill, intending to thoroughly learn the trade, but relinquished it on account of the dust, and worked in the ore banks about eighteen months, then resumed milling for nineteen months, when, early in 1883, he drifted westward to Erie, Pa., where he worked in a saw-mill until July of the same year, when he came to Summit county, Ohio, and engaged in farming until December, 1887, when he went to Akron, where he was em- ployed as a carpenter (having partly learned the trade in Pennsylvania) about five j'ears, and later engaged in the jewelry business, car- rying on a store until 1897, when he came to Springfield township and engaged in farming. Mr. Sprenkel was united in marriage, in Springfield township, November 16, 1882, with Miss Catherine Stein, who was born Au- gust I, i860, in Green township, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Peters) Stein, and this union has been blessed with two children, Mary C. and Maud R. Daniel Stein, grandfather of Mrs. Sprenkel, was born in Baden, Germany, was a farmer, and came to America in 183 1. Of his eight children the only one living is Catherine, wife of Henry Strohman; the deceased seven were named Daniel, Peter, Elizabeth (wife of John Brown, also deceased), Henry, Magdalen, Mary (Mrs. Daniel Winkelman) and John. The 532 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD maternal grandparents of Mrs. Sprenkel were natives of Pennsyhania, where the grandfather was a school-teacher for many years, and later, for a long time, postmaster in Summit county, Ohio. To his marriage with Miss Catherine Dague were born six children, of whom but one survives — Elizabeth, wife of Simon Keifer; the deceased were George Henry (who died in the army), Simon, Susan (wife of William Beaty), Mary (wife of Jonas Braucher) and Rebecca (wife of John Stein). The parents of these children died within nine days each of the other, in June, 1869. John Stein, father of Mrs. Sprenkel, was born in Baden, Germany, July 16, 1820, and his wife, Rebecca, was born in Dauphin county. Pa., January 24, 1840. John Stein was first a shoemaker and then a farmer, in Springfield township. He first married Cath- erine Kreighbaum, who bore him two sons, Jacob and Andrew, the former of whom died in infancy and the latter at twenty-two years of age. The second marriage of John Stein took place February 5, 1859, to Miss Rebecca Peters, daughther of John and Catherine (Dagne) Peters, and to this union were born eleven children, of whom ten are still living, viz: Catherine (Mrs. Sprenkel); Mary, born April 23, 1862, and now the wife of Charles Miller; Henry E., born December 14, 1866, married to Ellen Pontius and residing in Akron; John W., born March 8, 1869; Charles F., born March 20, 1871, and married to Nettie Metz; Ida E., born May i, 1873; George Oliver, born June 10, 1875 — now a resident of Akron; Simeon P., born August 3, 1877; Lavina May, born May 24, 1880, and Fred- erick, born July 30, 1883, and who makes his home with Mr. Sprenkel; Etta was born Sep- tember 2, 1864, was married to William Mitchell, and died March 13, 1893. The mother of this family died March 31, 1896, at the age of fifty-six years and two months, and the father December 18, 1896, aged sev- enty-six years, five months and three days, both being members of the Reformed church. It was while Mr. Sprenkel was engaged in the jewelry business in Akron that the parents of Mrs. Sprenkel were called from earth, and this event led to his taking charge of the old Stein homestead in Springfield township, which is now his home, and which he has shown himself to be fully capable of managing. In politics he is a democrat, and in 1897 was elected supervisor of Springfield township, of which office he is still the incumbent. He is a member of Knights of Pythias lodge. No. 598, of Akron, and is highly respected as one of the most upright and useful citizens of Springfield township. >» vy w ^ ILLIAM H. STAMM, an experienced ■ ■ I ^^"^ skilled blacksmith of Manches- ^JLJ ter, Summit county, Ohio, is a na- tive of this village and was born May 21, 1856, a son of William and Louisa (Grubb) Stamm. John Stamm, grandfather of subject, was born near Philadelphia, Pa., of German par- entage, but married in Stark county, Ohio, Mary Braucher, a daughter of Jacob Braucher. and for a few years lived on a farm in Jackson township, Stark county, and then came to Summit county, where he died in the fall of 1840, when the widow returned to her former home. Both were members of the Lutheran church, and in politics the husband was a democrat. The grandmother is still living at Canal Fulton, is eighty-eight years of age, is still hale and of unimpaired intellect. It is related of her that in the early pioneer days, during the absence of her husband, she killed a deer with a hatchet — the crust of ice on the snow at the time being strong enough to sus- tain the weight of the household dogs, but OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 533 through which the sharp hoofs of the deer pene- trated, thus rendering it a prisoner to the hounds until dispatched by Mrs. Stamm. WilHam Stamm, father of subject, was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 19, 1828, on his father's farm, and was educated in the pioneer log school-house. He was the eldest of the five children born to his parents, and his father's early death threw him upon his own resources, and he began life for him- self by working for the pioneer farmers for four dollars per month — at that time consid- ered to be very good wages. He first married Louisa Grubb, who was born in Summit coun- ty, Ohio, in 1830, a daughter of John and Margaret (Kintz) Grubb, pioneers from Lan- caster county, Pa. This lady bore her hus- band four children — Almon (deceased); Will- iam, our subject; Frances died at three years, and Alice, wife of James Proctor. Mrs. Stamm died December 3, 1863, a member of the Disciples' church — and Mr. Stamm then mar- ried Margaret E. Grubb, a sister of his de- ceased wife. Mr. Stamm first engaged in blacksmithing in Manchester in 1848, worked here eleven years, and then moved to Canal Fulton, where he worked eight years, and thence went to Montville township, Geauga county, where he bought a farm and built a blacksmith shop, and there he still resides. In politics he is a republican, and he and wife are adherents of the Disciples' church. William H. Stamm, the subject of this memoir, was educated in the schools of Canal Fulton and Kent, and at nineteen years of age entered his father's shop and became a thorough blacksmith. October 10, 1880, he married Miss Savila Singer, a native of Green town- ship, Summit county, born January 22, 1857, and a daughter of Gephart and Annie (Epler) Singer, who came from Germany to Summit county in 1855; here the mother died October 9, 1889, and the father June 11, 1892, both in the faith of the Evangelical church. In politics Mr. Singer was a republican. With the exception of sixteen years spent in Canal Fulton and Kent, William H. Stamm has al- ways lived in Manchester, where he now owns a modern dwelling. In politics he is a strong republican, but has never held an office. He and wife are consistent members of the Dis- ciples' church, in which he is a trustee and teacher in the Sunday-school, and in support of which both are liberal with their means. They are much respected in the social circles of the village, and it is an acknowledged fact that Mr. Stamm has no superior as a black- smith in Summit county. aOE JAMES STANFORD, the well- known funeral director and scientific embalmer of Ravenna, Ohio, was born in Randolph township, Portage coun- ty, September 7, 1841, and is a descendant, maternally, of one of the oldest families of America, being a son of Orrin and Eliza O. (Coe) Stanford. The Coe family came to this country from Suffolkshire, England, where they had resided for many generations. The earliest notice of them which can be found is in " Fox's Book of Martyrs, " which states that Roger Coe, of Mil- ford, Suffolkshire, was burned at the stake by Queen Mary in September, 1555. Little else is known of the family until the removal of Robert Coe from Suffolkshire to America, and who, in a genealogy of nine generations, rep- resents the first. He was born in 1596, and with his wife Anna, born in 1591, and their three sons, landed in Boston in June, 1634. Thus by a direct line of descent the family can be traced, almost from the landing of the Pil- grim fathers. Deacon James P. Coe was the maternal grandfather of the subject, and the father of 534 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Eliza O. Coe, who married Orrin Stanford. Deacon Coe was born in Granville, Mass., March 19, 1769, and married Nancy Pratt, by whom he had six children. In 181 1 here- moved to Randolph township in this county and resided there for a period of thirty-four years, or until his death. His numerous fam- ily married and settled in various lines of busi- ness in Portage county, and their representa- tives are numbered among the prominent fam- ilies to-day. The Coes were exemplary people — the of- fice of deacon in the Congregational church being held for sixty-two years by James, Al- mon B. and James P., respectively, represent- ing three consecutive generations. Little is known of the ancestral history of the Stanford family. Orrin Stanford, father of our subject, was born in New York state, and when a child of two years, accompanied his parents to Portage county, Ohio. Here his life was spent, the township of Randolph being the location of the family home. Mr. Stanford, though possessed of a good farm, spent most of his life in oiechanical pursuits. He was a carpenter by trade, a profession which our subject followed for several years. Orrin and Eliza Stanford had a family of eight children born to them, our subject, the second in order of birth, and his sister, Stella O., being the only survivors. The eldest of this family was Celestine, who died in young womanhood. Stella resides at Randolph Cen- ter, in this county, unmarried. Hiram died at twenty years of age a young man of bright promise; Rolla died in infancy. Rosa died of atrophy of the heart — a young lady of eight- een. Flora and Cora — twins — died at the age of four years of diphtheria. Coe J. Stanford, the subject, passed his early years on the farm and also learned the use of tools in his father's carpenter shop. He acquired a fair common-school education and had spent something over a year as a stu- dent in Hiram college when the war cloud called him from his studies to bear arms in de- fense of the Union. Mr. Stanford is one of the few survivors who had the honor to serve his country under command of the distin- guished and lamented Gen. Garfield. He en- listed September 25, 1861, as a member of company A, Forty-second Ohio volunteer in- fantry, his company being made up almost of students from Hiram college. Owing to his educational abilities, Mr. Stanford was ap- pointed to several positions on detached duty, but persistently refused all offers of promotion, and at the end of his three years' service came out of the army as he had entered it — a pri- vate. On his return from the army in 1864 he found that his father bad died in the fall of that year at the age of fifty-two years; the mother died in 1888. Mr. Stanford now found it necessary to assume charge of his deceased father's busi- ness, which he conducted until 1877, when he engaged in the manufacture of coffins at Edin- burg, subsequently purchasing a stock of undertakers' supplies. In 1880 he removed to Atwater, sold out m 1886 and went to Ouincy, 111., whence, fifteen months later, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked eighteen months as an employee, and then came to Ravenna, where he passed a few months in unprofitable business, after which he went to New Philadelphia, where he passed a year and a half in the undertaking business as an employee. He then returned to Ra- venna and established his present line of busi- ness, having in the meantime graduated from the Cincinnati school of embalming, and being the first to introduce the arterial em- balming process in Portage county. March 15, 1883, Mr. Stanford was united in marriage with Miss Nina Mendenhall, a na- tive of Randolph township and daughter of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 535 William and Asenath Mendenhall, of Atwater, Ohio, where the father is engaged in the fur- niture and undertaking business. To Mr. and Mrs. Stanford have been born two children, the elder of whom, Willie, was born Decem- ber 2, 1883, and died October 29, 1891; the younger, Helen, was born in August, 1886. In religion Mr. Stanford was reared a Meth- odist, and his wife is a Congregationalist. In politics Mr. Stanford is an uncompromising republican, but has never been a seeker of office. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the G. A. R., and of the A. O. F. A. Socially, he and wife stand among the 61ite of Ravenna. A^^T. CLAIR STEELE, an old soldier •^^^k* of the Civil war, springs from sterling P^^J Scotch-Irish ancestry, his remote an- cestry having been old colonial set- tlers of Pennsylvania. He was born in Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio, September 13, 1842, a son of Isaac and Margaret C. (Steele) Steele. He attended the common schools and high school until he enlisted, in April, 1 86 1, at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, under Capt. A. J. Konkle, in company K, Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three months. He was taken sick with measles and was in hospital six weeks in Cleveland, and thus saw no service under this enlistment. He re- turned to Stowe township and on recovering enlisted, September 10, i86t, in company D, First Ohio light artillery, at Cuyahoga Falls, under Capt. A. J. Konkle, to serve three years, or during the war. He served out his term and one month over, and was honorably dis- charged at Columbus, Ohio, October 30, 1864. His first campaign was with Gen. Nelson, at West Liberty and Piketon, and was then with Gen. Buell on the advance from Green River, Ky., to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., and was in the engagement at this place, where he vol- unteered, with others, to carry the wounded. He was later in the battles at Corinth, Mun- fordville, Green River, Ky., and was taken prisoner by Gen. Bragg, and paroled on con- ditions, but violated the parole, and a number of the party escaped to the Union lines. Aft- erward he was exchanged and took part in Burnside's siege of Knoxville, Tenn., Rock- ford, Tenn., and at Cumberland Gap, and assisted in the capture of 5,000 rebel prisoners. He was in Sherman's famous Atlanta cam- paign, and in battles at Dallas, Dalton, Buz- zard's Roost, Resaca, Pumpkinvine Creek, Kenesaw, Mountain, and the battles in front of Atlanta, and in many skirmishes. He was sick in hospital No. 3, at Louisville, about three weeks in January, 1863. He was transferred, in January, 1864, to the Nineteenth inde- pendent battery, and served with this battery about five weeks, and then returned to his own battery, and served as a non-commissioned officer and as chief of caissons throughout the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Steele was always prompt in the discharge of his duty and served his country faithfully. After the war Mr. Steele engaged in the saw-mill business at Peninsula, Summit county. Mr. Steele married, December 13, 1870, in Cuyahoga Falls, Sarah J. McCauley, who was born October 20, 1850, at Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Mary (O'Brien) McCauley. Peter McCauley' was born in the north of Ireland September 5, 1812, was a shoemaker and farmer, and came to America when a young man and settled at Hudson, Ohio, where he married. He bought land and cleared up a farm of about 300 acres and became a substantial farmer and a well- to-do man. Mr. and Mrs. McCauley were members of the Episcopal church, and their children were Edward, William and Sarah J. Mr. McCauley died April 8, 1863, an honored 536 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD citizen, and was an industrious, hard-working man. Mr. and Mrs. Steele first settled at Stowe, where he bought a farm of 120 acres and ran a saw-mill. He came to his present home about 1884, and is doing a successful business. To Mr. and Mrs. Steele have been born Harry C. and Mabel M. Mr. Steele was guard at the penitentiary at Columbus over two years, being in politics a stanch repub- lican, and has taken an active interest in politics and has served as township trustee of Stowe township two terms and as member of the town council of Cuyahoga Falls one term. Mr. and Mrs. Steele are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Steele stands high as a man of business integrity of character. Isaac Steele, father of our subject, was a son of Isaac, who was a son of Adam, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and a farmer of Fayette county, Pa. , where he was a pioneer, descended from a well-known co- lonial family. Col. Crawford, who was burned at the stake by Indians, was a relative of his family. Adam Steele moved with his family to Ohio, where he was a pioneer of Stowe township. He died in July, 181 i, about sixty- seven years of age, and is buried in the Hud- son cemetery. Isaac Steele, grandfather of St. Clair Steele, was a soldier in the war of 18 12, and a farmer of Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio. He married, in Pennsylvania, Betsy Galloway, and their children were Isaac, Mary, Eliza, Anna and Margaret. Isaac Steele came to Stowe township about 1804, but returned to Pennsylvania and again came out and settled in the township in 1820, where he died in 1845. When a boy he carried mail in the Revolution- ary war. He engaged in the mercantile busi- ness and lost a vessel-load of flour between Spain and her American colonies. On the vessel were fifty-two men and one woman, and the flour had been bought at $3 per barrel. The vessel attempted to enter the blockaded Spanish and American ports, and they would have obtained $52 per barrel for the merchan- dise. They were captured and confined in prison three years. All died in prison except three of the men and the woman, and they lived to be released — among them was Isaac Steele. He was the son of his father's first wife. Isaac Steele, father of subject, was born in Fayette county. Pa., in 1812, was a farmer, hav- ing come here with his father when a boy eight years old, and in 1841 he married Margaret C. Steele, a distant relative and a daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Galloway) Steele. To them were born St. Clair, Nancy, Henderson, Ellen E. and Thomas A. Mr. Steele was a pioneer farmer, owning 100 acres of land, was a respected citizen and lived to be about seventy-two years old, and died in 1884. In politics he was a democrat. St. Clair Steele is a member of the G. A. R. post at Cuyahoga Falls, and Lincoln com- mand, Veteran Union, Akron. Harry O'Brian, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Steele, was born in the north of Ireland September 9, 1 78 1 , and on coming to America was one of the first pioneers of Hudson township. Summit county, Ohio. He cleared a farm from the wilderness, owned a large estate, was a wealthy man and a well-known and prominent citizen. His chil- dren were Moses, Martin, Daniel, William, Michael, Mary, Harriet, Fannie and Sarah Ann. Harry O'Brian was a very public-spir- ited man, and assisted many of the early set- tlers from the north of Ireland in obtaining land. He was a very strong churchman and assisted to found the Episcopal churches at Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson. He married Sarah Ann Walker June 7, 1804. His house in early times was a home for the people look- ing for lands, especially the north of Ireland people. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 537 Adam Steele, son of Alexander, is the old- est member of this family now living. He was a lumberman and mill-man and now retired. He married Julia Hart, and their children are Cora and Mary. In politics he is a democrat, a respected citizen, and a man of unblemished character. BENDERSON STEELE, one of the prominent citizens of Summit county, Ohio, and trustee of Stowe township, is living on the old Steele homestead and has been engaged with his brother, T. A. Steele, in the lumber business for more than twenty years. He is a son of Isaac and Margaret C. (Steele) Steele. Henderson was born in 1845, November 15, on the Steele homestead, re- ceived a good common education for his day and was brought up a farmer. He married Emily J. Carr (nee Malone), born January 17, 1846, at Fulton, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Rice) Malone, of Irish and English ancestry. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Steele settled in Cuyahoga Falls and there lived one year and then moved to the home farm, bought out the heirs and have since lived there. It is a good farm of eighty acres and he owns one- half interest in sixty acres more. They have improved this farm and made a pleasant home. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have one son — Lester H., born February 21, 1888. Mr. Steele is polit- ically a democrat, served as township trustee three years and has been re-elected for three years more. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. , Howard lodge, No. 62, Cuyahoga Falls. Mr. Steele has been very successful as a business man, being sagacious and prudent, and has won the respect of all with whom he has ever had any transactions, his name standing be- yond the reach of reproach. Mrs. Steele is the mother of two children by her first mar- riage, named Frank B. and Claude L., who have been reared in respectability, and the social relations of the family are of the most pleasant character, as they enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them, and, as may well be imagined, the name is well and fav- orably known throughout the county. Isaac Steele, grandfather of Henderson A. Steele, was a soldier in the war of 181 2, and a farmer in Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio. He married, in Pennsylvania, Betsey Galloway, and their children were Isaac, Mary, Eliza, Anna and Margaret. Isaac Steele came to Stowe township about 1804, but returned to Pennsylvania and again came out and settled in the township in 1 820, where he died in 1845. When a boy he carried mail in the Revolutionary war. He engaged in the mercantile business and lost a vessel-load of flour between Spain and her American colo- nies. On the vessel were fifty-two men and one woman, and the Ifour had been bought at $3 per barrel. The vessel attempted to enter the blockaded Spanish and American ports, and they would have obtained $52 per barrel for the merchandise. They were captured and confined in prison three years. All died in prison except three of the men and the woman, and they lived to be released — among them was Isaac Steele. He was the son of his father's first wife. Isaac Steele, father of subject, was born in Fayette county. Pa., in 18 12, was a farmer, having come here with his father when a boy eight years old, and in 1841 he married Mar- garet C. Steele, a distant relative and a daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Galloway) Steele. To them were born St. Clair, Nancy, Henderson, Ellen E. and Thomas A. Mr. Steele was a pioneer farmer, owning 100 acres of land, was a respected citizen and lived to be about seventy-two years old, and died in 1884. In politics he was a democrat, stanch and true. 538 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD • HOMAS A. STEELE, one of the prominent men of Summit county, Ohio, and for many years a himber- man, was born October lo, 1853, in Stowe township and is a son of Isaac and Mar- garet C. (Steele) Steele. He received a good, common-school education and learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked seven years. In 1877 he engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of the Steele Brothers (St. Clair, Henderson and Thomas A., but later St. Clair withdrew from the firm), and has operated in various parts of the county, and done a successful business. In politics he is a strict democrat and was elected county commissioner in 1892 apd served three years. Fraternally he is a member of Starr lodge, No. 187, F. & A. M., Cuyahoga Falls; also of Pavonia lodge. No. 301, K. of P., of the same city. Mr. Steele was married, December 25, 1878, in Stowe township, to Lilly J. Reed, who was born February 12, 1856, in the town- ship named, daughter of Hiram and Phebe (Sadler) Reed. Hiram Reed was born in Pennsylvania and came with his father, John, to Kent, Portage county, Ohio, about 1856; he settled in Stowe township, where he bought a farm; there he died in 1894, an aged man. His children were Angle, Arthur, Hattie, Ellen, Lilly J. and Phebe. Mr. Reed was of New England ancestry and was a substantial farmer and respected citizen. Mr. Steele, the subject, settled, after mar- riage, on the old Steele homestead, where he lived eight years, and then bought the Reed farm at Metz, lived there six years, and then, in 1893, moved to Cuyahoga Falls and built a pleasant residence. Mrs. Steele is a member of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Steele has always taken an active part in politics, and stands high for his integrity of character, and socially he is a highly respected gentleman. Isaac Steele, grandfather of Thomas A. Steele, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a farmer of Stowe township, Summit county, Ohio. He married, in Pennsylvania, Betsey Galloway, and their children were Isaac, Mary, Eliza, Anna and Margaret. Isaac Steele came to Stowe township about 1804, but returned to Pennsylvania and again came out and set- tled in the township in 1820, where he died in 1845. When a boy he carried mail in the Revolutionary war. He engaged in the mer- cantile business and lost a vessel load of flour between Spain and her American colonies. On the vessel were fiftj-two men and one woman, and the flour had been bought at $3 per barrel. The vessel attempted to enter the blockaded Spanish and American ports, and they would have obtained $52 per barrel for the merchandise. They were captured and confined in prison three years. All died in prison except three of the men and the woman, and they lived to be released — among them was Isaac Steele. He was the son of his father's first wife. Isaac Steele, father of subject, was born in Fayette county, Pa., in 18 12, was a farmer, having come here with his father when a boy eight years old, and in 1841 he married Mar- garet C. Steele, a distant relative, and a daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Galloway) Steele. To them were born St. Clair, Nancy, Henderson, Ellen E. and Thomas A. Mr. Steele was a pioneer farmer, owning 100 acres of land, was a respected citizen and lived to be about seventy-two years old, and died in 1884. In politics he was a democrat. ■'ILLIAM H. STEIN, a prosperous agriculturist of Green township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Springfield township, this county, November 9, 185 1, a son of Henry and Mary (Kramer) Stein, the former now deceased. ea OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 539 Daniel Stein, grandfather of William H., was a native of Baden, Germany, came to this country in 1835, was a farmer all his life, and was the father of ten children, of whom only one — Catherine, wife of Henry Strohman — is now living; the deceased were Peter and Bar- bara, who died at sea; Daniel; Peter, second; Elizabeth, who was married to John Brown; Henry and Magdalena; two others died in in- fancy. The maternal grandparents were also natives of Germany and came to America early in life; the grandfather was a shoemaker by trade and for many years had been a sailor, and after coming to this country followed his trade in Canton, Ohio, and later became a farmer. He married Anna Brant, who bore him eleven children, of whom five still survive, viz: Jacob, who resides in Indiana; Mary, wife of Henry Stein; Annie, widow of Jacob Kreighbaum; William and Phillip. Of the others, two died in infancy; Christopher was killed in the Civil war; Sarah was the wife of Samuel Warner; Moses died single, and Eliza- beth was married to Samuel Wertz. The parents were consistent members of the Luth- eran church, and the father died at the age of eighty-six years, his wife also living to be well advanced in age. Henry Stein, father of William H., also a native of Baden, Germany, was born August 12, 18 1 8, and came to America in 1835 with his parents, who first located in MassiUon, Stark county, Ohio, but shortly afterward came to Springfield township. Summit county, where they bought and cleared up a farm. Henry Stein was married June 6, 1 841, in Green township, to Miss Mary Kramer, who was born in Clearfield township, Dauphin county. Pa., a daughter of Christian and Anna (Brant) Kramer, to which union were born six chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity, but of whom four only are now living, viz: Emeline, wife of Benjamin Holem; William, the subject of this memoir; Amanda E., wife of E. H. Killinger, of Akron, and Daniel P., who mar- ried Celia Harttong, and is night superintend- ent of the Akron street railroad. The deceased members of this family were Lovina, who was the wife of John T. Sell, and died March 24, 1896, aged fifty-one years, and John F., who died March i, 1897, at the age of fifty years, one month and one day. The father of the family was greatly respected in the township, held various local offices, was a devout Chris- tian, having been a member of the Reformed church from boyhood, and passed away August I, 1 88 1, at the age of sixty-three years; his widow is still a resident of Akron, and is highly esteemed by all who know her. William H. Stein received a good common- school education in youth and lived on his fa- ther's farm until twenty-three years of age, when he married, September 6, 1874, Miss EmjnaE. Royer, daughterof Jacob and Rebecca (Bidleman) Royer, and born in Green town- ship. Summit county, October 23, 1857. Jacob Royer was born in Snyder county. Pa., Janu- ary 5, 1832, and his wife was born in Green township. Summit county, Ohio, in 1838, a daughter of George and Rachel (Grotz) Bidle- man. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Royer have been born five children, viz: Emma E. , now Mrs. Stein; Ida E., wife of Aaron Myers, of Stark county; John F. , married to Jennie Albright, daughter of (ieorge Albright and re- siding in Lake, Stark county; William, who died when nine months old, and Mary A., who died March 16, 1882, at the age of twelve years and sixteen days. Mr. and Mrs. Royer are active members of the Reformed church, of which Mr. Royer has been a deacon for many years. To the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Will- iam H. Stein have been born seven children, of whom, however, four only are now living, viz: Cora M., wife of William F. Ritter; 5iO PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Gertrude B. , Harry A. , and Anna R. Those who have been called away were Clifford Leroy, who died April 17, 1882, aged one year and seventeen days; Jessie Almeda died April 16, 1893, at the age of five years and seven months, and Norman F., eight years and two months old, died April 20, 1893. Mr. Stein, since marriage, has followed agricultural pursuits in Springfield, Green, and Portage townships, and in 1888 permanently settled on his present farm in Green township. He has a very pleasant home as well as a profitable farm, which is one of the finest of its dimensions in the township, everything about it denoting the oversight of a practical and experienced farmer. He is highly es- teemed as a useful, upright citizen, and has served his township as a school director and supervisor, in both capacities giving the ut- most satisfaction to the public, and for the six years in which he has been connected with the school interests of the township evincing so strong and effective an interest in educational advancement as to win the heartfelt thanks of all within the township limits who cherish intellectual progress. >Y*AMES A. STETLER, a well-known m farmer and producer of vitrified clay, ^ J is one of Springfield township's promi- nent citizens. He was born in Union county, Pa., Mays, 1840, and comes from an old colonial family. His great-great-grand- father, John Stetler, was a native of Germany, and was married and reared a family in that country. He came to America and settled near New York city. His son, Conrad, mar- ried in New Jersey, where he lived a short time, afterward moving to Union county, Pa., where he engaged in farming and became very wealthy, owning 1,000 acres in the rich heart of Dr}' Valley. He reared the following family: John, George, Nicholas, Mary and Elizabeth. He was one of the wealthiest and most prominent men in that section. John Stetler (II) was born in 1792. He mar- ried Elizabeth Baughert, daughter of Anthony Baughert, who was a native of Bucks county, Pa. Anthony Baughert removed to Columbia county. Pa., and later located in Illinois, where he died. John Stetler (II) was the father of the following children: William, Daniel, Mary (wife of Thomas Pursel), John, Isaac, Charles and Thomas. He was a whig in politics, a deacon in the Albright church, and took an active interest in public affairs, although he never aspired to office. He died September 9, 1868; his wife in October, 1876. William Stetler, father of our subject, was born in Union county. Pa., October 10, 1816. His schooling was received in the little log school-house common to that time, and re- mained on the farm until he was fifteen years of age. He then worked for three years in a brick yard, and then for five years worked on the construction of the public dams on the Susquehanna river, filling in the winter months at the shoemaker's bench. In 1846 he was promoted to the position of superintendent of wood work on these dams, and in that capacity did valuable service for the state. In 1848 he moved to Summit county, Ohio, set- tling in Green township, where he lived until seven years ago, when he moved to Stark county, where he is living in easy circum- stances, having accumulated a competence in his active life. He was a whig until 1844, when he became a democrat. He has held township offices. He is a pillar in Methodism, and several churches of that denomination have received donations of $500 from him. On November 2, 1838, he was married to Salome Reichley, who was born in Union county. Pa., February 10, 1815, daughter of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 541 William and Mary (Sausaman) Reichley, who lived and died in that county. William Reich- ley was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Cleveland, withing hearing distance of the great Perry naval battle. James A. Stetler, the subject of this sketch, was the only child of this union, and he was eight years of age when his parents moved to this county. He was reared on the farm, and received more than the average common- school education, his advantages in this direction being supplemented by attendance at at an excellent select school. On September 2, i860, he was married to Lovina Koons, who was born in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pa., November 29, 1841, daughter of Henry and Esther (Rooke) Koons, natives of Penn- sylvania, who for many years lived in Norton township, this county, as farmers. Mr. Koons died March 24, 1893; his wife January 23, 1889. To our subject and wife have been born the following children: William H. married Rose Hagerty, is an agriculturist and resides in Green township; Charles E. married Martha A. Rhodes, is a commercial traveler, and resides in Piqua, Miami county, Ohio; Marvin T. married Maud Morton, and resides on the homestead; Clarence O., unmarried, resides in Akron, and is also a commercial traveler. Of the above-named children, William H. received, first, a good common-school educa- tion, and then attended the academy at Union Town, Stark county, Ohio. Charles E., after receiving a rudimentary education in the common schools, graduated from the Moga- dore high school, became a student at Buch- tel college, Akron, and then became a practical telegrapher. Marvin T. was educated in the Magadore high school and at the Union Town academy. Clarence O. passed through the common schools, graduated from the academy at Union Town, and then as an accountant and bookkeeper from the Business college at Akron. It will thus be seen that Mr. and Mrs. Stetler have spared no pains to properly educate their offspring. Mrs. James A. Stetler was about ten years of age when brought from Pennsylvania to Ohio by her parents, whose family comprised nine children, of whom four are still living, viz: Emeline. widow of Solomon Giger, and a resident of Green township; Daniel, a tailor by trade, residing in Cleveland, and married to Miss Sophina Mowen; Mary A., widow of Allen Haring, and residing in Doylestown, Wayne county; and Mrs. Stetler, who is the youngest living member of the family. Since 1879 Mr. Stetler has lived on his present well-improved farm of i 56 acres. On fifteen acres of this land is a valuable deposit of vitrified clay. This he has developed until an important and profitable industry has been formed by him. He has been excavating this clay in some quantities for the past fifteen years, but within the past two years, particu- lary, has taken out large quantities of it. Mr. Stetler is a democrat and has taken an active interest in politics, having been elected to the offices of trustee, justice of the peace, treasurer, assessor and clerk of the township. He cast his first presidential vote for Gen. George B. McClellan, but the first presidential candidate he cheered for was James K. Polk. Both he and his wife are earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal church, and contribute largely to the support of that organization, he being one of the trus- tees of the church. He is prominent in the Apollo Odd Fellows' lodge. No. 61, in Akron, and is a member of the Patrons of Husbandrj'. being past state deputy master in that body and a pillar in lodge No. 1323. Almost one-quarter of a century has this worthy couple been honored and respected citizens of Springfield township, Summit coun- 542 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ty, and this biography will be treasured and held sacred by their children when the father and mother have passed away. HMOS W. STOCKER, of the iirm of Stocker & Slaughter, proprietors of the Ravenna Marble & Monumental works, was born in East Hampden, Me., February 26, 1851, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Bickford) Stocker. Daniel Stocker' was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1815, and in earl)' man- hood removed to Maine, in which state he married, and in 1853 came west. For one year he lived in Belvidere, 111., and in 1854 came to Ohio, located at Brecksville, Cuya- hoga county, where he was engaged in farm- ing until 1864, when he came to Ravenna township. Portage county, purchased a farm on which he lived until the beginning of 1881, when he sold his land and built a fine resi- dence on West Main street, Ravenna, where he died May 17, 1882, and where his widow still resides. For several years he served as trustee of Ravenna township, and in 1880 was real-estate assessor. He had been successful as a farmer, was public spirited, and was es- teemed as one of the best of citizens. Amos W. Stocker remained on his father's farm until 1872, assisting in its cultivation, at- tending the common schools at intervals, and securing a good education, and then came to Ravenna and followed painting as a trade until 1877, when he engaged in the marble and monument business, which he successfully fol- lowed alone for ten years, and then formed his present partnership. The business is not confined to monumental work alone, as con- tracts are made by the firm for mason and stone work of all descriptions. Mr. Stocker was united in marriage, in November, 1871, with Miss Carrie L. Fox, who was born March 6, 1853, in Ravenna, and is a daughter of Griffith W. and Emily (Trow- bridge) Fox, both natives of Ohio. One son, Daniel, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Stocker in June, 1873, and he is their only child. In politics Mr. Stocker is a republican, and as such was first elected to the city council of Ravenna in 1885; was thrice re-elected, and thus served four consecutive terms of two years each, or a total of eight years. In 1893 he was elected township trustee; in the spring of 1894 he was elected water-works trustee, and in 1896 was again elected township trustee, and still holds both offices. Mr. Stocker has alwaj's been faithful to his party and has worked strenuously in its behalf. During the campaign of 1896 he was active as a member of the McKinley club of Ravenna, and gave much of his time to the promotionof the cause of sound money and the protection of Ameri- can industries. He is not a member of any religious organization, but is a moral, upright man, with a business reputation untarnished and pure. He affiliates with the National Union of Ravenna, No. 188, is public spirited and ever ready to aid with his means all projects designed for the public good. ,V^^ ELSON B. STONE (deceased) was I M born at Canfield, Mahoning county, J f Ohio, September 18, 1816, and was a son of Milo and Sarah (Beardsley) Stone, natives of Connecticut, who came to Ohio, by ox-team conveyance, in 18 16, for the purpose of settling in Tallmadge township. Summit county, the subject being born on the way. The father cleared and improved a farm in Tallmadge township, and there the subject was reared; he was educated in the district school, in the Tallmadge academy and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 543 in Alleghen}- college at Meadviile, Pa., and then clerked several 3-ears at West Bloomfield, N. Y., and in Ravenna and Chardon, Ohio. In December, 1840, he located in Akron, clerked in a store a few months, and was then appointed as deputy under County Clerk Lucian Swift, later under Lucius S. Peck, serving until October, 185 1, when he was elected county clerk — the first under the new constitution, the office theretofore having been appointive— and served three years. Although still a resident of Akron, Mr. Stone next served as deputy clerk of Cuyahoga county, and then, after a short engagement with Aultman, Miller & Co., of Akron, he became secretary and treasurer of the Weary, Snyder & Wilcox Manufacturing company, filled the position eighteen years and then retired from active business. Mr. Stone was one of the organizers, as well as a trustee, of the First Methodist Epis- copal church of Akron, was a zealous and efficient church worker, and teacher, superin- tendent and secretary of the Sunday-school from the time of its organization until his death, which took place November 9, 1893 — a devout and sincere Christian. Mr. Stone was first married to Miss Mary H. Clarke, daughter of William L. Clarke, of Akron. This lady died April 6, 1853, leaving one son. Nelson C, now cashier of the City National bank of Akron. The second mar- riage of Mr. Stone was with Miss Elizabeth H. Beardsley, daughter of Philo and Eliza (Smith) Beardsley, also of Akron, and this union was blessed with two children — Philip C. (deceased) and Dwight M. Politically Mr. Stone was a stanch republican and was a dele- gate to the first republican state convention held in Ohio, at which the late Salmon P. Chase was nominated for governor of the state. The memory of Mr. Stone is still revered by the citizens of Akron, as his character was that of a pure, upright man and citizen, filled with a broad charity toward all his fellow-men and devoid of malice toward any human being. high or low. ePHRAIM STUMP, a retired farmer of Franklin township. Summit county, Ohio, is a native of this township and was born May 28, 1842, being of re- mote German ancestr}', yet still of long-ago American descent, and of the third generation to live in the Buckeye state. John Stump, grandfather of subject, was a native of Franklin county, Pa., was there married to Elizabeth Grove, and after two children had been born to the marriage, came to Ohio and purchased a tract of 164 acres in Summit county, which tract he succeeded in denuding of the dense growth of trees with which it was encumbered, and eventually con- verted it into a profitable farm. His children were born in the following order: Jacob, Da- vid, Catherine, Mary, Eliza, John, Levi and Sarah, of whom David. Catherine and Mary are the only survivors. In his politics Mr. Stump was a democrat and a leader in local party management. An elder in the German Reformed church, he assisted in forming, in his own house, the first society of that denom- ination in Summit county. He was an indus- trious man and a good manager, and succeeded in acquiring a comfortable competency. Jacob Stump, father of subject, was also born in Franklin county. Pa., and was a boy when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared to manhood in Summit county, on his father's farm, and married Catherine Sorrick, daughter of Adam and Mary (Raber) Sorrick, also of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Summit county, Ohio. Jacob Stump entered a tract of government land in Franklin town- ship, developed an excellent farm, and had 544 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born to him the following children: Ephraim, Matilda, Amos (deceased) Nathaniel and William. Ephraim Stump was reared on the home farm and agriculture has been the chief indus- trial pursuit of his life. November's, 1870, he married Louisa Smith, daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Diehl) Smith, the former of whom was likewise a native of Franklin township, and prominent as a democratic politician and township office-holder. In religion Mr. Smi^h adhered to the teachings of the German Re- formed church, in which faith he died, while his wife, who differed somewhat in religious belief, died in the faith of the Lutheran church. \\'illiam Smith, father of Daniel, married Rachael Vanderhoff, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Franklin township. Ephraim Stump, after his marriage, fol- lowed farming until 1884, when he retired to his present home of twenty acres at ISIimisila, in which village he owns and occupies a mod- ern residence and is living in peace and com- fort. The children born to his marriage are Bertha B., wife of William Fisler; Clarence E., who is attending the high school in Ful- ton, and Frederick C. In politics Mr. Stump is a stanch democrat, and cast his first pres- idential vote for Gen. George B. McClellan, and in religion both he and wife adhere to the German Reformed church, to the support of which they liberally contribute financially. Mr. Stump is also a member of the Macca- bees at Clinton, Ohio. The family is well known and respected throughout the county, and certainly Mr. Stump is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is held. ^~V"AMUEL SWINEHART, one of the •^^^ most respected citizens of Suffield ^^^ ^y township, Portage county, was born in Springfield township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, August 25, 1837, a son of Benjamin and Catherine (Garl) Swinehart, of whom fur- ther mention will be shortly made. Christian Swinehart, paternal grandfather of Samuel, was a native of Hesse, Germany, was a school-teacher by profession, but was still a young man when he came to the United States and first located in Pennsylvania, where he taught school a number of years, and where he was married. Late in life he came to Ohio, lived a short time in Summit county, and then removed to Elkhart county, Ind., where he passed the remainder of his life. He was twice married, and by his first wife became the father of eight children; to his sec- ond marriage, with Mary Schuck, there were also born eight children, but of the si.xteen there is only one now living — Moses, of New Berlin, Stark county, Ohio. Benjamin Swinehart, father of Samuel, was born in Lancaster county. Pa., and while yet a single man came on foot to Ohio and settled in Union Town, Stark county. By trade he was a shoemaker, but followed his trade in Stark county for a short time only, when he bought land and cleared up a fine farm. There he married Miss Garl, daughter of Reuben Garl, and to this union were born seven children, four of whom are still living, viz: Samuel, our subject; Sarah, wife of Isaac Dausman; Henrietta, married to Franklin Ewell, and Daniel. Those who have passed away were Elizabeth, who died in her youth- ful days; Lavina, who was married to Jacob Brumbaugh and died at the age of thirty- two years, and Levi, who died April 24, 1896, aged sixty-one. About 1S34, Benjamin Swine- hart brought his family to Suffield township, Portage county, and purchased the homestead on which our subject now resides. He became very prominent in local politics, and served his fellow-townsmen many years as township trus- tee, supervisor and school director. He was a deacon in the Reformed church, and died in p. ^^Uo^Gu OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 549 this faith at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife having died at the age of sixty-one — both deaths having occurred at the present home of our subject. Samuel Swinehart was but three and a half years old when brought to Suffield town- ship by his parents, and, the farm being in the wilderness, his boyhood days were passed in a log cabin with neither doors nor windows. His preliminary education was acquired in the district school, and later he attended school at Kent and Greensburg until twenty-one years of age; then, in 1859, he entered the academy of which the late James A. Garfield was the principal. At the age of twenty-two years he himself began teaching, his first term being in Suffield. He also taught in Ran- dolph township, and for eight winters he fol- lowed this vocation, assisting his father on the home place during the summer months. While thus engaged, he married, October 26, 1862, Miss Elizabeth Brumbaugh, who was born June 15, 1 841, in Randolph, Portage county, and who is one of the thirteen children born to Henry and Catherine (Stiffier) Brumbaugh — all still living within fifteen miles of their birthplace. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Swinehart has been blessed with three chil- dren, viz: Marion, who married Emma Schumacher and has three children — Ledos, Esther and Inez; Perry, who married Alice Marsh, daughter of J. J. and Rebecca Marsh, and became the father of two children — Clyde and Leon — Mrs. Alice Swinehart dying at the age of thirty-two years; Lenora, who resides at home with her parents, and is a dress- maker. In 1863, Mr. Swinehart bought from his father the old homestead, which consisted of thirty-eight acres, but he has added to this, from time to time, until he now owns a splen- did farm of 100 acres. In addition to farm- ing he has given considerable attention to live 21 stock, especially to sheep, and has been very successful. In politics Mr. Swinehart is a sound demo- crat, and has filled most of the township offices, including those of clerk, supervisor and school director — filling the last-named office eighteen years. He is a deacon in the Reformed church, and maintains a very high position in the esteem of the community. The Swinehart family hold an annual reunion, over which the subject invariably presides, and there is no more respected family in the township than this. >Y'UDGE GIDEON SEYMOUR, of Bon- ■ niebrook Farm, of Rootstown, Portage A 1 county, Ohio, descends from one of the oldest families in the United States, but, before entering into the details of his own eventful life, it were better to narrate his an- tecedents to a remote priority and to follow them up, in detail, as far as the limited scope of this volume will permit. The Seymour family originated in Nor- mandy (now a province of France), and the name was in that country spelled Saint Maur, and the town of the same name, in Normandy, was derived from the family name of the an- cestors of subject, who held sway there in the early part of the christian era. The name of the family has by easy stages been modified and anglicized through the spellings. Saint Maurre, Saymaur and Seymour — as the street in London, England, now called Rotten Row, derives its name froin Route en Roi — the route of the king. Early in the thirteenth century the present name was adopted, several of the Seymour family having gone over to England, and the student of English history will remeni ber the prominence which the Seymour family obtained in Kent and Monmouthshire. In 1607 a colony of English people came to 550 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Popham, Maine, being accompanied, as chap- lain, by Rev. Richard Seymour, a younger son of Sir Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset, but this colony was not successful, and in two or three years returned to England, where Rev. Rich- ard Seymour passed the remainder of his life. In 1639 the eldest son of this reverend gentle- man came from Barry Pomeroy, Devonshire, England, and located in Hartford, Conn., but removed to Norwalk, Conn., in 1650, and there died in 1655. John Seymour, the second son of Rev. Richard Seymour, returned from Norwalk to Hartford, married Mary, daughter of John Watson, and died in 171 3, the father of nine children. John, the eldest son of John Sey- mour, mentioned above, was born June 12, 1666, was married December 19, 1693, to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Treat) Webster and granddaughter of Gov. John Webster. Mr. Seymour died in May, 1748, leaving a farm to each of his eight sons; his widow survived until May 15, 1754. The eldest of these boys, also named John Sey- mour, was born December 25, 1694, and was first married June 25, 1718, to Lydia Mason, who died in 1732, but soon after that bereavement he married Hannah Ensign. He moved from Hartford to New Hartford, Conn., in 1750, as one of the earliest settlers of that town, and there died July 25, 1758. John Seymour, the si.xth child born to John and Lydia (Mason) Seymour, mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, was born in Hartford, Conn., November 24, 1726. He was inspired with patriotism and a love of freedom (amor patriae), as may be shown by the fact that he enlisted, at the early age of fifteen years, in the colonial army, and performed a brave and noble part in the French and Indian war; in the second war in 1756-58, against the French and Indian invaders, he also took an active part, and his military service culminated in his bearing arms in the war of the Revolu- tion. He married June 19, 1749, Lydia \\'adsworth, daughter of Sergeant Jonathan Wadsworth, of West Hartford, Conn. , and died February 2, 1809 — his widow surviving until 181 7. Asa Seymour, fifth child of John and Lydia (Wadsworth) Seymour, and the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. Judge Gideon Seymour, was born in West Hartford, Conn., September 16, 1757. He, also, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and was married, November 14, 1781, to Miss Abigail, daughter of Gideon Deming, and afterward moved to East Granville, Mass. , where he died in 1840, a member of the Congregational church. His children were born in the follow- ing order: Abigail, Asa, Alexander, Laura, Ardon, William, Elijah, Ruby and Gideon D. Gideon D. Seymour, father of subject, was born in East Granville, Mass., April 18, 1801, and in 1841 settled in Rootstown, Port- age county, Ohio, but in 1845 died from an attack of black erysipelas, which at that time was epidemic throughout this section of the country. In his politics he was a whig, and in religion was a member of the Congrega- tional church, in which he was a deacon for many years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Corinthia Gibbons, a daughter of Bil- dad Gibbons, of East Granville, Mass., be- came the mother of two children — Judge Gideon and Deming. The latter was born May 21, 1840, and came to Ohio with his father, and here married Harriet Hallock, daughter of W. R. Hallock, of Rootstown, and died in Windham, Ohio, in 1888. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Corinthia Seymour was married to Philo Stilson, but bore him no children, and died in Ravenna June 1 1, 1878. Gideon Seymour, the subject of this bio- graphical memoir, was born in East Granville, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 551 Hampden county, Mass., February 23, 1836, his parentage being given above. He was reared on the old Seymour homestead, and in 1 84 1 accompanied his father to Ohio, and vi^as here educated in the district schools of Roots- town, Portage county. At the early age of eighteen he began teaching school, devoting himself to this vocation in the winter months and in the summer lending his aid toward the improvement of the home farm, assisted by his brother, the untimely death of their father, after reaching Ohio, rendering this course nec- essary. In 1859 he purchased the interest of his brother in this homestead, and continued its cultivation, devoting himself, however, during his farm life, to the study of the law at home, with Hart & Reed, of Ravenna, as his preceptors. In 1872, prior to his admission to the bar, which did not occur until J 875, his legal ability was fully recognized, and he was elected probate judge of Portage county, an office he filled with great credit to himself for nine years. On retiring from this office he entered upen the active practice of his profes- sion in 1 88 1, in Ravenna, and was rapidly ad- vancing in his profession, and had obtained a good practice, but, unfortunately, at the expi- ration of three years of active and onerous work, his health failed, and he felt it incumbent, in order to restore his shattered energies to their pristine vigor, to return to his farm and recuperate, although the law has not alto- gether been abandoned, as he still gives his attention to special probate business. Among the minor offices that have been held by Judge Seymour may be mentioned that of justice of the peace of Rootstown town- ship, which he filled twelve years, and to which he was first elected in 1864, and fre- quently thereafter; he was commissioned no- tary public in 1884, also served as township clerk several terms, and as treasurer of his township from 1859 to 1861. In his politics the judge has been a life-long republican, has always worked energetically in the interests of his party, and was a delegate to the conven- tion that first nominated Maj. McKinley for member of congress from Ohio. Fraternally he has for thirty years been a Freemason, and is now a member of Unity lodge. No. 12, and of Tyrian chapter, R. A. M., No. 91, of Ra- venna; he is also an Odd Fellow, being a member of Ravenna lodge. No. 65, and of en- campment No. 129, and is, beside, a charter member of Ravenna council. No. 376, Ro3'al Arcanum; also a member of Ravenna grange, No. 32, Patrons of Husbandry. In religion he is a Congregationalist, has been a member since 1864, both at Rootstown and Ravenna, has been a deacon up to the present time, and also has served as superintendent of the Sun- day-school at both places, and was for fifteen years a singer and leader of the choir in his church. The marriage of the judge to Lucy J. Par- ker, daughter of F. A. Parker, of Newton Falls, Ohio, occurred September 15, 1859. This lady led him a happy life until May 6, 1893, when she was called to a higher sphere. The children that blessed this happy union were three in number, and were named Corinthia M., Mary L. (who died in 1876) and Fred- erick P. — the last-named being now associated with his father on the home farm, known as " Bonniebrook Farm," where, in addition to general farming, they make a specialty of breeding Durham cattle and Oxford-down sheep. Few men in Portage county have passed through so varied and successful a career in life as Judge Seymour, and fewer still have maintained so high a position in the esteem of their fellow-men for so great a length of time, and he is a gentleman of whom his many friends and the population of Portage county may well feel proud. 552 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD KEMAN SWIGART, a well-known gen- eral farmer and dairyman of Copley township, Summit township, Ohio, was born in Edinburg, Portage coun- ty, Ohio, June 30, 1871. His father, George S. Swigart, was born November 12, 1838, and March 28, 1862, married Miss Laura Oviatt, who was born March 6, 1843, and this union was blessed with six children, viz: Nellie A., born February 27, 1864, and now the wife of Charles Adams, of Cleveland; Sherman G., born June 28, 1865, and at present a prom- inent civil engineer of the same city; Louis A., born September 30, 1868; Heman, the subject of this biography; Freddie, born February 16, 1877, died in infancy, and Maggie, who was born May 1 1, 1879. Heman Swigart was educated in the high school of Copley, and September 4, 1895, married Miss Pearl Wager, who was born in 1876, a daughter of Edward and Anna (Gra- ham) Wager, and to this happy marriage has been born one child — George — June 24, 1896. Mrs. Pearl Swigart is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and a lady of many womanly graces and virtues. Joseph Swigart, great-grandfather of He- man, was a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer, married Elizabeth Peiffer, daughter of George and Catherine Peiffer, and became the father of eleven children, named George, John, Joseph, Samuel, Jacob, Catherine, Polly, Su- san, Peggie, Sarah and Martha. Jacob Swigart, grandfather of Heman, was born in Cumberland county, Pa., October 18, 1S15, was reared on the home farm until four- teen years of age, and then learned the car- penter's trade; he married, in Stark county, Ohio, Miss Abigail Stover, also a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of George and Catherine (Dauner) Stover. To this union were born four children, viz: John, deceased; George S., father of subject, who died June 15, 1895; Alfred, and Maggie. Mrs. Abigail Swigart died June 8, 1877, at the age of fifty- nine years and nine months, a devout member of the Reformed church, of which her husband was also a member. Heman Swigart and his brother, Louis A., rent their grandfather's fine farm at Copley Center, and in connection with general farm- ing do a large dairying business-under the firm name of Swigart Bros., and have the largest milk route in Akron. Their buildings are all of modern construction, and both brothers are highly respected for their strict business integ- rity, as well as for their genial dispositions and social good qualities. at ALTER BRONSON TAYLOR, one of the ablest of Ravenna's sales- men, was born in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, September 9, 1843, a son of Salmon A. and Mary Ann (Caulkins) Taylor, the former a native of Hoboken, N. J., and the latter of Old Lyme, Conn. Salmon A. Taylor was of English and French extraction, his mother having been a Peret, a family well known in the commercial circles of New York city, and one of the fam- ily is now the Episcopal bishop of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Taylor, who was a merchant, opened the first store in Palmyra, Ohio, was married in Middlebury, Summit county, in 1 84 1, and in 1848 removed to Ravenna, Port- age county, opened a grocery and established the first ice business in the city. September 18, 1863, he expired in the house now occu- pied by subject — his death being the result of an accidental fall. The male members of the Caulkins family were mostly seafaring men, four brothers of the subject's mother having been captains of ocean-going vessels. Her father, David Caulkins, however, was a cap- tain of land forces in the war of 18 12. The OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 553 death of Mrs. Mary Ann Taylor took place at the home of subject April 6, 1894, in the faith of the Congregational church. She was truly a christian woman, and spent her life for the benefit of others. Wherever there was pain, poverty or suffering, there was she, a minister- ing angel to the suffering. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, the youngest being Catherine D. , who is now the wife of Ezra Fowler, a justice of the peace and business man of Kent, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have two children, viz: Mary Addie, a teacher of instrumental music, with classes in l\ent and Ravenna, and Lizzie Jen- nings, wife of John Arighi, of Kent. This lady is also a proficient instrumentalist, making a specialty of the violin. Walter B. Taylor, the subject, attended the schools of Ravenna until seventeen years of age, and then entered the office of his cousin, Judge Taylor, as a law student. On the removal of the judge from the city, Mr. Taylor placed himself under the tuition of the law firm of John L. & H. C. Ranney for two years, at the end of which period the firing on Fort Sumter took place. Mr. Taylor then promptly enlisted, in April, 1861, in company G, Seventh Ohio voluteer infantry, under Col. Barney Tyler, and for three months served within the bounds of the state. After a few months passed in the office of his former pre- ceptors, he engaged with the government as contract nurse, and spent four months in Louisville, Ky., and it was while there his father died. On the expiration of his contract as nurse for four months, he returned to Ra- venna and re-enlisted, for 100 days, in the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio national guard, and was sent again to Kentucky. At Cythiana the regiment was captured by the rebel raider, John Morgan, the subject and two comrades only escaping by swimming the Lick- .ng river. All of the captured, however, were paroled with the exception of these three, who found their way to the Union lines. Subject was discharged at Johnson's island, Sandusky bay, at the expiration of the 100 days, and he then enlisted, at Alliance, in company D, Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, October 3, 1864, and joined his regiment at Port Royal, S. C. , where he was assigned to regular duty, then sent to Charleston, S. C, and then to the front. He was promoted to be corporal and company clerk. He took part in six regular engagements and numerous skirmishes during his service, acted as clerk of a military court at Columbia, S. C, under Gen. Ames, and was finally mustered out at Charleston, S. C, in November, 1865. In May, 1867, in the Keystone state, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Rosa- mond McKee, a native of New Castle, that state, and daughter of James and Amanda Mc- Kee, the former of whom is deceased and the latter now a resident of Salem, Ohio; there also reside William, the only brother of Mrs. Taylor, and a sister, Carrie; another sister, Mrs. Jackson Cotton, resides in Sabetha, Kans., where her husband is engaged in the banking business. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have been born two children — Efiie B. and Percy M. Miss Effie B. has been for several years the leading lady clerk in the dry-goods establishment of D. M. Cle- well, of Ravenna, and Percy M., a cigarmaker, is employed in Kent. After his return from the war, Mr. Taylor no longer felt an inclination for the study of the law, and so relinquished his legal studies. He has principally been engaged in the cloth- ing trade and has also been identified with the hotel husiness. He was at one time proprietor of the Poe (now Columbia) hotel, of Ravenna, having been trained to this line as clerk of the old Exchange hotel at Ravenna. In 18S8-89 he conducted a winter resort in South Lake 554 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Weir, Fla. , and was then a clerk in the Col- umbia (now Revere) hotel at Kent. He then established a hack line in Ravenna, over which he kept control for eight years — but in the in- terim traveled as salesman of gents' furnishing goods, two years as clothing salesman, and then for two \ears was a salesman in a cloth- ing store in Ravenna. He is now in the con- tract painting business. In politics Mr. Tay- lor is a stanch republican, is a member of the Garfield club of the Nineteenth district of Ohio, and of other republican clubs, and is a member of the National Union. He attends the Congregational church, and is never back- ward in his contributions to its support. Mrs. Taylor was a member of the Dorcas society, attached to this church, and also of the Ladies" Cemetery association, but was called from earth in June, 1897, a truly good woman and devout Christian. eRASTUS R. TAYLOR, the promi- nent and very popular grocer of Ra- venna, was born in Randolph. Port- age county, Ohio, October 5, 1845. and is a son of Levi K. and Emily R. (Rossi- ten Taylor, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Massachu- setts. These parents had born to them four sons and three daughters, of which family all the sons and one daughter are still living, viz: Prentice A., William K., Louisa J. (wife of I. S. France), Erastus R. and Joseph W. Levi K. Taylor, the father of this family, was a farmer in his native state and early came to Ohio, settling in Randolph township, Portage county, where all his children were born, and where he resided until 1881, when he removed to Marlboro, Stark county, Ohio, where his wife died in June, 1896, at the age of eighty-three years, a member of the Meth- odist church, of which church Mr. Taylor is still a de\oted member. The paternal grand- i father of subject died in the east, at an ad- vanced age, the father of a large family, and j the maternal grandfather, Erastus Rossiter, who was a farmer and an early settler of Ran- dolph township, Portage county, Ohio, also reached a good old age and there reared his { family and there passed the major part of his I useful life. i Erastus R. Taylor was reared a farmer on j the home place in Randolph township, and I there received his education in the district I schools. Remaining at home until he reached full age, he became a clerk in a general store ■ in Rootstown, and while thus employed, at the end of seven months enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio volun- teer infantry, receiving an honorable discharge j at the close of the war. After his return from the army he passed two years on the home farm, and then for a year was re-employed as a clerk m Rootstown. June 18, 1866, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Rosella Stanford, daughter of Chauncey and Katurah (Redfieldi Stanford, to which union was born one daughter, Ina, who was married to C. F. Slaughter, a lithog- rapher of Chicago, 111. , and now the mother of one daughter, Nina. Mrs. Rosella Taylor died in November, 1868, and in 1870 Mr. Tay- lor came to Ravenna and for three }ears was employed as a clerk by Nelson Converse, and then by Smith Brothers. \\'hile in this em- plo}- he married, March 21, 1877. Mrs. Emma Kearney, a daughter of Albert and Rebecca (Chamberlain) Christy, to which marriage has been born one daughter. To her first hus- band, however, Mrs. Taylor had borne a daughter — Cora Kearney — who is married to Frederick L. Root, of Ravenna, but now a resident of New York cit}', in the employ of the American Cereal company. After a faithful service of eleven years with OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 555 Smith Brothers, during which time he ma- terially promoted their interests, Mr. Taylor bought a half interest in the grocery house of Orlando Risdon, with whom he was associated until the latter's death, twelve years later, when he bought the interest of the Risdon heirs and has since been in business on his sole account, and has been very successful. Albert and Rebecca (Chamberlain) Christy, the patents of Mrs. Emma Taylor, were both natives of the Buckeye state and were the parents of five daughters, of whom two are still living — Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Jennie Davis, widow of A. R. Davis, of Cleveland. Albert Chamberlain was in early life a farmer, but later became connected with the coal- mining interests of Tennessee, in which state he died about the year 1869, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which religi- ous body his widow, who is residing with her daughter in Cleveland, is still a faithful mem- ber. Capt. James Christy, the paternal grand- father of Mrs. Taylor, was a man of mark in his day, was a pioneer of Trumbull county, Ohio, was a farmer, and had a famil}- of five sons and two daughters; he was also a justice of the peace, held several minor offices, and died an aged man, respected by all who knew him. Joseph Chamberlain, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Taylor, was a native of Trumbull county, was also a farmer and a substantial citizen. Mrs. Taylor was reared to womanhood in Brookfield, in the same county, and was there first married. She was reared in the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which she is still a devout member, and in which she has always been an active worker. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Royal Arcanum, and in politics is a re- publican, but has never been an office seeker. The business career of Mr. Taylor has been one of steady progress and withal remunera- tive, and to-day he stands before his fellow- citizens with a name for rectitude that is en- viable in itself and which will be forever prized by his descendants. ,>^ EV. JOHN THEIN, pastor of St. Jo- I /^ seph's church, at Randolph, and of St. I^P Peter's mission at Rootstown, Port- age county, Ohio, was born in Lu.x- embourg, Germany, September 8, 1848, a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Lux) Thein. Philip Thein, father of Rev. John Thein, was a gentleman of some importance in his native province, having been mayor of Lux- embourg for a number of years, as well as be- ing a farmer and an extensive dealer in lum- ber. To his marriage with Miss Lux were born eleven children, of whom three are still living, viz: John B., in Germany; Rev. John, our' subject, and Margaret, wife of Michael Eilembecker, also residing in the old country. Six children were called away in infancy; Henry died in 1890, and Nicholas, who was in the furniture business in Oak Harbor, Ottawa county, Ohio, passed away in 1897. ^'he father of the family died in 1873 at the age of sixty-four years, but the mother still survives, and, at the venerable age of eighty-two years, resides at the old home in Luxembourg. Rev. John Thein was graduated from the college of Luxembourg, and on coming to America studied philology at Montreal, Can- ada, and in 1871 entered St. Mary's seminary, Cleveland, Ohio, and for three years was there a student of theology. He was ordained in holy orders July 4, 1875, and his first appoint- ment was to the church of the Immaculate Conception at Port Clinton, Ottawa county, Ohio, with St. Joseph's mission, at Marble- head, same county, attached to his charge; in 1880 he was transferred to Toledo, as pastor of St. Louis congregation, where he remained 556 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD until 1887, when he was appointed to the pas- torate of St. Martin's, Liverpool, Medina county, Ohio. In February, 1892, he was placed in charge at Randolph. His congrega- tion numbers about 1,200 souls. Here, as elsewhere, he has done an immense amount of arduous work in elevating the spirituality of his people and in improving their temporal condition — winning the affection and respect of his liock. Rev. Thein is a profound scholar, an eloquent orator, and a pious Catholic, ever alive to the good work set before him, and is, moreover, an author far above mediocrity, having published two works that have attracted much attention in church circles — Christian Anthropology and Answers to Difficulties of the Bible. (D RS. VIRGIL M. THOMPSON is one of the lady pioneers of Sum- mit county, and is the widow of the gentleman whose name she bears — Virgil M. Thompson, who was born in Hud- son township. Summit county, Ohio, March 14, 1810, a son of Dr. Moses and Elizabeth (Mills) Thompson. Dr. Moses Thompson was born in Goshen, Conn., and in that state married Elizabeth Mills. He practiced medicine in Goshen, Conn., until 1800, when he came to Hudson, Summit county, Ohio, and became a well- known physician among the pioneers. His children were Susan, Louvira, Ruth, Emily, Mary, Sarah A., Martha, Elizabeth, Mills, Sylvester, Virgil M. and Guy, the last named dying young. Dr. Thompson was one of the early Masons of Hudson and a prominent and respected man. He owned and lived on his farm two miles south of Hudson for many years. This land he bought in 1800 and cleared it from the wilderness, mak- ing a good farm of 200 acres, and here resided until his death, at the age of eighty years, in 1859. The farm is still owned by his heirs. Virgil M. Thompson, deceased husband of our subject, received a good education, at- tending for a time the Western Reserve col- lege, and was reared a farmer. He married, the first time. May 11, 1836, in Hudson town- ship, Maria Smith, who was from Vermont. There were no children by this marriage. She died twenty-two months after marriage, and Mr. Thompson next married, in May, 1842, in Cuyahoga Falls, Marie Antoinette Turner, who was born May 2, 1821, in Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Ro- sanna (Owen) Turner. William Turner was born in Orange county, N. Y., September 5, 1782. He came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 181 8, bringing his family and making the journey via Pennsylvania with wagons, and was six weeks on the way. He was a car- penter and followed that work in Cuyahoga Falls, where he settled in April, 1828. His children were Grant B., Edward B., Marie An- toinette, and Harriet O. Mr. Turner was in politics a whig and republican. He was an energetic, industrious and honorable citizen, acquired a comfortable property, and brought up an excellent family. He lived to be about sixty-five years of age and died at Sea Falls in the year 1847. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thompson settled on the farm where Mrs. Thompson now lives. Mr. Thompson bought this farm in 1835, ^"d partly cleared it, especially the north half, which he purchased from the Con- necticut Land company. He prospered by his thrift and energy, and finally acquired a goodly property, consisting of 350 acres of val- uable land, which is now owned by Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Presbyterian church of Hudson, Ohio, and Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Episcopal church of Cuyahoga Falls. In politics he OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 557 was an old-line whig and afterward be- came a republican. He was an honored citizen, served as township trustee, and also held several other offices. He was a well- known and public-spirited gentleman, and highly respected for his sterling character, up- rightness and excellent morals, and died Janu- ary ti, 1894, aged about eighty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were born three children, viz: Celia M., Mary A. and Emma P. Of these, Celia M. married Henry H. Chamberlain, of Hudson, Ohio; she is now de- ceased, leaving no children. Mary A. married Mr. Chamberlain above mentioned; they have no children; he is now in the milling business in Hudson. Emma P. married Edward D. Ellsworth, a farmer of Stowe township, now deceased, leaving two children — Fred Thomp- son and Mary Antoinette. Mrs. Thompson is now a venerable lady with an excellent mem- ory and well preserved faculties, ha\'ing fur- nished the matter for this biography. Edward D. Ellsworth was born July 30, 1847, in Hudson, Ohio, a son of Edgar B. and Mary (Daws) Ellsworth — was of New England ancestry, and Edgar B. was a merchant of Hudson, Ohio. Edward D. Ellsworth received a common-school education and became a farmer. He married Miss Thompson March 27, 1867, and settled on a farm in Stowe township. He was an industrious man and good citizen, but is now deceased. Fred Thompson Ellsworth, son of above, was born October 8, 1 8 — , and married Novem- ber 4, 1893, Elizabeth B. Harrington, a widow, (nee Dillon), a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy (Connor) Dillon. HLBERT B. TINKER, attorney at law, with his office in the Savings Bank building, Akron, was born in Mantua, Portage county, Ohio, January 28, 1852, and is descended from one of the oldest families of Ohio as well as of America, as will be found from the following record. John Tinker, an attorney, came from Eng- land to America in 1637 and located in Bos- ton, Mass., where he practiced law many years and was a member of the general court at the time of his death. From him descended the Tinker family of America. He left three sons and three daughters, of whom Amos married Sarah Durant, who also bore six chileren — John, Sarah, Mary, Amos, Samuel and Jona- than. Amos, the fourth of this family, mar- ried Lucy Lee, and had twelve children — Jos- eph, Amos, Lydia, Lucy, Benjamin, Sylvanus, Parthenia, Phineas, Eunice, Martin, Jehiel and Belle. The second of these, Amos, mar- ried Hannah Minor, who bore four children — Joseph, Jane, Azubah and Silas. Silas Tinker, the youngest of the above- named four, was born in Lyme, Conn., No- vem-ber 25, 1748, and in September, 1776, enlisted in the patriot army in the war for in- dependence. He fought at White Plains, Ber- lin Heights, and at other points, and served until the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, and was honorably discharged in November, 1777. He also participated, on three other occasions, in the defense of New London. He was a farmer and extensive land owner in the east, and in 1806 sold his property and came to Ohio by ox-team, and first located at Mantua, Portage county, when there were but eleven families in the township; in 1808 his son, Silas, Jr., was the only delegate from Mantua township to the convention held to nominate county officers. Silas Tinker eventually re- moved with his family to Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he died in 1840, in his ninety-second year. He had married Lois Wade, daughter of Joseph and Esther (Chad- wick) Wade. This lady was mentally, morally and physically strong, and died at the age of eighty-one years, in the faith of the Presby- 558 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD terian church, and the mother of eleven chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy; Sylvester, a machinist, who invented a carding machine and operated it in Westfield, Mass. ; he mar- ried Sally Riley, and died at Conneaut, Ohio, whither he had moved in 1818; Cynthia mar- ried Edward Bancroft, in Massachusetts; Clarissa married William Skinner, Jr. ; Giles was a mechanic and later a manufacturer of cotton goods, was a captain in the state militia, and married Zilpha Knight; Patty was married to Jacob Pettybone, of Mantua, Ohio; Hosea died unmarried; Silas married Betsey Randall, and served in the war of 18 12, de- fending Cleveland under Col. Nathan King; Guy married Lucrctia Kellogg; James died un- married; Chauncey was born at Chester, Mass., February 28, 1793, served in the war of 1812 as fourth sergeant in the Third Ohio militia un- der Capt. J. D. Jackson, was a farmer by vo- cation, was a well-informed man and of great muscular strength, was first married to Betsey Rice and next to Lydia Andrus, and died in Howardsville, Mich., October 25, 1873. Horace Tinker, second child of Chauncey Tinker, was born June 28, 1824, in Kingsville, Ohio, was reared on a farm and was educated in the Kingsville academy. In 1848 he went to California with a train of o.x-teams, and after two 3'ears of successful operations in the gold mines returned to Ohio and married Miss Sophronia Skinner, a daughter of John and Rachel (Clapp) Skinner. He then purchased ■ land in Mantua township. Portage county, Ohio, where he followed the pursuit of agri- culture until 18S4, when he retired from toil. His faithful wife died May 10, 1891, the mother of five children, of whom Albert B. , the gentleman whose name opens this notice, is the eldest; Frank P. was born November 5, 1854, is a leading and prosperous farmer of Mantua township. Portage count}', and is the husband of Ida Plum, a daughter of Anson Plum, of the same township; Ella M., born in Jul}-, 1858, is the wife of W. L. Carlton, for- merly of Mantua but now of Akron, where he is bookkeeper for the Aultman, Miller Corn- pan}-, is a member of the city council, and ex- member of the board of health; John S. and Jefferson C. died in infancy. Albert B. Tinker, the subject proper of this memoir, was reared on the home farm in Portage county and received his early educa- tion in the district schools; he next attended Hiram college four terms, and in 1873 entered Buchtel college, from which he graduated in 1876, having completed his literary and scien- tific education. He began his preparatory la\v studies under Green & Marvin and com- pleted them at the law school of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1883, and was the same year admitted to the bar. In 1879 he was elected financial secretary of Buchtel col- lege, which office he held twelve consecutive }-ears. also for seven years delivered lectures to the senior class on constitutional and in- ternational law. From 1885 to 1 891 he was a member of the city board of health. In the last-named year he resigned his offices, both in city and college, to devote his attention to the duties of his profession, although he is still a trustee and the treasurer of Buchtel college. For four years he was president of the Ohio Universalists convention, and at the same time a member of its board of trustees, and has been very active in benevolent work. He is a member of the American Bar association, as becomes an attorney of his extensive prac- tice, and in politics he has not been idle, although not an office seeker. The marriage of Mr. Tinker took place December 25, 1876, with Miss Georgie Olin, of Windsor, Ashtabula county, Ohio, a daugh- ter of George Olin, and this felicitous union has been blessed with seven children, born in the following order: Olin Dale, February 19, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 559 1878; Gertrude Ellen, March 20, 1879; Frank Burk, August 20, 1880; Sophronia Mary, June 29, 1882; Abbie, June 8, 1888; Donna Al- berta, June 6, 1890, and Albert, January 27, 1892. The parents are members of the Uni- versalist church, and have their home at No. 552 East Buchtel avenue. * w ^ ON. NEWELL D. TIBBALS, a lead- w^^ ine; lawyer of the city of Akron, Ohio, M. , P and a member of the prominent law firm of Tibbals & Frank since 1889, is a nati\e of Deerfield, Portage county, and was born September iS, 18:53, a son of .Alfred M. and Martha H. (Swemj Tibbals. The fa- ther, Alfred M. Tibbals, was born in Gran- ville, Mass. .August 4, 1797, was brought to Deerheld, Ohio, by his parents, in 1804, and here died in 185S. at the age of si.xty-one years; his wife, Martiia H. (Swem) Tibbals, to whom he was united in marriage in 1821, was a native of New Jersey, was born in 1800, and died in 1891. Both were strong in the faith of the Methodist church, and both were honored as pioneers of Summit county and for their sterling personal worth. Newell D. Tibbals received a liberal edu- cation and graduated from McLain academy, Salem, Ohio, in 1853; he then read law in the offices of Otis & Wolcott and Wolcott & Up- son, was admitted to the bar in 1855, at once opened an office for the practice of his profes- sion in Akron, and the details of his profes- sional and political career, as given in brief below, give ample proof of his capabilities for performing the duties he had selected for his life-work. An ardent republican, his party quickly recognized his legal, administrative and political merits, and elected him, in i860, prosecuting attorney and re-elected him in 1862. In 1865 he was elected Akron's first city -solicitor, and was re-elected to the same office; he was next elected state senator to represent Summit and Portage counties, and in this capacity he served in the sessions of 1866 and 1867. In 1870 he was a factor in the organization of Buchtel college, and has ever since been a member of its board of trus- tees. In 1875 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas, second subdivision of the Fourth judicial district of Ohio, and the duties of this office he filled so well that a re- election followed in 1880, but the demands in his practice as an attorney were so extensive that he felt it to be incumbent on him to re- sign his seat May i, 1883, and resume the handling of the cases of his rapidly increasing list of clients as an attorney at law, or, in simpler terms, as a lawyer. In the scenes of war Judge Tibbals has played his part, and in 1864 served in defense of the capital of his nation — Washington, D. C. — as fourth sergeant of company F, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth regiment, Ohio 560 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD volunteer infantry. On his return to Akron he was elected major of the Fifty-fourth bat- talion, Ohio national guard, and was com- missioned by Gov. Brough; in 1886 he was appointed judge advocate for the department of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic, by Commander A. L. Conger, and in 1S90 was appointed as aid-de-camp to Commander-in- Chief Russell A. Alger. In 1890 also he was again appointed judge advocate of the Grand Army by Department Commander P. H. Dowl- ing. In 1894 Mr. Tibbals was elected com- mander of Buckley post. No. 12, G. A. R. , and the same year was sent as a delegate to the national encampment of the order at Pittsburg, Pa. October 26, 1856, Judge Tibbals was united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Morse, the fruit of the union being seven children, of whom five are still living, viz: Martha A. (Mrs. Wilson M. Day, of Cleveland), Jessie A. (Mrs. Dr. Albert Hoover, of Akron), Newell L. , Gertrude A. and Ralph Waldo. The amiable and accomplished mother of these children was called to rest October 27, 1894. She was born at Randolph, Portage county, July 9, 1835, being fifty-nine years, three months and eighteen days of age, at the time of her death. She was a daughter of Huron and Alethea Morse. In 1852, together with her parents, she came to Akron, Mr. Morse keeping what is now the Empire house. Mrs. Tibbals made a host of friends during the war, when she took an active part in securing food and clothing for Union soldiers. She was one of the organizers of the Dorcas society, out of which grew the Akron board of charities, and at one time was superintendent of the indus- trial branch of this board, and was an active member of the Woman's Relief corps as a trustee and a member of several committees. She was president of the Ladies' Cemetery association one term, and was always promi- nent in all its movements. Mrs. Tibbals took an active part in the formation of the Summit county children's home, the first meeting for the same being held at her residence. As a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church and Woman's Home Missionary society, she was recognized as a hard and faithful worker. Beside the numerous public charita- ble institutions to which Mrs. Tibbals belonged, she did a great deal of individual work that was never known outside of her home. When the death of Mrs. Tibbals was an- nounced at the Akron court house, a meeting of the bar was called, over which Judge A. C. Voris presided, and a resolution that its mem- bers attend the funeral in a body was unan- imously adopted. Buckley post. Grand Army of the Republic, and the Woman's Relief corps also attended the services. Judge Tib- bals, notwithstanding his severe bereavement, is still in the active practice of his profession and is one of the prominent attorneys of Ohio, honored alike by his fellow-lawyers and the citizens of Akron, whom he has so long and faithfully served in civil as well as official life. ^"^MITH D. TIFFT, one of the promi- •^^^k? nent citizens of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, K,„^_y and the head of a respected family, is a son of John D. Tifft, who was born April 2, 1807, in Vermont, was of old colonial ancestry and was a lumberman. John D. Tifft married, November 23, 1822, Louisa M. Abbott, who was born January 27, 1 8 12, and died November 11, 1836. leaving no children. Mr. Tifft came to Ohio in the 'thirties and cleared up part of the Case es- tate, on what is now Euclid avenue, Cleve- land. He married, the second time, Novem- ber 5, 1837, Anna Bang, of Waconda, 111., born in Vermont, July 21, 181 8, a daughter of Mark and Lydia Bang. John D. Tifft came OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 561 to Cuyahoga Falls in the autumn of 1840, and engaged in buying cattle and in the butcher business and prospered. His children by this wife were Smith D., Louisa M., Horace, John and Johnson (twins), Alice and Hattie I. In politics Mr. Tifft was a republican and a strong Union man, and had one son in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Tifft were both members of the Methodist church, in which he was an officer in early life. He lived to be seventy-one years old and died in Cuyahoga Falls November 19, 1875. He wasalways an industrious and respected citizen, very tem- perate in his life and of excellent habits. Smith D. Tifft, the subject, was born March 16, 1840, at Western Star, Ohio, where his father spent a short time. He was brought to Cuyahoga Falls in November of the same year, where he received his education in the public schools, including the high school. A reunion of this school was held a short time since of the class of 1868-69, and many of the old pupils were present. Mr. Tifft was engaged in the stock and butcher business for twenty-iive years. He was after- ward in the carriage business and later with the Howe & Company Flour mills four years; then in the implement business four years, and has generally been successful in his undertak- ings. He married, January 29, 1863, in Cuy- ahoga Falls, Julia E. Allen, born December 21, 1839, at Cuyahoga Falls, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Harper) Allen. Mr. and Mrs. Tifft have no children, but have reared two — Harry E. Allen and Julia T. Allen. Mrs. Tifft is a member of the Episcopalian church, and in politics Mr. Tifft is a repub- lican and has held the office of town clerk and other minor positions. Mr. Tifft was one of the early members of Starr lodge, F. & A. M., and has held the office of treasurer. He is vice-president and director of the Falls Saving & Loan association, is greatly honored for his integrity of character, and is acknowledged to be one of the best and foremost business men of Cuyahoga Falls. f^^ EV. LAMBERT TWITCHELL, a I /^ native of Brimfield township, Portage J y county, Ohio, was born August 12, 1827, a son of Arba and Sallie (Bar- ber) Twitchell, the former of whom was a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Con- necticut. Jonas Twitchell, paternal grandfather of the Rev. Lambert Twitchell, was born in Scotland, and came to America prior to the Revolution, in which war he took an active part. He was the father of two children — John and Arba — was an early pioneer of Ohio, and he and wife ended their days on the farm where Rev. Lambert was born and where he still resides. Joseph and Susan (Coe) Barber, the maternal grandparents of subject, were natives of Connecticut, also were among the pioneers of Ohio, and, beside Mrs. Sallie Twitchell, had born to them ten children, viz: Dorcas, Minor, Turner, Lyman, Edwin, Polly, Lucy, Maria, Jemima and an infant that died unnamed. Arba Twitchell, father of Rev. Lambert Twitchell, came to Ohio in 18 16 and settled on the farm on which subject now resides, and to his marriage with Miss Sallie Barber, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Coe) Barber, there was born one child only — the subject of this memoir. Arba Twitchell was a man of great influence in his time, and for a number of years was a justice of the peace in Brimfield township; he held all the secular offices in what was then known as the Brimfield Baptist church, of Brimfield, and died in its faith April 7, 1849, when fifty-five years old — his widow surviving until March 28, 1866, when she expired at the age of seventy-si.x years. 562 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Rev. Lambert Twitchell attended the dis- trict school of Brimfield until sixteen years of age during the winter seasons, and assisted on the home farm during the summers. Later he devoted all his spare time to private study, and at eighteen years of age began teaching school, a vocation he followed for several years when not otherwise employed. For some time he traveled for Garguer & Co. , of Philadelphia, as agent for a Sunday-suhool journal, but, on account of ill-health, returned to his home and began studying theology. In 1874 he was ordained a minister of the Baptist church, was assigned to Kent, Ohio, and for six years acceptably filled the pulpit and then retired to his farm. The marriage of Mr. Twitchell was solemn- ized October 30, 185 i, with Miss Julia M. Sill, daughter of Sedley and Maria (Barber) Sill, of New York, and this union has been blessed with three children, of whom only one sur- vives — May, who still has her home with her parents. Of the two departed, Josephine died April 13, 1868, aged eight years, and Russell died in Detroit, Mich., June 12, 1885, at the age of thirty-three years. Mrs. Julia M. Twitchell was born in New York, April 11, 1822. Her father was a ma- chinist by trade, and was one of the first to suggest the idea of a cylindrical printing-press. In 1820 he married Miss Abigail Barber, daughter of Joseph and Abigail (Coe) Barber, and of the eight children born to this union four are still living, viz: Mrs. Twitchell; Allen, of Hot Springs, Ark. ; Elizabeth, wife of S. H. Phinney, of New York, and Jose- phine, wife of Enos Graham, of Detroit, Mich. Those who passed away were named Henry C. , Frank, Cyrus and Ann. The last named died August 17, 1894, at the age of seventy-three, and was the widow of A. R. Knox. The mother of Mrs. Twitchell was called away February 9, 1843, at the age of forty-three "years — her husband surviving until 1864 — and both died in the faith of the Epis- copal church. Since his retirement from the pulpit, Rev. Mr. Twitchell has lived on his farm, which, under his skillful supervision, has been made quite profitable. He and family are greatly respected by their neighbors, and the pious and useful life of Mr. Twitchell has won for him imperishable honor. aORNELIUS E. TRASTER, justice of the peace of Green township, Sum- mit county, Ohio, was born in Spring- field township, in the same county, April 3, 1853, a son of Daniel and Margaret (Krieghbaum) Traster, of whom further men- tion will be made. He attended the district school until seventeen years old and was reared to that age on his father's farm. For three years afterward he worked out as a farm hand, earning sufficient money to enable him to pay his expenses during the winter months at school and his tuition fees for four terms at the Greensburg seminary, and in the fall of 1873 began his career as a school-teacher, a vocation he followed twenty-two terms in all, at different places, in subsequent years. In 1875 he took a course of study in the North- western Ohio Normal school, at Fostoria, to better qualify himself for his profession, the practice of which included one term in Dis- trict No. 9, one in No. 7, one in No. 10, five in Springfield and Green townships, five in District No. 11, five in No. 2, three in No. 4. and four in No. 3. In politics Mr. Traster is a democrat, and in 1 88 1 was elected township clerk for one year, and then moved to Clinton, engaged in agricultural pursuits for three 3'ears, and then removed to Coventry township, where he fol- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 563 lowed the same calling for five years, then re- turned to Green township, where he has since followed the same vocation. In 1892 he was elected justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1895, although his township is strongly repub- lican. Fraternally, Mr. Traster is a member of Hadassah lodge, No. 405, I. O. O. F., Greentown, Ohio, of which he is a past grand, and is also a member of encampment No. 18, at Akron. Mr. Traster married, September 13, 1877, Miss Lovina A. Raber, daughter of Henry and Sarah E. (Benner) Raber, and this union has been blessed with one son, William Earl, who is now attending school. Mr. Traster and wife are consistent members of the Reformed church, of which he has for some years been a deacon as well as a teacher of the Bible class. Daniel Traster, father of Cornelius E., was a son of Martin and Catharine (Shout) Traster, was born in East Buffalo township, Union county, Pa., January i, 1820. His father, Martin Traster, was born in Tulpe- hocken, Berks county. Pa., in 1773; died April 4, 1848. His wife, Catharine, was born near Youngstown, Westmoreland county, Pa. , March 5, 1781, and died March i, 1858. The parents of Martin Traster came from Germany. Margaret (Krieghbaum) Traster was born in Lenkers township, Dauphin county, Pa., June 22, 1822, and died February 12, 1897. Her father and mother, Peter and Margaret (Trout) Krieghbaum, were also born in the Keystone state. Daniel Traster was about twelve years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Springfield township. Summit coun- ty, on a farm, on which he was reared to man- hood. February 17, 1840, he was married to Miss Krieghbaum, the result of the union be- ing eight children, viz: Hester Ann, born April 16, 1841 ; Sarah J., July 27, 1842, the widow of Samuel M. Ritzman; Jacob W. , February 15, 1844, married to Maggie Bi.xler, and a farmer of Whitley county, Ind. ; Re- becca M., April 13, 1845, married to James Housel and living on the old homestead in Springfield township; John, November 21, 1846, married Sarah A. Young, and resides in Lake township. Stark county; Hiram, July 20, 1846, married to Savilla Swinehart, and lives in Springfield township; Cornelius E., our subject, and Mary, born April 10,1855, and now wife of Henry Sauseman, also of Spring- field township. The father of this family died November 4, 1896, at the age of seventy-six years, ten months and three days, and the mother February 12, 1897, aged seventy-four years, eight months and twenty days — both devoted members of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Lovina A. (Raber) Traster was born April 4, 1859, in Green township. Her fa- ther, Henry Raber, was born in the same township June 14, 1831, on the farm he still owns, but from which he retired in 1890, having his present residence in Myersville. He was three times married — first, Septem- ber 13, 1856, to Sarah E. Benner, who was born May 20, 1840, a daughter of Henry and Eliza (Kintz) Benner, the union resulting in the birth of six children, of whom five are still living, viz: Lovina A.; William M., mar- ried to Ida Shaffer; Anna E,, wife of M. G. Buchman; Minnie L. . wife of William H. Swinehart, and Norman D.; the deceased child was named Mary Alice. The mother of this family died May 10, 1882, at the age of forty-two years and ten days, a member of the Reformed church, and in May, 1886, Mr. Raber married Miss Catherine Swinehart, who bore him no children and died June 20, 1896, a member of the Lutheran church. The third marriage of Mr. Raber took place April 8, 1897, to Miss Amanda Rhodes, who with her husband is a member of the Reformed church. Cornelius E. Traster and wife are among the 564 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD most respected residents of Green township, and personally Mr. Traster is one of the most popular. HARON B. STUTZMAN, A. M., Ph. D. , superintendent of the public schools of Kent, Portage county, was born iu Wayne county, Ohio, March 23, 1842, a son of Henry and Catherine (Mil- ler) Stutzman, who were of German descent. His great-grandfather, on the paternal side, came from Germany to America about the time of the Revolutionary war, and settled in Easton, Lancaster county, Pa., where the grandfather of Prof. Aaron B. Stutzman was born, but in manhood removed to Somerset county, where he followed farming as his vocation. Henry Stutzman, the father of Aaron B. , was born in Somerset county. Pa., and there married Catherine Miller, a native of the same county, whose father. Christian Miller, a farmer, was accidently killed, at an advanced age. Henry Stutzman, soon after marriage, came to Ohio (in 1826) and settled in Wayne county, being accompanied by his wife and his brothers, John and David, making the journey by ox-teams, and each pre-empting a quarter section of heavily-timbered land. Here Mrs. Stutzman died in 1848, the mother of nine children, all of whom attained their majority, and were named, in order of birth; Jeremiah M., who was a teacher and farmer, served as sergeant in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry through the Civil war, and died in Wayne county, Ohio, the father of two daughters and one son; Susan is married to J. P. Fouch and resides in Canaan, Wayne county; Daniel died at the age of twenty-two years; Elizabeth was married to Rev. Elias Schrock, but lost her husband by death in June, 1896, and she is now a resident of Wayne county; Christian C. resides in Akron; Ezra was a volunteer in the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died at Memphis, Tenn., while in the service; Aaron B. is the subject of this review; Anna is the wife of David M. Yoder, a farmer of Wayne county, and Henry lives in Johnstown, Pa. The father of this family succeeded in clearing up his farm from the wilderness and developed it into one of the best fruit farms in the country. He was one who cared more for the comfort and training of his family than he did for wealth, and died a greatly honored man in 1876. Aaron B. Stutzman, the subject proper of this biography, was reared on his father's farm and received his elementary education in the country schools, and later attended the Smith- ville high school, and, still later, the Mount Union college at Alliance — attending during the summer and teaching during the winter, thus earning the means to defray his expenses. He graduated from Mount Union college in 1871 with the degree of A. M., and for the follow- ing two years was the principal of the schools at Dalton, Ohio, then for two years at Doyles- town, Ohio, and then for three years at Wads- worth, Ohio, where he was also a member of the board of examiners of Medina county. He resigned the superintendency of the Wads- worth schools to accept a like position in Kent in 1878, at which place he has been superin- tendent of the public schools since, and is now serving his third term as member of the board of school examiners of Portage county. When Prof Stutzman took charge of the Kent schools there was but one central school-building and a one-room primary school; there are now three large school-buildings, in which there are employed eighteen regular and two special teachers. In order to strengthen his professional ef- ficiency. Prof. Stutzman took a full post-grad- ;fa/^^^^B5L^^-^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 567 uate course at Wooster university, and in 1888 this institution conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., since which time he has still more assiduously endeavored to advance the schools in their usefulness — revising and extending the courses of study and placing them on a higher plane of educational excellence; he has also contributed many valuable articles to the edu- cational journals of the day. In 1878, Prof. Stutzman was granted a life certificate of high qualifications by the Ohio board of school ex- aminers, which is valid in any public school in the commonwealth. During the Civil war Mr. Stutzman served in the Union army as a member of company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, as a faithful soldier. He is now a member of A. H. Day post, No. 185, G. A. R., of which he is past commander, and has also represented his post in the grand encampment. Of other fraternal societies, he is a member of Rockton lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M., and of Brady lodge, No. 183, I. O. O. F. , in which he has passed all the chairs; he is also a member of the encampment at Akron. In politics Mr. Stutzman is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Stutzman was united in marriage Au- gust 15, 1872, with Miss Jennie Clippinger, daughter of Israel Clippinger, a dry-goods mer- chant of Dalton, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, in which his son, Edwin, and his son-in-law. Dr. F. F. H. Pope, also served. To this happy union have been born four chil- dren, viz: Edwin, who died at seven years of age; Grace E., William G. and Charles A., and of these Grace E. and William G. are graduates of the Kent high scnool. Mr. Stutz- man built his commodious residence at the corner of Park and Woodard avenues, and has a delightful home, where he enjoys the asso- ciation of hosts of admiring and ardent friends. 2S >j*UDGE CHARLES R. GRANT, a dis- J tinguished lawyer of Akron, Ohio, and (%J senior member of the firm of Grant & Sieber, with offices at Nos. 40 and 42 Akron Savings Bank building, is a native of Connecticut and was born in New Haven county October 23, 1846. At the early age of fifteen years, inspired with patriotic ardor at the firing on Fort Sumter, he enlisted in the Twelfth regiment, Connecticut volunteer in- fantry, and was assigned to the perilous posi- tion of bearer of dispatches on the staff of Gen. B. F. Butler, in the department of the Gulf, and was later transferred to the staff of Gen. Banks, under whom he served until October, 1863, when he was honorably dis- charged, having done good and faithful service. After his return from the army he paid a brief visit to his native state, and then, in April, 1864, came to Ohio and located at Cuyahoga Falls, where he engaged in farming and private study until prepared for college. In September, 1868, he entered the fresh- man class at the Western Reserve college of Cleveland, where he passed through the entire curriculum, and graduated in 1872 as valedic- torian of his class of eighteen students, and soon afterward entered the office of Judge N. D. Tibbals, at Akron, as a law student. After a course of study extending through a period of a little over two years, he was ad- mitted to the bar of Akron, in September, 1874, but, on account of impaired health, re- engaged in farming for two years, and then, in 1876. formed a partnership with H. B. Foster, of Hudson, and in November of the same year located in Akron as member of the firm of Foster, Marvin & Grant, which firm con- ducted a prosperous business until September 16, 1883, when Mr. Grant was appointed probate judge of Summit county by Gov. Foster, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Judge Goodhue. In 1884, Judge Grant 568 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was elected to succeed himself in this office, and in 1887 was re-elected, a flattering tribute rendered by the people to his ability, faithful- ness and integrity. The first marriage of Judge Grant took place October 9, 1873, to Miss Frances J. Wadhams, who was called from earth Sep- tember 14, 1874. November 9, 1876, Judge Grant chose, for his second bride. Miss Lucy J. Alexander, of whom he was also bereft, she dying June 8, 1880, leaving one child, Frances Virginia, who was born September 24, 1877. The third marriage of Judge Grant was con- summated August 19, 1891, with Miss Ida Shick. Judge Grant is the senior member of the law firm of Grant & Sieber. >y»ULIUS A. UPSON, a venerable and M respected citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, A 1 was born in Tallmadge township, Sum- mit county, Ohio, October 11, 18 18, and springs from sterling English Puritan stock. John Upson, founder of this family in America, came from England about 1635, with the Puritan emigrants, accompanied by two brothers. The great-grandfather, Ste- phen, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Upson, grandfather of subject, lived in Connecticut and was the founder of Litchfield, and his children were Stephen, Daniel, Hora- tio, John, Thurman, (the latter a sailor who followed the sea all his life), Reuben, Hulda, Sylvia and Lucinda. In his old age, in 1810, John Upson came to Tallmadge township and lived with his son Reuben until his death, a member of the Congregational church. Reuben, son of above, and father of sub- ject, was born in Waterbury, Conn., August 14, 1 77 1, received a good common-school ed- ucation for his time, and taught school in his younger days. He married, December 25, 1798, in Waterbury, Hannah, born October 18, 1780, a daughter of Ebenezer Richardson. Mr. Upson learned the trade of carpenter and joiner in New Haven, and worked at both trades when young. In 1808 he came to Ohio, with his family, and his brother Stephen and his family, making the journey with a five- horse team and covered wagon. They were six weeks on the way, cutting through the for- est much of their road. They settled in Port- age county, Suflield township, where the brothers had bought land of the Connecticut Land company before they came out, and were among the first settlers. The brothers had a large tract of virgin land, covered with heavy timber, which they bought at seventy- five cents per acre. The children born to Reuben and wife in Connecticut were Phebe, Emma, Reuben and Polly. Mr. Upson cut logs with which to build his log house, and had to clear a place from the forest to erect same. The Indians were numerous but friendly, and used to stop at his cabin to ob- tain food. Mr. Upson cleared up sixty acres, sold out and went to Tallmadge, Summit county, and bought a farm of Priest Leonard Bacon, a celebrated character who lived at Tallmadge, 100 acres of which he also cleared. Mr. and Mrs. Upson lived here until 18 18, and then moved to the northeast part of Tall- madge township, and bought 300 acres of land, but, not obtaining a clear title, he received, in lieu of it, 100 acres in Tallmadge township, 100 acres on the Cuyahoga river, and 100 acres near by. He cleared up a good farm, or hired much of it done, as he worked at his trade. He improved his farm with good buildings, and here died, aged seventy-seven years, in 1844. He was a strict member of the Congregational church and in politics a whig and a strong anti-slavery man; was also one OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 569 of the earliest Masons on the Western Reserve, belonging to lodges at Canfield, Mahoning and Columbus. He was much respected and a man of high character. The following chil- dren were born to him in Ohio: Chloe, Han- nah, Julius A. and George. Mr. Upson was deputy county clerk for many years, was a skillful penman, and one of the school-teachers in Springfield, Summit county, for several winters in early pioneer times, and taught in a log school-house. He was very strict, and had an unruly school of rough pioneer boys and young men, who had carried out a former school-teacher and ducked him in the brook, but Mr. Upson ruled them with a rod of iron. Julius A. Upson, whose name opens this memoir, was reared among the pioneers, and during his long life has witnessed the entire improvement of the county. When he was seven years old he went with his father on a load of wheat, probably forty bushels, drawn by three horses, to Cleveland, and received for it one barrel of salt, calico enough for a dress for his mother, and one pound of tea, all of which could now be bought for about $2. 50. The father stated that if he had stopped over night at the tavern, the cash value of his sale would not have amounted to enough to pay his tavern and feed bills. On this occasion he and Julus A. slept in the wagon two nights in October, it being twenty-eight miles oyer rough roads, and carried their food with them. Julius A. received a good common-school education for his day, and was reared a farmer. He married, at the age of twenty- two years, Lucy A. Lowrey, who was born February 3, 1820, in Tallmadge, a daughter of Shubell H. and Anna Peck (Norton) Lowrey. Shubell H. Lowrey was born May 7, 1788, in Canaan, Conn., and was of Scotch-Irish de- scent. The Nortons were of French descent and also early settlers in Connecticut. The Pecks were of English stock. Mr. Lowrey married, October 3, 181 i, Annie P. Norton — born April 6, 1794. They came to Tallmadge in 1808, and there Mr. Lowrey cleared up 198 acres. He was a blacksmith and a great worker, and noted for his industry. He lived to be eighty-two years of age and died April 14, 1871, in Cuyahoga Falls, a member of the Methodist church and highly respected. His children were Henry, Leonard, Elthina, Lucy A., Susan, Deming, Philo and Hiram. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Upson settled in Huron county, Ohio, in a Quaker settlement, on a farm of 260 acres, and there cleared up 160 acres, and nine years afterward moved to Cuyahoga Falls and engaged in paperhanging for nine years, and was fairly successful. Then he engaged in the livery business, also con- ducted a flouring-mill thirteen years and has generally been successful. To Mr. and Mrs. Upson were born Lucy M., Leonard, Norton L.. Charlie N., Sarah and Helen. In politics he is a republican and has held the offices of constable and marshal fourteen years. Mr. Upson is one of the highly respected citizens of his county and has always been an upright and honorable man. His wife died in 1893, aged seventy-three years. Norton L. Upson, son of Julius A., en- listed at Cuyahoga Falls, when but sixteen years of age, under Capt. Dudley Sward, to serve 100 days, in company F, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. He served out his time and re-enlisted as a vet- eran in 1864, in the Second Ohio cavalry, for three years, or during the war, and served about one year, when he was honorably dis- charged on account of the cessation of hostili- ties. Julius A. Upson himself enlisted, when aged about fifty-eight years, at the time of Morgan's raid, in the organization known as the Squirrel Hunters. Lucy M. Upson, eld- est daughter, married Benison Babcock, who at the age of eighteen years enlisted in the 570 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD One Hundred and Fourth regiment, company H, Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Hope Ford, and served through the war. eLAM UNDERWOOD, a well-known and very prominent farmer of Brim- field township, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of this county, was born March 6, 1833, and is a son of Lybia and Julia (Minard) Underwood, both now deceased — the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Connecticut. Lybia Underwood, the father of Elam, came to Ohio about the year 1812, located at Brimfield, and for a number of years dealt heavily in live stock, as well as farmed on a large scale. He here married Miss Minard, and to this union were born nine children, of whom four still survive, viz; A. H., Elam, Bruce, and Millie, the wife of Charles McLoye. The deceased were Juliet (Mrs. Charles Os- burn), Mary Ann (Mrs. Harry Hunt), Parmelia (Mrs. C. H. Chapman), William and Candis E. Mr. Underwood was a greatly respected citizen, and served about twenty years as a justice of the peace, and for a number of years was a township trustee; he died in 1878, at the age of seventy-six years, a member of the Universalist church, but his wife had pre- ceded him to the grave in 1849, when but forty-seven years old, and the remains of both were interred in Brimfield. Elam Underwood attended the district school until twenty years old, and passed his life on the home farm until attaining his ma- jority, when he engaged in the lumber busi- ness, which he followed twenty or more years, traveling a great deal through the pine dis- tricts. November 20, 1855, he married Miss Emeline Minora, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Tallman and Elizabeth (Rawson) Minard, and this union has been crowned by the birth of one child — Emerson A. The pa- rents of Mrs. Underwood were natives of Con- necticut. The father was a farmer and filled various offices in Brimfield township after set- tling here, being a straightforward and re- spected citizen. To him and wife were born five children, of whom three still survive, viz: Luther, Mrs. Underwood, and Amanda, now wife of Servilleus Hoskins; the deceased were named Mary and Albert. Both parents, now also deceased, were members of the Disciples' church. Mr. Underwood has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past thirty years, has also been actively con- nected with the Rootstown Protective associa- tion for a long time, and for the last five years has adjusted all its losses. He is still en- gaged in farming, and his premises show that he well understands this prime industry. His name stands without reproach,. and few fam- ilies in the township stand higher in the pub- lic esteem than his. In politics, he is a dem- ocrat, though, in most cases, he votes for the man, rather than the party. >-j'OSEPH WAGGONER, M. D., • de- ■ ceased, who was one of the oldest and A 1 most experienced physicians of Ra- venna, was born near Richmond, Jef- ferson county, Ohio, December 30, 1821. His father, William Waggoner, was a native of northeastern Maryland, was of German-Irish parentage, and married Miss Sarah Jackson, who was born in the northwestern part of Delaware, and was of Scotch-English descent. Immediately after their marriage they came to Ohio, and in 1804 settled on a quarter-section of land near Richmond, Jefferson county, built a log cabin, there passed their honorable and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 571 useful lives, and reared a family of eight sons and four daughters. Dr. Joseph Waggoner, the tenth child of this family, was reared on the home farm, re- ceiving his education in the district schools during the winter months. At the age of eighteen he began teaching, devoting the sum- mers to study in a select school, and at his majority entered the academy at Steubenvilie, preparatory to a collegiate course, but failing health debarred him from classical study, and rest for nearly a year became requisite. In the spring of 1843 he commenced the study of medicine under Drs. Johnson & Henning, of Steubenvilie, finishing in the fall of 1846. The winter of 1846-47 was passed in attending lectures at the Cleveland Medical college, which subsequently conferred on him the de- gree of M. D., and in the spring of 1847 he located for practice in Deerfield, Portage coun- ty, and for sixteen years steadily gained in reputation and remuneration. In the spring of 1863 he sought the broader field of practice in Ravenna, where he found a wider scope for the exercise of his consummate skill, which immediately met with an appreciative recog- nition. Feeling, however, that the disasters of war were demanding all the experienced medical talent available — although it could be ill-spared at home — he went to Washington, D. C, and tendered his services to the gov- ernment, which eagerly accepted them, and he was appointed at once assistant surgeon in the army and placed on duty at Lincoln hos- pital. But in a short time thereafter the health of the doctor's wife became precarious, which fact induced him to resign and return to Ravenna, where he was long assiduously and actively engaged in attending to the require- ments of his constantly increasing list of patients. In June, 1862, Dr. Waggoner was most happily united in matrimony with Miss Mary M. Regal, of Deerfield, who, through her many domestic virtues, proved to be a true helpmate, indeed. But still affliction found a foothold within the doctor's otherwise happy home, and was the only shadow that lowered over his domestic felicity. Of the four children born to this marriage but one survives — George Joseph, the eldest, of whom further mention will be made. Arthur and William, two manly and promising boys, aged eleven and eight years, respectively, succumbed to that dread disease, diphtheria, and were buried on the same day, January 18, 1880, and, to add to the grief of the doctor and wife, their only daughter, Mary Josephine, was called away July 18, 1888, at the age of eleven years. Bearing up against these afflictions, however, the doctor still continued on the even tenor of his way, and never neglected one case that required his attention in the prosecution of his responsible life-work. The doctor not only stood high in the esteem of the general public, but was equally respected by his fellow-practitioners, with whom he heartily affiliated. He was a member of the American Medical association, the Ohio State Medical society, the Northeastern Ohio Med- ical society and the Portage county Medical society, and his contributions to these, whether of a professional, literary, social or even polit- ical tendency, were eagerly and carefully perused. The doctor was very liberal in his professional views, and fraternized freely, at the call of humane interests, with gentlemen of other schools. A Freemason in good stand- ing, he was tolerant in matters theological, and would have gladly welcomed the day when religious differences might disappear. He was generous in his contributions to the various churches, as he believed in Christianity and in its ennobling influence over mankind. In politics the doctor in early life was a whig, and was a great admirer of Henry Clay, for 572 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD whom he cast his first presidential vote, but became a republican after the organization of that party and voted for all its presidential nominees — Fremont, Lincoln, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Blaine, Harrison and McKinley. The doctor was a genial, yet austere, straightfor- ward, honest man, and it has been well said of him that " He is courteous and gentlemanly in manner, genial in disposition, and liberal in spirit and action. He enjoys the esteem of all those with whom he is acquainted profes- sionally or socially. As general practitioner and family physician he has few equals — always endeavoring to keep his patients well as much as to cure them." No higher com- pliment than that conveyed in the last sentence could be paid a physician. Dr. George Joseph Waggoner, subject's eldest and only living child, was born May lo, 1865, graduated from the Ravenna high school, and later graduated from the literary depart- ment of the university of Michigan at Ann Ar- bor, in 1887, with the degree of A. B. In 1890 he graduated in medicine and surgery from the university of the city of New York, and since then has been in active practice with his fa- ther. He is a member of the Portage county Medical society, and of the Ohio state Medical society, and the American Medical association, and also of the Zeta Psi fraternity of his alma mater. He was united in marriage October 14, 1 891, with Miss Mary A. Clewell, daugh- ter of D. M. and Mary ( Beebe) Clewell. Two children have come to bless this union — Marj' C. and Joseph D. He is a master Mason, and his moral character is irreproachable. He has lived all his life in Ravenna, his college days excepted, and has won the respect of all the citizens who have ever known him. Mod- est and retiring in manner, he is yet firm in the prosecution of his responsible profession, with which he is greatly in love, and in which he has made a decided success. He and wife stand high socially, and, with his present bright professional prospects, it is doubtful that he will ever wish to abandon his native city. Dr. Joseph Waggoner died June 6, 1897, of neuralgia of the heart. Sickenss had never confined him to his bed an entire day during his lifetime. HARON WAGONER, cashier of the Akron Savings bank, was born in Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, September 19, 1844, a son of George and Rebecca (Sours) Wagoner, both natives of the Keystone state. George Wagoner was reared to manhood in his native county of Cumberland, Pa., and there learned the cooper's trade, which he be- gan at the age of fourteen years. In 1812 he married Sarah Rhodes, and shortly afterward came to Ohio and settled near Canal Fulton, Stark county, and engaged in farming and teaching school at their proper seasons. There his wife died, after having given birth to four children, and after a due season of mourning Mr. Wagoner married Rebecca Sours, a native of Lancaster county, Pa., and a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Harter) Sours, also of Pennsylvania birth and of German descent. Shortly after this marriage Mr. Wagoner came to Summit county and settled near Manches- ter, in Franklin township, where his remaining days and those of his wife were passed away. To this second marriage were born ten chil- dren, viz: Catherine and Sarah, both de- ceased; Harriet, wife of Michael Herpster; Ann R. , wife of David Keller; Amanda, wife of John Spangler; Henry L. , Philip, John J., a deceased infant, and Aaron, the subject. In politics Mr. Wagoner was first a whig and afterward a republican, and held the office of township treasurer many years. He was very popular and influential in Franklin township, although of a quiet, unassuming disposition, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 573 and won his prominence through his personal merits. He earned a competence through his industry, gave all his children a good educa- tion and left them the means to start well in the career of life. Aaron Wagoner, the subject, was reared on his father's farm and also had the advantages of a good education both in public and private schools. At the age of seventeen years he took charge of a school in Steuben county, Ind., where he taught one term, and then re- turned to his native county, where he enlisted, October lo, 1862, for three years, in company B, Sixth Ohio cavalry, and was mustered into service at Cleveland, being then eighteen years of age, was assigned to the army of the Poto- mac, under Gen. Phil Sheridan, and served until receiving an honorable discharge at Wash- ington, D. C, July I, 1865, as first heutenant. The brilliant career of the Sixth Ohio cavalry, under Sheridan, in the Shenandoah valley and elsewhere, is so renowned as a matter of his- tory, that no repetition thereof is here neces- sary, and of his own heroic acts Mr. Wagoner is too modest to permit a recountal. Suffice to say that he performed his duties bravely and well, as the terms of his discharge from the service amply prove. On returning from the war, Mr. Wagoner was employed by Oberholser, Keller & Co., of Akron, with whom he remained five years, and then entered the City bank as teller, and held this position eight years. In 1880 he was elected county auditor by the republican party, served one term, and was re-elected to a sec- ond term, but, six months before the expira- tion of the latter, resigned, to become cashier of the City National bank, which position he resigned at the close of the year, when he as- sisted to organize the Akron Savings bank, with William Buchtel as president, Hon. C. R. Grant as vice-president, and himself as cashier, and with a capital stock of $200,000. Mr. Wagoner was united in marriage April 30, 1868, with Miss Amanda S. Smith, who was born in Franklin township, June 30, 1843, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Diehl) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania and of German ex- traction. This happy union has been blessed with two children, viz: Mabel B., who is the wife of J. V. Cleaver, M. D., of Akron, and is the mother of one child — Josephine; George Edward, the second child, is receiving teller in the Akron Savings bank. Fraternally, Mr. Wagoner is a member of Akron lodge. No. 547, I. O. O. F. , of which he is past grand; also of encampment No. 18, and Canton No. 2, pa- triarchs militant, of which he is past chief pa- triach, and also past colonel of the Third regi- ment, patriarchs militant of Ohio; he is also a member of Buckley post, G. A. R. , and of Ohio commandery. Loyal Legion. In politics he is a republican and as such has served in the city council of Akron, and in 1892 was chairman of the republican executive county committee, of which he is still a member- Outside of his banking business, Mr. Wagoner has an interest in the Diamond Pottery com- pany, and is also assistant treasurer of the Akron Street Railway & Illuminating com- pany. The accomplished wife of Mr. Wag- oner is a member of the board of lady vipitors of the Girls' Industrial home at Delaware, , Ohio, under appointment of Gov. Bushnell. ^^^^ILLIAM WAGGONER, one of the ■ ■ I ol'Jest and most successful agricul- mJ^J turists of Copley township. Summit county, Ohio, is a native of New York state, and was born in Schoharie county, November 13, 1829. The father of our subject was also named William, was likewise born in the state of New York, and there married, in 18 16. Cath- erine Spohr, also a native of the Empire state, 574 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born in October, 1800. To this union were born eight children, viz: Matthew, who died in infancy; John, who was a mason by occu- pation, married Miss Lora WaliY*OHN WAITE, one of the early settlers ■ of Ravenna, and a continuous resident ml from 1830 to 1867, was born at Oaks Corners, Ontario county, N. Y. , May 24, 1 8 10, and is a son of John and Abigail (Cranston) Waite, also natives of the Empire state. John Waite received his education in his native county, and there followed various oc- cupations until eighteen years of age, when he learned the cooper's trade, which vocation he followed for about thirty years. About the year 1830, he removed to Ravenna and carried on the coopers' trade for many years, subse- quently conducting a marble shop and also contracting for the construction of railway water tanks. In Ravenna he was married to Miss Mar- tha A. Clark, daughter of Ephraim and Ala Amelia (Sperry) Clark, and was born in Tall- madge township, Summit county, Ohio, Feb- ruary I, 1 8 19. Her father was a native of Massachusetts; her mother of Connecticut. Her parents emigrated to Ohio in 1796, at a time when the state was very sparsely settled, following a trail which was marked by the blazing of trees. Mr. and Mrs. Waite have had three chil- dren, born in Ravenna: Amelia, who died when three years old; John L., now manager and editor of the Burlington (Iowa) Daily Hawk-Eye; and Mary Ella, who became the wife of John M. Eads, of Burlington, and after his death married Randall M. Hartzell, a farmer of Peru, Chautauqua county, Kan. In 1867, John \\'aite removed to Burling- ton, Iowa, where he embarked in the retail grocery trade and subsequently in the commis- sion business, finally retiring to a farm near the city. He died at the age of eighty-four 3'ears while visiting his daughter at Peru, Kan., and where his widow still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Waite were lifelong and consistent members of the Methodist Episco- pal church, devoted to every moral reform movement and enjoyed the esteem and friend- ship of their neighbors and acquaintances In politics Mr. Waite was an anti-slavery whig and a republican, and, as a citizen, progressive and public spirited. eDWIN A. WALDO, of West Rich- field, Ohio, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected dtizen, springs from old England ancestry, who came to America in the Puritan times. He was born September 11, 1844, at Hinck- ley, Medina county, Ohio, and was reared a farmer, receiving a common-school education, and enlisted in the Civil war when but eight- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 577 een years old, running away from home for that purpose, as his parents objected. At Cleveland, Ohio, September 19, 1862, he en- tered the Twentieth Ohio light artillery, for three years or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Cleveland, July 13, 1865. He was in the battles of Liberty Gap, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Franklin, Tenn., on the Atlanta campaign, and in the fight at Peach Tree Creek, and in the battle of Dalton was taken prisoner, was kept four days, was then paroled, and kept right along with the regiment without being exchanged, and was in many skirmishes. He was sick in camp with bloody flu.x in 1864, but would not go to hospital, and held out, although unable to do duty for about one month. Mr. Waldo was in all the battles, skir- mishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part, but was never wounded, although under fire in many battles. He had never had a furlough, as he never asked for one. After the war Mr. Waldo returned home, resumed farming and married, July 4, 1866, at Hinckley, Ohio, Alice A. Porter, who was born October 3, 1847, ^^ Hinckley, a daugh- ter of Charles and Mary (Newman) Porter, both families coming originally from England. To Mr. and Mrs. Waldo one son was born — Phillip, November 23, 1876. Mr. Waldo bought fifty acres of land at Hinckley, im- proved it, and erected a good house and barn. He then came to Richfield, bought property and retired from active life. He is much dis- abled from his sufferings as a soldier and is unable to work. He is a member of Goldvvood post, G. A. R. , No. 104, at Richfield, Ohio, and has held offices of adjutant and sergeant- major. In politics he is a republican, cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and is a man of well known integrity of character. His great-grandfather, Thomas Waldo, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; Jado- than Waldo, grandfather of our subject, was from near Boston and well-to-do. He came to Hinckley, Ohio, as a pioneer, cleared up a good farm of 100 acres, and here passed his remaining days, a respected citizen, and died at about seventy years of age. His children were Edward and Seth, who lived to reach maturity. Edward, father of Edwin A., was born March 20, 181 i, in New Hampshire, and married, in Ohio, Elizabeth Damon, who was born at Chesterfield, Mass., October 14, 1820, Mr. Waldo having come with his parents to Ohio when about twenty-one years old in about 1832. Edward Waldo and wife were the parents of Lucy A., Anson, Edwin A., Justice, Esther, Prentice, Silvia, Elida H. and Ira. Mr. Waldo was a republican in politics and held the office of constable. He was a substantial farmer, owning 300 acres at one time, was prominent in his church, holding the office of deacon, was a well-known citizen, and died on his farm at the age of eighty years, a member of the Free Will Baptist church. He had three sons in the Civil war — Anson, Edwin A. and Justice T. Anson was in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, in the one-year serv- ice; Justice T. was in the One Hundred and Third regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, in the ninety-day service, and after the close of the war was three years in the United States service. Mrs. Waldo's father — Charles Porter, was born in England, married there Mary Newman, came from Cambridgeshire to Amer- ica, and brought his family with him, in 1837, and located in Richfield. He later moved to Hinckley and bought a farm of 1 10 acres, sold it, and bought a small farm in Hinckley town^- ship and there passed his remaining days, dy- ing at nearly eighty years of age, a member of the Free Will Baptist church. His children were Charles, Martha, Mary, John, Henry, Robert, Alice and Hattie. 578 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ^y'^V ETER L. ALLEN, an enterprising 1 ■ and prosperous saddlery and harness £ merchant at Richfield, Ohio, was born in New York cit}' September 8, 1826. He is a son of Peter and Naomi (Morrell) Allen, both natives of New York state. In 1836 they moved from New York to Hinckley township, Medina county, Ohio, where they resided for several years, afterward moving to Cleveland, where our subject's father died. To Peter Allen and wife were born the follow- ing children: John F. ; James; William: Mary, wife of J. Darrow, of Kent, Ohio; Charles; Peter L., our subject; Ann, wife of L. Bur- diet, of Kent, Ohio; Isaac and Hamilton. Peter Allen was a soldier in the war of 181 2, and his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. At the age of seventeen years our subject came to Richfield, entering in the employ of Jonathan Page, under whom he acquired a mastery of the harness and saddlery trade. After serving a competent apprenticeship in this line he opened a store and factor}' of his own and has continued in business at that place until at present he has a very large and grow- ing trade in this line, the excellence of his manufactured goods commanding for them a large sale, his harness being shipped to all parts of the country, and his name is widely known as a manufacturer. On the 4th of October, 1848, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Marrietta Seeley, daughter of Amasa and Mary (Baldwin) Seeley. A word concerning Mrs. Allen's an- cestry: Her father was born December 19, 1792, a son of Eli Seeley, who came of stern and hardy old Puritan stock, his parents, David and Mary Seeley, being decendants of historic pioneers; Eli married Sally Lewis and had the following children: Julia, born January 16, 1786; Eli L. , born July 27, 1790; Amasa, De- cember 19, 1792; Nabbie, April 8, 1796, and Walter, March 10, 1798. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Allen were David and Cath- erine (Tod) Baldwin, who had the following children: David B., Rubie, Lucy, Stephen, Esther, Catherine, Daniel, Joseph and Mary, (Mrs. Allen's mother). Her parents were among the early settlers of Bath township, coming here before the "twenties." Her mother taught the first school in the township, receiving the munificent wages of fifty cents per week. In those days the only products which could be converted into cash equivalents were tallow and hides. Her parents were married in 1825, and upon an acre of ground which her father bought for $10 their home was erected. Amasa Seeley also built a black- smith shop and manufactured all the hardware for his house He also erected the first frame barn in Richfield. The lives of these pioneers were lives of constant usefulness. They raised the following children: Edward, born in 1816 — died in 1840; William, born in 18 18; Abi- gail, born November 26, 1821; William H., died in infancy; Lucy Ann, born February 4, 1826; Marietta (Mrs. Allen), born March 8, 1830; Julietta K., died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been born the following children: Francis, August 14, 1849; Virgil, October 28, 1852; Ervin, October 9, 1854; Lucy M., August 30, 1856, wife of William Whitney; Elmer E., February 13, 1864; Emma G., May 31, 1866. Both Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are fervent in their faith and earnest in the work of the church. He has several times been the super- intendent of the Sunday-school, and is now one of the stewards of the church. Politically he is a strong republican, but has never been tempted by a desire for office. He is a mem- ber of Richfield lodge. No. 266, F. & A. M., with which he has been connected since 1855, and through which he has passed all the chairs. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 579 eDWARD S. BLACKMAN, one of the soldiers of the Civil war and a re- spectable citizen of Hudson town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, is the capable and careful superintendent and man- ager of Evamere Hall, the country home of James W. Ellsworth, of Chicago. Mr. Black- man was born April 28, 1842, in Mount Ver- non, Knox county, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Ann (Phillips) Blackman. He was brought by his parents to Hudson when about three years old, and when a young lad clerked in Hudson for D. D. Beebe for seven years; next worked at the carpenter's trade for three years, and was then clerk for R. P. Williams for fifteen years. He then enlisted at Hudson, Ohio, in company B, Eighty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, for ninety days, and served until honorably discharged on account of disability at Camp Chase, Ohio, having nearly served out his time, chiefly at Camp Chase, on guard duty. He was sick, but not in hospital, and attended to his duties promptly and cheerfully. In 1890 he became superin- tendent for Mr. Ellsworth, and has entire charge of his beautiful country home, and of all the improvements of the grounds, which he maintains in a high state of cultivation and tasteful ornamentation. Mr. Blackman is very industrious in the performance of his duties, and possesses great skill and ability. Mr. Blackman married, August 18, 1869, in Hudson, Ohio, Martha J. DeGraw, born in New York state, and daughter of John and Hannah (Burgess) DeGraw. Mr. and Mrs. Blackman are the parents of Frederick, Grace Maud, Charles E. and Heber. Mr. Blackman is a Freemason, is a member of the G. A. R., Gen. W. T. Sherman post. No. 68, at Hud- son, and in politics is a republican. He has served as a member of the town council, has been city marshal and has also been a member of the board of education. Both Mr. and Mrs. Blackman are members of the Episcopal church and are highly respected throughout Hudson township. HMOS BARR, of Northfield township. Summit county, Ohio, was born May 16, 1845, in Lancaster county. Pa., son of John and Martha (Groft) Barr, of German descent. He received a common district-school education and was reared to farming. He enlisted, June 29, 1863, in Lan- caster county, Pa., in Lieut. Samuel Bojd's company G, First battalion, Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and was honorably dis- charged January 9, 1864, at Harrisburg, Pa., by reason of expiration of service. He then re-enlisted at Lancaster, Pa., in Lieut. Frank B. Groff's company C, Ninety-ninth Pennsyl- vania veteran volunteer infantry, February 27, 1864, fo serve three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Philadelphia, Pa., June i, 1865, the war having closed. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, Appottomax, Peters- burg, and in many skirmishes. He was wounded at the battle of Petersburg March 25, 1865, being shot near the joint of the left hip, and still carries the ball. He was taken to the hospital at City Point, Va., near Wash- ington, D. C. , and remained six weeks, re- ceived a furlough of thirty days and was dis- charged before it expired. Mr. Barr discharged all his duties faithfully, promptly and cheer- fully, and was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part. After the war Mr. Barr worked in Lancaster county, Pa., in the iron-ore mines, and at farming. He married, August 18, 1868, in West Hempfield township, Lancaster county, Susan C. Varnes, who was born No- vember 15, 185 I, a daughter of Albert N. and Leah (Wade) Varnes. Albert N. Varnes was 580 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD also born in Lancaster county, Pa., and was a private during the Civil war in a Pennsyl- vania volunteer infantry, in which he was taken sick and from which he was discharged on account of disability. He married Leah Wade and their children were John W. , David, Henry, Lilly, Sarah, Albert, Nellie and Susan C. Mr. Varnes, on coming to Cleveland, Ohio, engaged in teaming for the paint works and drove for that company seventeen years. His death was caused by a runaway team in 1887. He was a republican in politics and a hard-working, industrious man, respected by all. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barr remained in Lancaster county until 1878 and then came to Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Barr worked in the steel works until 1894, when he came to Northfield township, and engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have had born to them the following children: Harry, Jennie, Ella, Charles and Harvey, and five deceased. Mrs. Barr attends the Presbyterian church at North- field. In politics he is a republican and is an ex-member of the G. A. R., Commodore Perry post, Newburg, Ohio. John Barr and wife, parents of Amos, were also the parents of David, Landus, John, Elam and Mary. Mr. Barr had two sons in the Civil war — David having the same military record as that of Amos. He escaped without wounds and served five years in the regular army after the war. John Barr father of sub- ject, was a hard-working, industrious man and died in Pennsylvania about 1857. Mrs. Barr's second marriage was to George Kiss- caden, and their children are James and Wdl- iam. Amos Barr and wife are among the most respected people of their township, and have reared an excellent family. They have three children, viz: Henry, who married Nora Jones, of Newbury; they live in Macedonia, and have one child — Ella, married to George Nutt, they live in Northfield township, and have two children. Jennie is married to Frank Flick, a painter and paper hanger, of Cleve- land, Ohio, and has one child. @EORGE L. BISHOP, the well-known merchant and present postmaster of Northfield, Ohio, and one of the vet- erans of the late Civil war, was born in Northfield, January 23, 1842, a son of Orrin A. and Celina L. (Lillie) Bishop. He received a common education and enlisted in August, i86r, at Northfield, at the early age of nine- teen years, in company K, Nineteenth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, and re-enlisted as a veteran in the same organization at Flat Creek, Tenn. , in 1864, for a similar term, and served until honorably discharged at San Antonio, Tex., in November, 1865. He was in the great battle of Shiloh April 6 and 7, 1862; the siege of Corinth, battles of Perryville, Ky. , October 8, 1862;. Stone River, Tenn., Decem- ber 30-31, 1862, and January i, 2, and 3, 1863; Chickamauga, December 19-20, 1863; Chattanooga, Tenn., November23, 1863; Mis- sionary Ridge, November 25, 1863; Pickett's Mills, Ga., May 27. 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 22, 1864; Pine Top, in 1864; Peach Tree Creek, July 19, 1864; Atlanta, Ga. , July 22, 1864; Jonesboro, September i, 1864; Lovejoy Station, September 2, 1864; Colum- bia, Tenn.; Franklin, September 30, 1864; Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864, and skirmishes too numerous to mention. He was promoted for meritorious services to corporal, was shot through the right thigh at the battle of Stone River and was in hospital, five months, at Nashville, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky. He was never a prisoner, and was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part, and was al- ways prompt and cheerful in the discharge of Ml- ^ A^ /d- y^^^^y^^n. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 581 his duties. When wounded at Stone River, the rebels charged over the field where he was lying, and for a few moments he was within the rebel lines, but the Union troops soon re- took and held the position. After the war Mr. Bishop returned to Northfield and engaged in traveling for a New York drug house, in which employment he continued eight years and then bought a farm in Northfield township, on which he lived four- teen years. In the spring of 1888 he engaged in business in Northfield, in which he still con- tinues. Fraternally he is a non-affiliating Ma- son, and is a member of Royal Dunham post, G. A. R., No. — , at Bedford, Ohio. In poli- tics he is a republican. Mr. Bishop married, December 3 1, 1879, at Northfield, Miss Martha W. Way, who was born in England May 14, 1849, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Way. Martha W. Way came from England with her parents to Northfield when eight years old. She was a devout member of the Methodist church and died very suddenly in 1897, a woman of many virtues. Orrin A. Bishop was born at Burlington, Vt., and his grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Orrin A. Bishop married in Vermont and came as a pioneer to North- field. His children were Clark B. , Orrin A. and George L. In politics he was a democrat, was a well-known pioneer, and cleared his farm at Northfield from the woods, and here he died. Orrin A. , the younger, volunteered in the three months' service at the first call for troops for the Civil war, and in 1863 en- listed for three years, or during the war, and served until the close, in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry. George L. Bishop has been very success- ful through life, and his career as a farmer, merchant and soldier gives indication of more than ordinary mental and physical power, and his name to-day is honored wherever it is known. In politics he is a republican, and received his present appointment under Presi- dent McKinley. BRANCIS W. BLISS, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, springs from sterling Vermont colonial stock from Eng- land, and was born in Northfield, Ohio, March 20, 1834, a son of Lucian and Laura (Wicks) Bliss. He received a common education, became a farmer, and enlisted in January, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio, for one year, in the One Hundred and Fifteenth regi- ment Ohio volunteer infantry, but was trans- ferred to the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth regiment, company C, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., and was honorably discharged in August, 1865, the war having closed. At Murfreesboro, Tenn., he was detailed with a surveying party, and most of his service was passed in this duty. He was taken sick with fever at Nashville, Tenn., was confined in hospital there about four weeks, and in hospital at Louisville, Ky., two weeks, and was thence transferred to Camp Dennison, Ohio, from which he was honorably discharged a few weeks later. While in Ten- nessee with a surveying party, which consisted of but sixteen gnards and the surveyor, the party narrowly escaped capture by old Champ Ferguson, a noted guerrilla, who was after- wards captured and hanged in Nashville. After the war Mr. Bliss returned to Ohio and married, in Independence township, Cuy- ahoga county, January 23, 1873, Miss Harriet E. Eldridge, who was born February 28, 1844, a daughter of Erastus and Julia (Hosmer) El- dridge, and to this marriage have been born George (who died aged three years and nine months), Julia, Timothy and William. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are both members of the Meth- odist church in Northfield; in politics Mr. Bliss is a republican, cast his first presidential vote 582 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD for Lincoln, and is a member of Royal Dun- ham post, G. A. R., at Bedford, Ohio. He has always been an industrious and respected citizen, and is fully worthy of the high esteem in which he is held by his companions in arms and by all his fellow-citizens. Lucian Bliss, father of Francis W., was born in September, 1804, at Burlington. Vt., married there, and came to Ohio as a pioneer, and settled in Northfield township. Summit county, and cleared up several farms, becom- ing a substantial citizen. He was a practical, energetic business man, had a contract on the Miami & Erie canal, and also a contract on the Valley railroad, but died before the com- pletion of the latter, September 28, 1873, aged sixty-eight years. Of his children, George, Francis W., Lucian, Fannie and Laura are those who lived. Francis and Lucian were sol- diers in the Civil war. Lucian was in the One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry in the three years' service and was in several battles. Lucian Bliss, the father, was one of the founders and mainstays of the Methodist church in Northfield town- ship, contributed liberally from his means, and practically kept up its integrity. Erastus Eldridge, father of Mrs. Harriet E. Bliss, was born in Springfield, Mass., July 25, 1802, and married Julia Hosmer, a daugh- tar of Eleazer and Clara (Needham) Hosmer, and their children were Eleazer, Clara, Will- iam, Finette, Mary, Harriet E. and Jane. Mr. Eldridge, on coming to Ohio, settled at Inde- pendence, Cuyahoga county, where he carried on a stone quarry many years. He lived to be seventy-five years old and died in 1876. He was a democrat in politics, was an honest, hard-working, industrious man, and much re- spected. He had one son, William, who was a member of company A, One Hundred and Third Ohio volunteer infantry. At the battle of Armstrong Hill, he was struck by a piece of shell and died in hospital at Knoxville, Tenn. Eleazer Hosmer, grandfather of Mrs. Bliss, was of English descent, and was among the very early settlers in America. Grandfather Hosmer was a soldier in the war of 1812, but never was a pensioner. HLBERT ALLEN (deceased) was ranked among the leading and most enterprising business men of Akron. He was born in Coventry township, Summit county, Ohio, March 12, 1827, a son of Levi and Phebe (Spicer) Allen, of whom full mention is made in the biography of Miner J. Allen, which is published in proximit}' with this notice, and to which the attention of the reader is respectfully called. Albert Allen was reared on the farm, with a common-school education; on attaining his majority learned the millwrighting trade, at which he worked about nine years, in 1856 converting the Perkins woolen-mill, on Canal street, into a flouring-mill for J. & J. Allen & Co., and on its completion assuming the man- agement of the mill, and ably filling the posi- tion for about ten years. In 1867, in connec- tion with Alexander H. Commins, he purchased the Stone mill, the firm of Commins & Allen doing a phenomenally successful business until the death of Mr. Commins in 1880, the firm name continuing, with Mr. Allen as executor of Mr. Commins' large estate, until it was merged in the F. Schumacher Milling company, April 5, 1886, of which company Mr. Allen was a director and the vice-president until the time of his death, September 25, 1888, at the age of sixty-one years, six months and thirteen days. Mr. Allen, though never married, en- joyed the comforts of a fine home on Bowery street, with his sister. Miss Cynthia Allen, as his housekeeper, rearing and educating his niece. Miss Minnie E. Allen, now wife of (^2/^C^OHN THOMAS BRITTAIN, one of ■ the oldest and most respected farmers /•I of Tallmadge township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, descends from ante-Revolu- tionary ancestors, being on the paternal side of English origin and on the maternal side of German extraction. Of six Brittain brothers born in England, three came to America and fought through the war for the independence of the colonies; the other three were drafted, or impressed, into the British army in England, and came to America to aid in suppressing what was then termed, by the English, the rebellion. Of the latter three, one remained in Canada after the war, and two returned to England. Of the former three all remained in the United States, the existence of which they aided in estab- lishing. Zeboth Brittain, one of the three brothers who risked their lives for American independ- ence, and the grandfather of John T. Brittain, of Tallmadge township, was born in England, January 9, 1746, and his wife, Mary Eliza- beth, September 2, 1748. To their union were born Mary, July 7, 1767; William, April 4. 1769; Joseph, March i, 1771, David, April 2, 1773; Elizabeth, June 28, 1775; Rnchel, January 17, 1777; John, June 20, 1779; Ellen, February 24, 1783, and Sarah, February 24, 1788. Zeboth was a farmer of Maryland, but died in Sandusky, Ohio, at the home of a mar- ried daughter. John Brittain, mentioned above as the son of Zeboth, was born in Maryland, but when a young man went to Pennsylvania, where, April 17, 1806, he married Margaret Albertson, in Colurhbia county, where she was born August 27, 1786. To this marriage was born Henry, February 27, 1807; Allen, September 17, 1809; Zeboth, February 18, i8[2;Jane, May 13, 1814; Elizabeth, March 12, 1817; Cath- erine, April 22, 1821; John Thomas (subject), August 6, 1823, and Matilda M., June 19, 1826 — all born on their father's farm in Columbia county. Pa., where the mother died November 4, 1831, aged forty- five years. In April, 1832, John Brittain and his family came to Ohio and settled in Springfield town- ship, Summit county, on the farm which his son, John Thomas, now owns. In coming here the family made the journey across the Alleghany mountains with a three-horse team and were fourteen days on the way. Here Mr. Brittain hewed the forest away from 206 acres which he purchased, and, in cour.se of time, by hard work, developed as good a farm as ever existed in the county. He here married his second wife, Gainor Mettlin, but to this union no children were born. Mr. 588 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Brittain was a whig ia politics and held several offices. His death took place April 5, 1857, in the faith of the Methodist church, and no man in the township was more respected than this upright pioneer. John Thomas Brittain was born in Colum- bia county, Pa. , and was nine years old when he came to Ohio with his father. He received the usual education granted pioneer lads and was reared to farming on his father's home- stead. He was first married to Hannah Rogers, who was born in Geauga county, Ohio, a daughter of Gordon and Sarah Rogers, and to this union were born Amanda, John, Sarah and Hannah, of whom John served in the Fourth Ohio artillery and was with Sher- man in his famous march to the sea. He now lives in Springfield township. Summit count}'. Gordon Rogers was born in Connecticut, was a pioneer of Geauga county, Ohio, where he cleared up a farm, and had born to him six children, viz: Hannah, Sarah, Ann, Monroe, Hiram and James. He later moved to a farm near Corry, Pa., where he passed the re- mainder of his life. Mrs. Hannah Brittian died March 20, 1853, and September i, 1853, Mr. Brittain married, at Tallmadge Center, Miss Catherine Potts, who was born January i, 1S31, in Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, a daughter of Israel and Mary (Cook) Potts, and to this marriage have been born eight children, viz: Olive, Lemuel, Alice, Martha C, Cora, Grace, Edith and Millie C, and he now has thirty- five grandchildren and five great-grandchil- dren, among whom there has never occurred a death. Israel Potts was a son of Joshua Potts, a native of Scotland and who was a pioneer of Suffield township. Portage county, where he cleared up a farm of 140 acres from the woods, but, prior to 1859, came to Summit county, then a wilderness. He served in the war of 1812 and had born to him eleven children, viz: Israel, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Lewis, Jonas, Ann, Betsey, Joshua, Christina, Catherine, and one who died in infancy. The eldest of these, Israel, was born in Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, October 3, 1809 He was reared a farmer and was married, at Ran- dolph Center, by 'Squire Merriman, December 25, 1830, to Miss Mary Cook, who was born in Suffield township, Portage county. May 13, 1812. a daughter of David and Chloe (Moore) Cook. David Cook was born in Connecticut, was married in that state, and prior to 1812 set' led in Suffield township, where he cleared up a farm from the forest. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a typical pioneer. He had born to him a famdy of nine children, viz: Mary, Nathan, John, Lee, Calvin, Orange, Rachel, and two who died in infancy. He lived to be about sixty years of age, and died on his farm in April, 1854. Nathan Moore was one of the early p'o- neers and surveyors of Ohio and surveyed the site of the present cit}' of Cleveland, in com- pany with its founder, and afterward "seti led in Springfield township. Summit county, with his farnih', but his bod\' lies interied in Suf- field township. Portage county. Israel Potts, after marriage, settled in Suf- field township, cleared up a good farm of about 100 acres. His children were Cather- ine, Levi, Eli, Nathan, Mary, Louisa, Jonas, Israel, Mendel, and Elizabeth Of these, Israel served three months in company D, Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and was in several battles, including Cedar Mountain, and Nathan served in the Fortieth Ohio bat- tery of artillery. Mr. Potts was a democrat in politics; was an upright citizen, and died in Kent January i, 1877. Chloe Cook, maieinal grandmother of Mrs. Catherine Briitain. liv^i his pronounced characteristics, by poibarking iij business qn his own account. With a neighbor boy he purchased a canal boat,; which they operated some years. Later be engaged in school-teaching and at the same time he was learning valuable lessons in the school of experience and developing a self- reliance and force of character which have prov.ed of incalculable benefit to him in his contact with the world. Mr. Conger's service in the Civil war in- terrupted his pedagogic labors. Prompted by patriotic impulses he enlisted among the boys in blue of company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry, and upon the organi- zation of the company was elected second lieutenant. Meritorious conduct won him pro- motion to the rank of first lieutenant, and ere the war closed he was made captain, thus serv- ing until July, 1865, when hostilities having ended he was honorably discharged. On the field of battle he was ever brave and fearless, and his caution and unusual foresight often called him to be selected for some special service. He was for some time acting adju- tant of the regiment, served as acting assist- ant adjutant-general on the staff of Brig-Gen. Jacob Ammon; was provost marshal under Gen. J. D. Cox, and was assistant inspector of railroad defenses of the department of the Cumberland, under Gen. George H. Thomas, a position requiring marked executive ability and mental grasp. The details of this impor- tant and responsible position were administered with such skill, intelligence and promptitude as to commend him to the personal attention of Gen. Thomas, whose congratulatory letters, as well as those of many other distinguished officers, he has now in his possession. He thus for some time had charge of the railroad defenses of the department of the Cumberland, located at Nashville, under the immediate charge of Maj. James R. Willett, of the First United States veteran. vol unteer-engineere-n.tS whom commissioned officers df that brapch .pt service of the department made ;th?ir,r.i^p((>;fts.l At the close of the. war he returned hoxr^et-.ivio Civic as well as military honors have cortifef to Col. Conger,, by reason? of. his superioc ability and worth. He was twice elected trpas-i urer of Summit county, was city .treasurer, Ofc Akron, secretary of the board of educatiottji was president of the Business Men's club. 0f that place, and a recognized leader in Sgcia},: political and commercial life. He might have secured any political office he. desired, but he seeks not reward for his active and efficient public service. For more than twenty years he has been an influential member of the re- publican committees of the state, served three times as chairman of the state republican committee of Ohio and for eight years was a member of the national executive committee. He has made a profound study of economic questions of national importance and is con- sidered a just and discriminating critic of many of the most subtle and perplexing branches of the tariff and financial questions^ being to-day recognized as one of the ablest and most practical of financiers and politicians belonging to the class of manufacturers of the United States. In 1870 Col. Conger became a traveling salesman for the Whitman & Miles Manu- facturing company, which had plants at Fitch- burg,: Mass., and Akron, Ohio, and was the first company in the world to make a specialty of the manufacture of mower knives, reaper sickles and sections, beginning operations in 1850 and since maintaining the lead in the trade. The colonel was soon made a director of the company, a little later its vice-presi^ dent, and later president of the new or con- solidated company, which position he so ably filled until the fall of 1897. In 1877 the com- pany perfected a consolidation with George 608 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Barnes & Company, of Syracuse, N. Y., and for some years the business was handled only from the Akron and Syracuse factories, but owing to its great increase a plant was estab- lished at St. Catherines, Ontario, and later at Canton, Ohio. Other specialties for the agri- cultural trade in this country and abroad were also added to their list of manufactures, and branch houses have been established in New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, Kan- sas City, San Francisco, London and Paris, thus providing more direct communication with consumers. The trade so rapidly grew that the capacity had to be greatly enlarged, and for this purpose twenty acres of land were purchased at West Pullman, 111., on which to erect their fifth plant. In all the goods which are manufactured, the com- pany have a reputation for their excellence, the products of their factories being of ac- knowledged superiority. Col. Conger married Miss Emily Bronson, a lady of high intellectual attainment and cult- ure, and a daughter of H. V. Bronson, of Peninsula, Ohio, whose father, Hiram Bron- son, was one of the partners who purchased the Western Reserve. The colonel and his wife have four sons: Kenyon B., Arthur L. , Erastus Irving, deceased, and Latham H. Their beautiful and palatial home, called Irving Lawn, in memory of their deceased son, is the center of a cultured society circle. In 1882 Mr. Conger was elected to the command of the Eighth regiment, Ohio na- tional guards, and thus won the title by which he is generally known. He served in that capacity for eight years, during which time he held the position of honor at the public square during the funeral obsequies of President Gar- field. In 1885, in Ashland, Ohio, he held in check an excited mob of nearly ten thousand at the time of the execution of Horn and Griffin, and, without firing a shot, thus pre- vented a scene of bloodshed and horror. He has always taken an active part in the work of the Grand Army of the Republic, was depart- ment commander of Ohio in 1886, and is a member of the Ohio commandery of the Loyal Legion. He belongs to the Protestant Epis- copal church and has long been president of the Union Charity association of Akron. His benevolence and charity have made happy many a home, and the extent of his munifi- cence is known only to himself. The life of such a man as Col. Conger needs no eulogistic comment from the biographer. It speaks for itself. Splendid success has crowned his busi- ness efforts, honors have awaited him in civil and military life, but above all he has won the love and respect of the poor by his recognition of the brotherhood of mankind, and his readi- ness to acknowledge worth and merit in the humblest representative of the race. at ILLIAM H. DEISMAN. a highly respected horticulturist of North- field township, Summit county, Ohio, and a veteran soldier of the Civil war, springs from sterling Pennsylvania- Dutch stock, Henry Lewis Deisman, his grand- father, having come from Germany at the age of seventeen years, about the time of the American Revolution, and settled in Wells- ville, York county, Pa. William H. Deisman was born February 6, 1 84 1, on the farm where he now lives, a son of Henry L. and Letitia (Coulson) Deisman, was here educated and reared to farming. He enlisted, in Cleveland, Ohio, when twenty years old, October 11, 1861, in company D, Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war; re-enlisted as a veteran at Chattanooga, Tenn. , January i, 1864, and served until honorably discharged. ■,/4/. IVt i t.>y-7^ C Ct-^t^^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 609 August 12, 1865, after the war had closed. He was in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Cor- inth, Perrysville, Stone River and Chicka- mauga, where he was shot in the right knee and was in hospital until December, 1863, when he rejoined his regiment and was in the battles of Dalton, Resaca, and Pickett's Mills, May 27, 1864, where he was shot through the right side by a minie ball and was taken to field hospital and then to the hospital at Ac- worth, where he remained until June 14, and was then transferred consecutively to Chatta- nooga, Nashville, Jefifersonville, Ind., and Camp Dennison, Ohio. He rejoined his regi- ment in March, 1865, at Huntsville, Ala., and remained until June 16, when he was dis- charged. He has never recovered from the wound in his side, and it is still open about one-half of the time. After the war Mr. Deisman returned to the home farm, of which he has cleared sixty acres. This farm he purchased in 1870, but at that time it contained none of its present improvements, which have all been made by himself. He now has a beautiful dwelling, substantial out-buildings, lawns, and twenty acres set in fruit, including apples, pears, plums, peaches and cherries, and many vari- eties of small fruits. In 1895-96 he produced about 3,000 bushels of apples, each year, and in 1897 sold over 350 bushels of plums and about fifty bushels of strawberries, and in fruit culture he is considered to be the most suc- cessful of any person in the county, beside which, he has been more than usually success- ful in dairying. He married, in 1866, Miss Mary J. Johnson, who died in March, 1872; he next married Miss Carolina E. Nesbit, daughter of William and Lucinda (Johnson) Nesbit. William Nesbit was a pioneer of Northfield township, and a soldier in the war of 1 81 2, and his son, David G. Nesbit, was a soldier in the Civil war in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry, in the three years' service. William H. Deisman is in politics a re- publican, having cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and is a member of the Methodist church at Bedford, Ohio. He has held the office of township trustee two years, is one of the most respected citizens of Northfield town- ship and stands high for integrity of character. He has a fine military record and served his country faithfully for more than four years. Henry L. Deisman, father of subject, was born in 1807 and married, in Pennsylvania, Letitia Coulson, of York county. The chil- dren born to this union were James C, Eliza- beth, Isabel, Margaret, Ann, Mary and Will- iam H. Henry L. Deisman settled on the homestead where our subject was born, about 1832, and cleared up a farm from the woods and made good improvements. He was first a whig and then a republican in politics, lived to be sixty years of age, and died in 1867. He was a hard-working, industrious man, respected by all. William H. Deisman is a member of R. L. Dunham post, No. 177, G. A. R., at Bedford, Ohio, and served as com- mander one year. He is also a member of lodge No. 375, F. & A. M., at Bedford, and is one of the most respected residents of North- field township. (D ILTON C. DANFORTH, a promi- nent farmer and one of the most respected citizens of Darrowville, Summit county, Ohio, descends from an English family who two centuries ago set- tled in New Hampshire. William Danforth, the founder of the fam- ily in America, came from England and landed at Boston, Mass., about 1670, but settled in Newbury, in the same state. A brother came with him and settled in Maine. Rev. Nicholas m^ PORtRAlT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ©anforthv also from England, wa§ thfetbunder of another branch of the Danforth family-. William Danforth, with others, received a g'raftt of land from the Massachusetts Bay •feioldfly in the town of Boscawen (now Web- •'Sterj, N. H., and there he settled and lived widrty years. -'I'' William Danforth, the great-grandfather of siobject, was a farmer of Boscawen, N. H., ^arid w^s a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Enoch Danforth, son of William, was born in -New Hampshire, was a farmer, and married i/ii 'Vermont, near Saint Albans, Hannah Hains, i-^native of Vermont, of German ancestry. Of "their children, . Sabra, Hial, Mary, Louisa, t^arrisoB, Judith and William reached mature 'y public many years. He is a charter member of Darrowstreet grange, No. 751, and was the master of the grange for years, and he is dep- uty state master, looking after the interest of Summit county granges. He is a man of ex- cellent character and stands high in the town- ship, and his children have all received good educations. Jennie E. is married to Edward O. Shively, and has one child — Mabel E., and resides at Darrowville, Ohio. Nina R. is married to F. R. Howe, and Mil- ton H., who was married October 20, 1897, to Miss Frances G. Ball, daughter of Dr. W. T. Ball, of Mantua Station, Portage county, is a resident of Darrowville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Howe are publishers of The Children's World, a journal devoted to rhetorical exercises in the public schools, be- side all grades of school aids. Their business has grown to large pretentions and some mail days their output reaches to fifteen sacks of publications. Their business comprises mail business entirely, and the grade of the work is first-class and is indorsed by all the practical educators. Mr. Danforth is an ardent advocate of spir- itualism, which is now recognized in many places as one of the important factors in relig- ious belief, and of the truth of which he be- came convinced in 1858, two years after its announcement to the world as a religious doc- trine, but it was not until 1890 that an organ- ization was formed in Portage county, although national in character. The local originator of the movement was Dr. David M. King, of Mantua Station, Ohio, with the aid of the spirits, which were associated with him. The organization, now known as the National Spir- itual and Religious Camp association, is lo- cated at Mantua Station, Ohio, owning a hotel, beautifully located within one-half mile of the Erie railroad depot in Maple Grove, 30x90 feet and three stories high; but there will be an- other more pretentious building, which will be erected soon. There are about thirty cot- tages erected on the grounds. The audito- rium, 120x60 feet, will accommodate about 2,000 people. Here, in this beautiful grove, God's first temples, is where these happy peo- ple congregate each year, and each year brings new additions to their religious belief. Rev.'i Moses Hull, one of the best and most profound Bible scholars in the United States, is the chief exponent of this work. Dr. Hull, Rev. A. J. Weaver, Milton H. Danforth and D. M. King, also Dr. Schermer- horn, of Akron, Ohio, conduct a school each summerat the camp grounds, which is one of the great aids in spreading the teachings of the Spir- itualists. Mr. Danforth has been president and chairman of the organization since 1890, and his onerous duties have been received by his people with the greatest satisfaction. Some of the most striking seances have been given at Mantua, Ohio, and such prominent mediums as Mrs. Sheets, of Michigan; A. B.' French, Clyde, Ohio; Mrs. Anna L. Robin- son, of Port Huron, Mich. ; Mrs. Jennie B. H. Jackson, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Lyman C. Howe, of Fredonia, N. Y. ; Mrs. Cora L. Richmond, of Chicago, and Mrs. Mary C. Lyman, principally platform workers, have been present, which indicates that the work is in a very flourishing stage. Mr. Danforth has been an indefatigable worker in the Lord's vineyard in this religious belief, being a gen- tleman of more than ordinary executive ability and courteous in manner, and has done much to advance the cause. Mr. Danforth's mother, who had reached, the advanced age of eighty-seven years and eight months, died December 18, 1897, sin- cere in the spiritualistic belief. Her life was- replete with good works or deeds, and her departure was peaceful and contented, and she was beloved by all who knew her. Her remains 612 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Are interred in Maple Grove cemetery, where a beautiful granite monument stands sacred to her memory. (D RS. EMELINE BLISS, of North- field Center. — In a work of this character the pioneers deserve more ' than passing mention. To those sturdy men and women of a time now histori- cal the present owes a debt of gratitude which is only augmented by the increase of years, a debt of whose significance future genera- tions will be prepared to more adequately esti- mate. To the life work and influence of the venerable lady whose name heads this sketch the community of Northfield Center is in- estimably indebted. Here her whole life has been passed, and the good she has done will live after her. Her work of love in the com- munity will form an imperishable monument to her memory. Emeline Palmer was born at Windsor. Conn., April 5, 1815, daughter of Hezekiah H. and Abagail (Taylor) Palmer, who were the original pioneers of Northfield Center, building the first log cabin there in 1832. Hezekiah Palmer was born in Windsor, Hart- ford county. Conn., January 19, 1781, was married May 29, 1811, to Abigail Taylor, who was born in Buckland, Mass., January \2, 1792. To them were born eight children, viz: Julia A., Emeline, Abigail T., William L., Horace H., Henry T., and two who died in in- fancy. The Palmers are of old Connecticut stock, who came over in the Mayflower, some were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Palmer first came to Ohio in 1822, locating at Willoughby. They were six weeks in making the journey in a large covered wagon drawn by two yoke of cattle and a horse. After a few years the family returned to their native town and state. In 1 831 Mr. Palmer came again to Ohio, purchasing 160 acres at the center of Northfield. Returning, he brought out his family in June, 1832. He built the first log house at the center of Northfield, in the woods, which in a few years was replaced by the frame house. Here the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Palmer was a most exemplary woman, patiently enduring the labors and privations of pioneer life. She was truly a helpmeet for her husband. At sixteen years of age she united with the Bap- tist church, and for sixty-eight years was true to the church of her early choice. Mr. Palmer lived and died an honored and worthy citizen, upright in all his dealings, obliging and courteous to all. Miss Emeline Palmer, the second child and daughter, was married in a log house at Northfield May 9, 1839, to Ambrose Williams Bliss, who was born December 6, 1806, at Jericho, Vt. , a son of Timothy and Anne (Campbell) Bliss. Ambrose W. Bliss received a common-school education in his native state and learned the trades of millwright and car- penter. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1833 and for some years he worked at these trades in Cleveland, being engaged for some time as a foreman on the public works in Cleveland harbor and Black river. Previous to his mar- riage in 1839 he bought thirty acres of par- tially cleared land a half mile south of North- field Center, where he resided for a few years. He and his brother, Lucien, had previously bought I 50 acres a mile west of the Center, which Lucien improved. In 1837 Ambrose W. bought 165 acres at what is now North- field Center. Of this tract but a few acres had been cleared. He completed the task of clearing, and, about 1843, erected the present substantial homestead. This was the first large two-story frame house in Northfield and is still standing, a commodious and pleasant OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 615 residence. Mr. Bliss was largely engaged in contracting and mechanical pursuits. He built many of the acqueducts and locks on the Ohio canal, also trestles and bridges, beside many buildings of a substantial character, having been engaged in nearly all the works of importance in his vicinity. In the true sense of the term, Ambrose W. Bliss was a self-made man. Through his own sturdy efforts and the assistance of his faithful wife, prosperity came, and at the time of his death he owned 240 acres of finely improved farm- ing lands. In his political faith Mr. Bliss was an old-line whig, and a warm Union man, and was one of the original republicans of his county. By his upright manner of living he received the honors of his community and held, in his township, the offices of justice of the peace and township trustee. He also served the county six years as commissioner — from 1854 to i860 — and was one of the directors of the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati (now C, A. & C. road). Mr. Bliss was an ardent friend of religion, and was a life member of the American Bible society. He was a well- read man, taking a lively interest in the aflairs of the day. His excellent judgment in men's affairs, coupled with his unquestioned integ- rity, gave him a high place in the community of which he was so valued a member. The children of this family were Ellen, Lorin, Horace and George. Horace was a soldier in the Civil war, a private in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry, and died February 20, 1863, of disease contracted in the service. Though quite young at the time of his enlistment, and of frail physique, his high patriotism impelled him to offer his services to his country, and against the wishes of his parents he heroically went to meet an untimely death. The daugh- ter, Ellen Bliss, remains at home to care for her mother in her declining years. Miss Bliss is a lady of marked intelligence, refinement and grace, and is possessed of fine literary tastes. She acted as historian for the West- ern Reserve Historical society in the prepara- tion of the work on "Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve." The family is very prop- erly one of the most respected in the county. Mrs. Bliss, the venerable subject of this mem- oir, although now past the allotted three score and ten, possesses even excellent memory and vision; her mental faculties are unimpaired. She is one of the few remaining pioneers of the Western Reserve who have seen all this wonderful advance in the condition of the wilderness of her childhood, and her reminis- cences of former times are interesting and valuable. A brief glance at the history of the Bliss family will be interesting. This family is of old and noble Norman stock, and anciently possessed a coat of arms. The first of the name of whom record has been retained was Thomas Bliss, of Belstone parish, in the county of Devonshire, England, born about 1550. He was a wealthy land owner of the sect of the Puritans and was mercilessly subjected to all the severity of the persecution against that austere sect. He was the father of six chil- dren, of whom Thomas, of the second genera- tion, was the founder of the Northfield family. Thomas was born at Belstone parish in 1580, and married a Miss Margaret Lawrence. The continued restrictions against the Puritans drove Thomas and his family to America in the autumn of 1635. They landed at Plymouth and temporarily located at Braintree, Mass., but later moved to Hartford, Conn., where he died in 1640. Thomas was the father of ten children, and has one grandson. Ebenezer Parsons was the first white child born at Northampton. Mass. He was born May i, 1655, and was killed by the Indians at North- field, September 2, 1675. Mary, daughter of 616 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Thomas Bliss, was this boy's mother. She was charged with witchcraft by envious neigh- bors, sent to Boston for trial, but was acquitted. John, son of Thomas and Margaret Bliss, was born at Hartford, Conn., about 1640; was married at Springfield, Mass., October 7, 1667, to Patience, daughter of Henry and Ulalia Burt, of that place, and died at Longmeadow, Mass., September 10, 1702. Patience was born August 18, 1645, and died October 25, 1732. Nathaniel, son of John and Patience Bliss, was born at Springfield, Mass., January 26, 1671, and died at Lebanon, Conn., in 1751. He married Mary Wright in Springfield, Feb- ruary 3, 1697. Henry, of Lebanon (now Columbia), Conn., son of Nathaniel and Mary Bliss, was born October 25, 1701, married Bethiah Spafford, of Lebanon, in 1725, and died August 28, 1761. Pelatiah, of Lebanon, son of Henry and Bethiah Bliss, was born May 6, 1725, and married Hepzibah Goodwin June 19, 1744. Timothy, of Essex, Vt., son of Pelatiah and Hepzibah Bliss, was born March 22, 1745, married Zerviah Williams, and died May 3, 1817. He was a member of the convention called in 1791 to act on the adoption of the constitution of the United States. Timothy, of Jericho, Vt. , son of Timothy and Zerviah Bliss, married Anne Campbell about 1792, and died April 17, 1843. He was the father of Julius, born June 10, 1793; Cyn- thia, born November 27, 1794; Fannie, born May 6, 1796; Hosea, born February 8, 1798; Timothy (third) born January 20, 1800: Lu- cien, born December 4, 1801; Laura Ann, born February 7, 1803; Lucien, (second), born December 16, 1804; Ambrose Williams, born December 6, 1806; Zebina, born February 26, 1809; George, born June i, 181 3. Ambrose Williams Bliss was the founder of the Northfield Center homestead. (h RS. HENRY F. ELLSWORTH, of Streetsboro township. Portage county, Ohio, descends from an early pioneer of the county. Heze- kiah Ellsworth, the original settler here of that name, was born in Massachusetts, at Windsor, where he grew to maturity, and May 22, 1 8 16, married Eunice Gibson, and the children were Henry F. ; Rufus G., born Jan- uary 17, 1818; Amy E. , born July 3, 18 19; Annie- — deceased, aged thirteen years. May 19, 1836; Josephine Aura, born May 7, 1820. Hezekiah Ellsworth had fought in the war of 1812, and came to Ohio in 1829, making the journey with an ox team, and was forty days on the way, being obliged to cut the road part of the way through the woods. He first set- tled in Aurora, at Geauga lake, and lived there one year. He then bought ten acres of land in the woods in Streetsboro township, where the homestead now is. He cut the first tree on the place, which was very thickly covered with very heavy timber, and by degrees he cleared up a small space and built a log cabin. He worked hard, and finallj' developed a good farm of sixty acres. He lived to be eighty- eight years old and died on his homestead. Henry F. Ellsworth, first saw the light in Windsor, Conn., and was about nine years of age when he came to Ohio with his parents. He was always a farmer, and had a good common-school education and possessed an excellent memory. He married Betsy Meech, who was born September 9, 1823, in Chip- pewa township, Wayne county, a daughter of Abel and Charity (Meek) Meech. Abel Meech was born in Connecticut and married there, and his children were Althea, Polly, Amos, William, Aaron, Sallie, John, Abel, Katie A., Eunice, Betsy, George, Charity and Hannah. Mr. Meech was one of the pioneers of Wayne county, was a substantial farmer and cleared his farm from the woods, building a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 617 log house before he built a frame house. He was a hard-working pioneer and much respect- ed citizen, lived to be about eighty years old, and died on his farm. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth settled on the old Ellsworth farm — and by his thrift and industry Mr. Ellsworth added to it until he owned 265 acres of good land and was a substantial and prosperous farmer. His children were Alvira, Westley and Henry L. His politics was democratic. He was a hard- working, industrious man and made his prop- erty by his own labor, and built the present residence. He lived to be seventy-seven years old and died on his farm. Henry L. Ellsworth, son of Henry F. and wife, was born June 21, 1859, received a com- mon education and has always been a farmer. He was married March 17, 1895, in Hudson township, to Lillian Washburn, who was born August 25, 1866, in Boston township, a daughter of V. D. and Ellen (Kelly) Wash- burn. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn were the parents of two daughters — Lillian and Marion. Mr. Washburn served through the Civil war and was wounded in battle. Mr. Ellsworth is now living on the old homestead, is a prac- tical farmer and an industrious man, straight- forward and honorable. In politics he is a democrat. Mr. Ellsworth is a member of the Congregational church of Hudson, and frater- nally he is a member of K. of P. of Hudson. *w ' C. ECKERT, one of the leading 1^^^ liverymen in Kent, is a native of M. . r Portage county, Ohio, and was born in Ravenna townsnip March 2, 1862, a son of Abram and Olive (^Reed) Eckert, the Eckert family coming from Pennsylvania. The father is a farmer by occupation, and, in conjunction, for many years, was also engaged in running a threshing machine. H. C. Eck- ert was about eight years of age, only, when his mother died. He was brought up on the farm and was educated in the public schools. He began the activities of life for himself by running a dray and transfer wagon in Kent, doing a general transfer business, which he continued some three years, and then for one year was engaged in the dairy or milk business. Later, he was in the employ of Levi Reed, in the livery business, for one year, and then en- gaged in the livery business on his personal account, which he has continued for about ten years and has one of the best appointed establishments in the city of Kent. Mr. Eckert was married, in 1880, to Miss Eliza Ayliffe. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eckert have been born three children, viz: Olive, Harry and Ruth. Mr. Eckert is a member of Achilles lodge, No. 378, K. of P., is greatly honored by his fellow-members and he and wife are among the most highly es- teemed residents of Kent, where the business of Mr. Eckert, which is of a semi-public char- acter, causes him to be widely known, and where his obliging disposition and courteous deportment have won for him hosts of personal friends. Wyy^ILLIAM BARNABAS DOYLE, the Mm I son of William B. and Mary Maud mjL^ (Lantzj Doyle, was born in the city of Akron, in the old homestead at 150 South High street, on the 19th day of April, 1868. He was educated in the Akron public schools from 1874 to 1883; in the Western Reserve academy from 1883 to 1886, where he graduated after completing the classical course; received his academic train- ing at Amherst College from 1886 to 1890, and graduated as a member of the class of 1890. In January, 1891, he was elected a director and treasurer of the Akron Electrical «18 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Manufacturing Co. , but resigned to enter the Harvard Law School in October, 1892. He spent three years at Harvard and graduated in June, 1895, receiving the degree of LL. B. from Harvard university. In 1895 he was again elected a director and treasurer of the Electrical company, positions which he con- tinues to hold. In October, 1895, Mr. Doyle was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state of Ohio, at Columbus, and im- mediately commenced the active practice of his profession in his native city. He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fra- ternity, and was for two years chief of the New England district. He is a republican in politics and is connected by membership with the Congregational church and the Sons of the American Revolution. ar 'ILLIAM BARNABAS DOYLE, Sr., was born in Franklin county, Pa. , in a valley of the Blue mountains called Path valley, on the 5th day of March, 1825. His ancestors had been pioneers in the settlement of Cumberland and Franklin counties, and the first record of his family in America appears in the Pennsyl- vania and Colonial Archives, where an inter- esting account is given of the expulsion of the earliest settlers, of whom his great-grand- father, Felix Doyle, was one, from territory ceded to the Indians by treaty with Great Britain. Felix Doyle came to America from the north of Ireland very early in the eighteenth century and made a home for himself in the wilderness, where a son, whom he named Barnabas, was born. Barnabas became the father of ten children, among whom were Will- iam Doyle, Barnabas Doyle, Jr., and Thomas John Sylvester Doyle, who was born July 31, 1788, and became the father of the sub- ject of our sketch, and two other children, Thomas John Doyle, and Mary A. Doyle, who afterward married Hon. James Ferguson, of Chambersburg. Thomas John Sylvester Doyle reared his children on the farm which he tilled for his vocation, and when his youngest child, William B. Doyle, was thirteen years of age he apprenticed him to a cabinetmaker for three years; this became the young man's trade. When he was but seventeen years old a spirit of enterprise and indomitable cour- age turned the young fellow's steps toward the west. In 1842 he arrived in Akron, Ohio, having traveled almost the entire distance on foot and with no money to aid him. He found employment at his trade and in time bought out his employers and became a master cabi- netmaker. Several years later he profitably disposed of his business and formed a partner- ship, known as Doyle & Chamberlain, which engaged in the business of buying cattle for market, selling meat, etc. His next venture was a return to agriculture, which he pursued upon a large farm, which he had purchased in Coventry township. In August of 1865, with John H. Dix and Daniel Farnam, he pur- chased the lumber and manufacturing business of S. G. Wilson for the sum of $35,000, and organized the firm of W. B. Doyle & Co. Mr. Dix died in 1886, and in 1888 Mr. Doyle purchased the interest of Mr. Farnam and conducted the business alone until his death. He became a victim of the epidemic known as "La Grippe," and died in Akron on August 6, 1890, at the age of sixty-five years, five months and one day. It should be stated that his mother was Anne (Taylor) Doyle, who was born at Carlisle, Pa., February 12, 1797, and who died in Akron, December 12, 1882. His mother was of the old-time Presbyterian school and in such an atmosphere his earliest years were spent. When the Methodist church was built in Akron he became a worshiper OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 619 there, though never becoming a member of any church. He was a member of the republican party from the start, having voted for John C. Fremont, and he remained a stanch repub- hcan through all his days. He held no public civil office of any kind whatever and never wanted nor sought any. On July 30, 1857, he was made ensign of the Akron Rifles, Ohio volunteer militia, and in 1863 he was made captain of the Coventry company of national militia, organized under the act of April 14, 1863. This company was ready to take part in the great struggle for the preservation of the Union, and was organized and maintained with that end in view, but was never called upon to go to the front. Mr. Doyle was married October 30, 1855, to Miss Harriet Sage, of Monroe 'county, N. Y. , who died November 6, 1862, leaving one child, Dayton A. Doyle. On June 9, 1867, Mr. Doyle married Mary Maud Lantz, of Akron, who died February 1 1, 1874, leaving three children, William B. Doyle, Jr. ; Delia May Doyle and Dean Lantz Doyle. In 1877 he married again, and of this marriage there is one daughter, Anna Doyle, who survives. aHARLES H. FARWELL, one of the old settlers of Hudson, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, and a man well known for his industry and integrity of charac- ter, was born at Concord, Mass., October 22, 182 1, and came to Ohio in November, 1837. He first worked for his uncle, John Bateman, of Hudson, began learning the blacksmith's trade, and in 1839 moved to Twinsburg, where he finished learning his trade with Thomas Parmelee. He married, in Twinsburg, Ohio, May 14, 1845, Ellen Amelia Porter, who was born either in Naugatuck, or Prospect, Conn., November 17, 1826, a daughter of Arba and Atlanta (Beecher) Porter. Arba Porter was born in Connecticut, descended from the early Puritan settlers, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Beecher family was also of Puritan stock and of the family from which the famous Henry Ward Beecher descended. Mrs. Porter was first married to Myers Scott, and by him was the mother of Julia J., Cath- erine M., Harriet E. and Delia. Thus she was the mother of nine daughters, but of no sons, as will be seen by what follows. All her daughters, except Delia (who died of chol- era in Cleveland — aged fourteen years), lived to rear families of children. Mrs. Porter lived to be ninety-five years and five months old. Arba Porter was a farmer and he and wife were the parents of five children, viz: Julia A. , Jane B., Ellen A., Frances M. and Elizabeth. Mr. Porter and family came to Ohio in Sep- tember, 1833, and bought land two and one- half miles from Twinsburg, consisting of about 100 acres heavily timbered. He lived about two years in a house on the farm of his brother William, who had previously settled in Twins- burg township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Porter were members of the Congregational church. Politically he was an old-line whig. He was a straight-forward, industrious man and useful citizen. He lived to be sixty-eight years of age and died on his farm. He was one of the sturdy pioneers of Twinsburg township, and was noted for his sterling worth and stanch moral character and reared an excellent family. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Farwell resided one year in Twinsburg and came in 1846 to Hudson, Ohio, where Mr. Farwell engaged in the blacksmith business with Mr. Bateman, his uncle, in a shop on Main street. He remained in company with his uncle about two years and then engaged in partnership with Nelson Wadsvvorth, and a few years later engaged in the manufacture of carriages with Deacon Landfear, still continu- ing, however, in the blacksmith business with 620, PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD William Wadsworth. In January, 1870, he bought his present residence and an old store building, which had been used as a bakery, and which he used as his shop. The substan- tial residence was built by 'Squire Wheadon prior to 18 18, and was used for many years as a tavern and afterward as a seminary. It is built in the substantial manner of the pioneers, of heavy framed timbers, and is finished, both outside and in, with the best of lumber and ornamented in the old style by hand. Mr. Farwell has preserved the old homestead and greatly improved it, and it is one of the most attractive and dignified residences in Hudson. To Mr. and Mrs. Farwell have beed born Henry, May 17, 1846, at Twinsburg, Ohio; ArbaP. , born January 17, 1849, in Hudson, Ohio, and Cyrus, born June 14, 185 1, but who died October 17, 1851. Mr. Farwell was formerly a democrat, but was one of the original republicans and voted for John C. Fremont, the first presidential candidate of the republican party, and has since been a stanch republican. He was a strong supporter of the Union, and two of his sons, Arba and Henry, were soldiers in the Civil war. Arba enlisted at the age of only thirteen years as a drum- mer. His officers were Professors Young and Cuttler of Hudson college, who were respect- ively captain and lieutenant of the company, which was largely formed of the students of the Western Reserve college. Arba served with his company at Camp Chase, Ohio, guarding prisoners, and was on an exposition to Vicksburg, Miss., with prisoners for ex- change. Although so young, he performed his full service and was a good soldier. He was considered the best drummer of his regi- ment and was the pet of his company. The next year, both Arba and Henry enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war. Arba was as- signed to the post band, on the ' ' Gxeat West-, ern " of Sandusky, Ohio, and with this band, attended the funeral of Gen. McPherson, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign. Both the boys served until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Farwell visited their boys in camp several times during their services, and saw the food furnished to the guards. Arba P. received a good education in the Western Reserve preparatory department, and afterwards in the Commercial department of Oberlin college. He then went to Cincinnati, where he became a bookkeeper. He married at Richmond, Ohio, Laura Salt, and their children were Monte C. and Alice E. Arba died, aged thirty-one years, at his father's home in Hudson, July 24, 1880. He was a man of high character and integrity, much trusted by his em-ployers. He was a very fine and beautiful penman and a skillful accountant and business man. Henry graduated at the Western Reserve college in 1872 and also at Lane's Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, three years later. He then entered the Presbyterian ministry and is now home missionary at Harper, Kans. , and is pastor of two churches. He married Mary McGinnis, daughter of Rev. Franklin and Lucy (Porter) McGinnis, of Rome, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Farwell have two children, viz: Franklin M. and Clara R. Mr. Farwell is an honored citizen of Hudson and has been a member of the town council several terms. Fraternally he is a non-affili^ ating Odd Fellow. He has always been an industrious, hard-working man, noted for his sturdy traits of character and frugality, and standing well as a citizen. He is the son of Cyrus and Rebecca (Bateman) Farwell. Cy- rus Farwell was born in Concord, Mass., as was his wife, and both descended from the old Puritan families in New England of English stock. He was a cooper by trade, and his children were Elzina, Mary S., Charles H., OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 621 Adaline, (died young), Harriet, William, John, Elizabeth H., and Adeline, second. Mr. Far- well was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Farwell family had lived in Concord from early colonial times. After the death of their son, Arba, Mr. and Mrs. Farwell, our sub- jects, made a home for his widow and their two children until they were well educated and ready to begin life for themselves. Will- iam Farwell, brother of our subject, was a soldier in the Civil war and is now a resident of Akron, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Farwell, our subjects, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage — their golden wedding — May 14, 1895, and received many tasteful and ele- gant testimonials of friendship and regard from far-distant friends and relatives, as well as those nearer home. Mrs. Farwell is a lady of rare intelligence, clear judgment and marked traits of character, strong conscien- tious convictions and religious principles in- herited from her Puritan ancestry. Through- out her life she has been a follower and an advocate of high moral principles, and her many friends justly place a high value upon her good opinion. Joseph Farwell and Hannah Farwell are the first of the name of whom there is any record in America. From their son, Joseph, born May 24, 1670, this line descends: Joseph Farwell, born August 5, 1696; Thomas, born October 11, 1698; Hannah, May 6, 1701; Elizabeth, December 31, 1704; Edward, July 12, 1706; Mary, February i, 1709; John, June 23, 171 1 ; Sarah, February 26, 1721, died July 4, 1721. Joseph Farwell (second) married December 24, 17 19, Mary (Gibson) Farwell. Their children were Anna, born February 19, 1721; Isaac, March 6, 1723, died May 18, 1740; Joseph, September 20, 1725, died August 27, 1758; Jonathan, May 15, 1730, died November 29, 1761; Thomas, born July 31, 1733, died February 20, 1825; Olive, born June 24, 1735, died at a date not remembered; Mary, born at a date forgotten, and Susannah, born August 8, 1742. The children of Thomas and Sarah (Davis) Far- well were Ephraim, born October 31, 1760, died August 13, 1825; Thomas, born January 26, 1763, died May 29, 1829; Joseph, born May 13, 1765, died January 25, 1829; Sarah, born January 9, 1768, and died at date for- gotten; Levi, born November 7, 1770, died September 14, 1858; William, born March 26, 1780, died December 21, 1863. ^~>^ AMUEL FAUBLE, a respected citizen •^^^k* and stonemason of West Richfield, hs,^^ Summit county, Ohio, and an ex- soldier of the Civil war, was born in Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio, De- cember 19, 1842, a son of Samuel and Jane (HaHowell) Fauble. Michael Fauble, grandfather of Samuel, was born in the Keystone state, a son of a Revolutionary soldier who had come from Germany and had settled in Pennsylvania prior to the declaration of independence. Michael was married in his native state and later be- came a pioneer of Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio, where he had 160 acres of wild land, which he cleared up from the forest and converted into a fine farm, on which he passed the remainder of his life, dying at the patri- archal age of ninety-nine years, a consistent member of the Methodist church and a greatly respected citizen. Samuel Fauble, father of Samuel, the sub- ject, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, was reared a farmer, and there married Miss Jane Hallowell, a daughter of a Stark county, Ohio, pioneer, and to this union were born Josiah, Cyrus, Samuel (all soldiers in the Civil war), Caroline, Martha, Emeline, Elizabeth and 622 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Loisa. From Wayne county Mr. Fauble moved to Medina county, in 1843, whence he came to Summit county, in 1844, where he became a substantial and respected citizen, and in politics was a democrat. In middle life he became blind, and at the age of forty- five years died while on a trip to Illinois, leav- ing 210 acres of good land to his children. His widow, some time afterward, became the wife of Clark Woodruff. Of the children spoken of above, Josiah enlisted for three years in an Illinois regiment, but was taken sick after the battle of Pea Ridge and came very near dying; Cyrus was in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry and served about fifteen months. The military record of Samuel will be given further on. Samuel Fauble, the subject proper of this biographical memoir, was brought to Rich- field township, Summit county, in 1844, re- ceived a good common-school education, and was reared to farming. In i860 he went to Delta, Fulton county, and was engaged in farm work until his enlistment. August 27, 1 86 1, at Delta, in company I, Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantr}', to serve three years, and was mustered in at Camp Trimble, De- fiance county, September 4, of the same year, and did good and faithful duty until honorably discharged at Louisville, Ky. , September 13, 1864. He fought at Mill Spring, Shiloh, Stone River, Perryville, Hoover Gap, Chick- amauga and Missionary Ridge, and, in the Atlanta campaign, took part in the battles of Dalton, Resaca, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw Mountain, Pumpkinvine Creek, Peach Tree Creek and the general engagement before At- lanta and at Jonesboro. In the general charge here, his regiment lost forty-eight men killed, and was second as to amount of loss in killed in one battle, by any regiment from Ohio; it captured three lines of the enemy's works, and his division captured 1,000 prisoners. The only mishap on the field that befell Mr. Fauble was a slight flesh-wound from a bit of shell at Chickamauga, although his clothing was shot through by rifle-balls no less than five times. He was sick, however, after the battle of Mill Spring, having had to wade waist-deep through Fishing creek, to reach the battle field, and go through the same experience on returning from victory, and was confined in hospital at Somerset, Ky. , three weeks, and later, for one week, in field hospital. During his term of service he was at one time detailed to drive a supply wagon for three months, and at Cor- inth, Miss., was detailed to drive an ammuni- tion wagon, which he drove fifteen months, and had charge of this vehicle at the battle of Chickamagua. He was a brave soldier, was always promptly at his post of duty, and was ever willing and cheerful in doing the neces- sary work that befell him as a defender of his country's flag. On his return to Delta, Ohio, Mr. Fauble engaged in the hotel business, but shortly af- terward went to Medina county, where he married, December 19, 1865, Miss Martha E. Banford, who was born in Hinckley township, that county, February 2, 1844, a daughter of Cyrus and Almira (Patch) Banford, the for- mer of whom was a tailor by trade, but died, in middle age, in 1846, leaving his widow with four children, viz: Martha E., Julia, Celia and Albert. Mrs. Banford afterward married Thomas Cole, and to her second marriage was born one child — Millie. For three years after marriage Mr. Fauble lived in Hinckley township, Medina county, and then came to West Richfield, Summit county, where he has since followed his trade of stonemason. To Mr. and Mrs. Fauble have been born four children, viz: Cyrus Albert, Louie, Le- Roy and Preston, but of these Cyrus Albert was accidently killed while hunting, Decem- ber 4, 1893. He was a promising young man OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 625 of twenty-two years of age, and, it is needless to say, was greatly mourned by his parents and hundreds of young associates. In politics Mr. Fauble is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, when that martyr was nominated for his second term, and has voted the republican tici^OHN ELSEFFER SHARP (deceased), ■ ticket and freight agent for the New /• 1 York, Lake Erie & W^estern Railway company at Ravenna, Ohio, for twenty- two years, was born in Sharon Springs, N. Y. , January 25, 1830, and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Bodine) Sharp, both natives of the Empire state and parents of four children, viz: John E. (subject), Henry, Ellen J. (widow of James Hudson), and Thomas K. The pater- nal grandfather of subject was born in Ger- many, but was a small boy when brought to America by his parents, who settled in Ulster county, N. Y. ; the maternal grandfather. John Bodine, was a native of New York state, was a farmer, had born to him a large family, and was quite an old man at the time of his death. John Sharp, the father of subject, was a farmer and hotel-keeper, and first married a Miss Markle, who bore him ten children, of whom two are still living, viz: Rebecca, widow of Seth P. Branch, of Ravenna; and 25 Julia Ann, wife of Stephen Merenes, now deceased. John E. Sharp, whose name opens this biog- raphy, was reared on his father's farm, and also learned brick and stonemasonry and phistering, when young, and at the age of seventeen years came frotri New York to Ravenna, Ohio, where he followed his trade for a number of years, or perhaps until the fall of 1864, when he en- tered the employ of the Erie Railway com- pany, for which, with the exception of about three jears, he worked in various capacities, and lor the past twenty-two years in that of ticket and freight agent. Mr. Sharp was first united in marriage, in 1856. with Miss Lavinna Kellogg, daughter of Lansing and Caroline (Bishop) Kellogg, the union resulting in the birth of three children — Alfred L., Dwight E. and Harry S. The eld- est of these. Alfred L. , has been twice married, and had b( rn to him. by his first wife, one son (John Oakley Sharp), he is now a hard- ware merchant in Georgetown, Te.x., and has married, for his second wife. Miss Kate Leaville. Dwight E., who is clerking for the American Cereal company in Chicago, 111., married Mi-s Eva Jones, and to this union have be n born three children — Mabel, Don and Pearl. Harry S. is living with his broth- er, Alfred L., in Texas, and is in the employ of the Pacific Express company. The honored mother of the above family, Mrs. Laviima Sharp. v\as called to her final rest in 1877, and died in the faith of the Universalist church. In 1878 John E. Sharp was united to Mrs. Mary E. Cope, widow of Horner Cope and daughter of Charles D. and Abi ( Smith ) Thomps^^ORBERT F. GENEREAUX, of T M Macedonia, Northfield township, Sum- l ^ mit county, Ohio, and ex-prisoner of the Civil war, a veteran soldier and an honored citizen, comes of sterling French ancestry, and was born February 7, 1842, at Mt. Clemens, Mich., a son of Henry and Monac (Chapaton) Genereaux. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Mt. Clemens, and learned the cooper's trade of his father. He came to Wood county, Ohio, in i860, and enlisted at Tontogany, in April, 1861, on the first call for 75,000 men, in company B, Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three months, and was honorably discharged in August at Columbus, Ohio. This service was in West Virginia and was in two battles at Scair Creek, when his brigade drove Gen. Wise's troops to Harper's Ferry, and was also in many skirmishes. After this service he went to Mt. Clemens, Mich., and on August 15, 1862, re-enlisted for three years and was immediately promoted to second duty ser- geant, company F, Twenty-second regiment, Michigan volunteer infantry, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 9, 1865. At the battle of Chickamauga the entire bri- gade was captured by the rebels after a gallant tight. Mr. Genereaux belonged to the Four- te nth army corps, Whittaker's brigade, and supported the artillery. September 20, 1S63, the corps was ordered to the front. The right of the Union army was falling back in great confusion. The corps charged the enemy, and the brigade drove Longstreet's forces down from the third elevation; shortly afterward recharged, but were repulsed. The enemy made a strong effort to mass the whole artillery against the Union men, but the at- tempt was futile. Then the enem}- recharged with infantry, and the Union troops continued to repulse their charges until night, when they were surrounded. The Confederates marched the Union prisoners three or four rods, and carried torch-lights in order that the surren- dered soldierey would not step on the wounded and dead. Snodgrass Ridge was where this great slaughter was made, and here is where the beautiful monuments are erected, marking this spot as the place where so many of the brave boys fell in defense of the nation. In company F, Twenty-second Michigan infantry, there were only fourteen of the enlisted sol- diers left to be taken prisoners, of whom twelve died in Confederate prison pens. N. H. Miller, of Mount Clemens, Mich., and Mr. Genereaux were the only two survivors. Mr. Genereaux with the others was taken to Belle Isle, on the James river, the com- missioned officers being placed in Libby prison. Mr. Genereaux and most of the pris- oners had no shelter, and being here from October i to along in December, suffered greatly from cold and hunger — two sticks of cord wood only being allowed for 100 men. The rations, issued twice each day, consisted of one-half pint of bean soup containing two tablespoonfuls of beans, with bugs in them, and one-fourth pound of bread. Mr. Gener- eaux had no blanket and slept on the bare ground. The island was very low, being really a sand bank, but a few inches above the river, and very damp. It was very bleak and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 627 swept by cold, severe winds, and during the winter the river James was frozen over three times. The rations of soup were so thin that the soldiers were famished for meat and killed and ate a dog belonging to Lieut. Boisseux, the commandant, and he starved them twenty- four hours in punishment. From here Mr. Genereaux was taken to Crew's tobacco ware- house in Richmond, Va. , in December, and there the scanty rations were served once each day. Mr. Genereaux was taken sick and was sent to the Confederate Marine hos- pital, Richmond, and there had for rations wheat bread, rice soup, with meat cut in it, and a good cot-bed — the bed and bedding being furnished by the Sanitary Commission of the north. Mr. Genereaux was returned to prison after two weeks, and placed in the Pemberton tobacco warehouse — the rations here being the same as in the Crews prison, but the officers were meaner. At New Year's they were left without food for over thirty hours. Mr. Genereaux was next taken with a train load of prisoners to Andersonville, where he arrived February 26, 1864. This prison had just been opened, and not yet completed, and Mr. Genereaux was one of the first squad of prisoners to enter it, not more than seven- teen prisoners of the first detachment of 100 having entered before him. He remained there about six months, and the condition of the prisoners daily grew worse. There was no shelter from the cold, but some wood was left from building the stockade. The rations were corn meal — ground cob and all — one pint per day, and sometimes a little very poor beef, and two skillets were allowed to each 100 men, with which to bake the bread. Mr. Genereaux and four comrades built a hut of logs covered with pine boughs, which was about 8x10 feet wide and seven feet high, and they messed together. This was the best shelter in the stockade, and they were offered $500 in greenbacks for the logs in this hut for fuel purposes. Mr. Genereaux worked at his trade of cooper and made little tubs and pails and sold them to the prisoners to get water in, and in this way he sometimes made $6 per day and thus bought off the guards as well as others who came in to peddle navy beans and corn meal, by this means preserving his life and assisting his comrades. Near the close, three of his comrades died in the hut while he was there. George Walker, a schoolmate of Mr. Genereaux, had been taken prisoner. He was a member of company G, Twenty-second Michignn, and had a hole dug in the side hill as a shelter for himself and two comrades. He died in a dreadful condition of starvation, and his two comrades died by his side. At times 200 men died every twenty-four hours and were taken out by the prisoners and buried. Mr. Genereaux took scurvy and was in a bad condition for some time. He sold a rubber blanket for $50 greenbacks, to a rebel, and paid $30 for a watermelon, and sold the melon for $25, retaining the green part, and with it and a few Irish potatoes cured himself of the disorder. He was next taken to Charles- ton. S. C, and was in that city exposed for several days to the iire of the Union guns, among them the famous "Swamp Angel," the prisoners being exposed on the streets. From here he was taken to Savannah, and shortly afterward to Macon, Ga., and placed in a stockade prison for several months, be- coming moon blind from exposure, also suf- fered from diarrhea and was cared for by his comrades. While there the prisoners held an eh ction and voted 3,000 for McClelland and 5,000 for Lincoln. This made the officer in charge very angry, and he cut their rations off for one day and cursed vigorously besides. From there he was taken to Blackshear, Fla., and k pt a few days, and was then sent to Florence and remained till February, 1865, 628 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD There Mr. Genereaux was taken sick with typhoid fever and his comrades took good care of him, he being ward' master. One time he was threatened with the dungeon by Maj. Winder for trying to give a piece of bread to a corrirade, but was saved by his doctor, Tebbs. He was taken from Florence to Wilmington, N. C. , and paroled February 27, 1865, having been a prisoner of war seventeen months and seven days. He was in a very weak and feeble condition, emaciated to skin and bones, and it was a long time before he was even partially recovered, and he still suffers from his imprisonment. At Andersonville prison the skillets were taken from the Union captives for the use of the Confederates, but Mr. Genereaux buried his skillet, for which he had been offered $100, and thus preserved it. Mr. Genereaux married, in Mt. Clemens, May 7, 1867, Frances L. Connor, native of Mt. Clemens and a daughter of John H. and Josephine T. (Bondy) Connor. The children born to this union are named Celia, Franklin, Arthur, Alice and Olive. In 1866 he went to Oil City, Pa., and worked in the cooperage business; in 1868 he went to Cleveland and built a cooper shop, and in 1875 came to Macedonia, Ohio, and engaged in coopering and farming. Mr. Genereaux is a member of Royal Dunham post, No. 177, G. A. R., at Bedford, Ohio, and in politics is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote in the ranks for honest Abe. He is a straightforward and honored citizen, and stands high in the esteem of the public. Mr. Genereaux had two brothers in the Civil war — Peter was captain of company B, Fifth Michigan infantry, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. He was the youngest commanding officer in the state, receiving his command for bravery, and was aid-de-camp to Gov. Blair. Augustus served six months in a Michigan regiment. Mrs. Genereaux also had two brothers in the Civil war — Darius in the Michigan infantry, and Franklin in the navy. Henry Chapaton, father of Mrs. Genereaux, was born in Detroit, Mich. His grandfather came from France with a colony in early times, settled in Detroit and was a surgeon in the army. Henry Chapaton, the grandfather, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Genereaux's grandfather, Richard Connor, came from Ireland with his brother, Henry; both served in the Revolutionary war and were early settlers of Detroit. Theressa Trombley, the maternal grandmother, was born in Detroit, and in the war of 1812 was warned, by friendly Indians, that her family was to be massacred. She took her two chil- dren from Connor's creek, near Detroit, and paddled through lake St. Clair and up the Clinton river a day and a night to Frederick, a trading point, a distance of thirty-eight miles. Her husband was in the army at the time and she had no one to protect herself and children. ^^>^YLVESTER GRIEST, an old soldier •^^^k* of the Civil war and a son of one of ^^ J the pioneers of Northfield township, Summit county, Ohio, springs from an old family of Pennsylvania, his grandfather, Willard Griest, having come from England. Cornelius Griest, father of subject, was born in Pennsylvania near Petersburg (York Springs), Adams county, was a farmer and married Elizabeth Toland. He brought his wife and three children to Ohio, first located near Salem, and came to Northfield township, Summit county, among the early pioneers. He cleared up a farm of eight)' acres from the woods and was a respected citizen. His chil- dren were Eliza, George W., James T. , Augustus F., Eli, Lemuel D., Cornelius, Syl- vester and Henrietta P., the last named dying OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 629 an infant. Mr. Griest died wheti seventy- three years old on his farm, and was an in- dustrious and hard-working pioneer. Sylvester Griest, our subject, was born February i6, 1839, in Northfield township and attended the pioneer schools a short time. He enlisted, August 4, 1862, at Fort Wayne, Ind., in Capt. C. B. Oakley's company E, Eighty- eighth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1S65, on account of the close of the war. He was taken sick at Murfreesboro, Tenn. , with malaria and fever and ague, and was in field hospital in Murfreesboro, and in hospitals at Louisville, Ky. , Camp Dennison, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. He was detailed at Louisville, Ivy., as nurse, was also in charge of the dining-hall, about one year. After his discharge he returned to Summit county, and resumed farming. He married, November 28, 1866, in Hudson township, Sarah E. Collar, who was born June 9, 1841, on the homestead where they now reside, a daughter of Sidney S. and Caroline (Stone) Collar. Sidney S. Collar was born August 2, 1802, in Vermont, at Warren, was a farmer, and came to Ohio, when a young man, married in Summit county and settled in Hudson town- ship, one mile south of their present home- stead, late in the 'thirties. Mr. Collar bought eighty-two acres of land, cleared the most of it from the woods and made a good home. His children were Caroline L. , Emeline E. and Sarah E. Mr. Collar was a member of the Congregational church, was in politics a re- publican, and was a hard-working, industrious man, respected by all, and reared an e.xcellent family. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Griest, our subjects, settled on the Collar homestead and here have since lived. To them have been born Sidney D., July 20, 1869, and Frederick S., January 2, 1877. Mrs. Griest is a member of the Disciples' church at Hudson, and Mr. Griest is in politics a republican, cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and stands well in his neighborhood as a good citizen. Mrs. Caroline (Stone) Collar, the mother of Mrs. Griest, is a daughter of Nathan- iel and Sarah (Hallenbeck) Stone. Nathaniel Stone came from Connecticut about 18 10 and brought his family. The Stones were of Eng- lish descent; the Hallenbecks are of Dutch an- cestry. Mr. Stone was a pioneer of Hudson township, and Streetsboro, Portage county. He owned about 500 acres of land, cleared up a large farm, and was a well-known pioneer. His children are Caroline, Charles, Sidney, Emeline, Rozell, Orlando, Chelsey, Helen and Belinda — all now deceased except Sidney. |r^>^AMUEL W. HARRIS, a respected *^^^^ citizen of Tallmadge township, Sum- f\^^y rnit county, Ohio, was born in the township of Coventry, August 27, 1843, a son of William H. and Mary (Lewis) Harris, of whom further mention will be made. He was reared on a farm, received a good common-school education, and in the later days of his minority was in the coal business. October 13, 1863, he enlisted in the Ohio national guards for five years, and was mus- tered into the United States volunteer service by Gov. Brough, as corporal of company D, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. May 2, 1864, to serve 100 days, and was placed on duty at Arlington Heights, Va., and served out his term. As a member of the national guards of Ohio he was honorably dis- charged May I, 1866. Mr. Harris was first united in marriage, September 5, 1867, in Tallmadge township, with Miss Anna B. Hughes, who was born in Portage county, Ohio, September 5, 1847, ^ 630 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD daughter of David and Elizabeth (Davis) Hughes. After marriage Mr. Harris carried on the coal business until 1873, when he bought his present farm of 1 13 acres, on which he has made excellent-improvements and which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Harris were born the following- named children: William H., Archer H., Austin D. , Howard C, Stanley W. , Mary E. and Benjamin B. The mother of these children was called away in February, 1886, a member of the Congregational church, and the second marriage of Mr. Harris was to Miss Lydia A. Felmly, who was born February 10, 1868, in Portage township. Summit county, a daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Paulus) Felmly. William H. Harris, father of Samuel W. , was born in the southern part of Wales, in November, 1808, a son of Henry and Anne Harris. He was reared a coal miner, and, when a young man, married Ann Rowland, who died in Wales, leaving one child, William. He then bame to America, engaged in mining near Pottsville, Pa., and later came to Ohio, eventually becoming an owner and operator of extensive mines in different districts of the state. He married, in Ravenna, Portage county, on the Kent homestead, June 19, 1841, Miss Mary Lewis, who was born in Benning- ham. England, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Lewis, the result being the follow- ing-named children: John H., born March 9, 1842; Samuel W., August 27,' 1843; Henry, April 6, 1845; Benjamin, November 6, 1847; Mary A., April 8, 1850; Reuben, August 13, 1852; Myron, September 2, 1854, and Isabella, November 18, 1856. Three of these sons served in the Civil war, viz: John H., who was in the three-year service with the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and suffered as a prisoner at Anderson- ville; Samuel W., and Hear}', who served in the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth. Beside giving these three children to the cause of freedom, Mr. Harris furnished money liberally for the purpose of securing men to aid the same righteous cause. Mr. Harris, after mar- riage, lived in what is now the Sixth ward of Akron until 1849, when he bought the home- stead in Tallmadge township, beside which he owned another fine farm. In politics he was a vvhig, and afterward a republican, and served as township trustee. Fraternally he was a Mason, and in religion a Congregationalist, and in this faith he died December 18, 1868, his widow dying in the same faith in 1874. John H. Harris, the eldest child of Will- iam H. and Mary (Lewis) Harris, was born in Summit county, received a common-school education, and was reared to farming and coal mining. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Tall- madge, in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, May 11, 1865. He did duty in Ohio, Kentuck}' and Tennessee, and was in several skirmishes with Morgan's men, particularly at LaVergne, Tenn. December 5, 1864, he was captured by the rebel Forrest, was taken to Minden, Miss., and thence to Andersonville, N. C, in which infamous den he was confined until April 21, 1865, and three-quarters starved with 7,000 other unfortunates, his blanket, of which he was fortunately not robbed, being his only shelter, bed and cover- ing. His sufferings were simply terrible, and he was reduced to mere skin and bones, weigh- ing but seventy-five pounds when released. He was on board the ill-fated steamer Sultana, on his way homeward, when the boilers ex- ploded about three o'clock in the morning. After having floated down the Mississippi river on a plank, to which five or six others had clung, but who, from exhaustion, were compelled to let go and were drowned — the plank finally drifted into a tree-top about six miles down OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 631 stream from the wreck, where Mr. Harris was rescued, half frozen to death. After being nursed in hospital at Memphis for a week, Mr. Harris was sent to Camp Chase, and there was discharged, as already mentioned. Since the war Mr. Harris has resided on the old homestead in Tallmadge. He is a republican in politics and a highly respected citizen. Samuel W. Harris is also a republican in politics and has held the office of township trustee. Fraternally he is a member of Elm Grove lodge, No. 501, Knights of Pythias, at Tallmadge. Mrs. Harris is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Harris is an upright, straightforward citizen, liberal and enterpris- ing, and is honored by all who know him. BRED L. HARRINGTON was born on the farm he now owns in Northamp- ton township, Summit county, Ohio, October 14, 1834, a son of Job and Susan (Hartle) Harrington, who were among the earliest pioneers of the township. Job Harrington, father of subject, was a native of Bennington, Vt., was born March 9, 1792, and was a son of Richard and Roby (Perkinsj Harrington. Richard Harrington was born in Rhode Island in 1756, was married about 1774, and soon after moved to Sandgate, Vt. When the British general, Burgoyne, was marching his army south from Canada, Mr. Harrington joined the Continental army as a volunteer and took part in the battle of Still- water. In later years he was in the habit of occasionally relating the incidents of that eventful day and of declaring that he was never more animated or more pleased than when fighting for colonial independence. To Rich- ard and Roby Harrington were born fifteen children, viz: Asa, Catherine, Leonard, Lydia, Phebe, Job, William, Joseph, Roby, Con- stance, Richard, John, Abram, Elisha and Hannah. In 1812 Job Harrington started on foot from Bennington, Vt., for Tallmadge township, Summit county, Ohio, and on foot he reached his destination the same year. Here he pur- chased a tract of land for his parents, built them a log cabin in the heart of the wilder- ness and partly cleared a space for farming, and in the following year his parents joined him. In the fall of 18 14 Job Harrington mar- ried Miss Susan Hartle, who was born in Georgetown, Pa., January 27, 1796, and the next year he purchased and moved upon the farm in Northampton township now owned by his son, Fred L,, the subject of this memoir. Eleven children were born to this union, in the following order: John, George, Seth W., James, Clarissa, Warren, Alvan, William, Fred L. , Wallace and Newton. The mother of this family was called from earth November 9, 1849, and for his second helpmate Mr. Har- rington married, November 30, 1851, MaryM. Paige. Mr. Harrington died March 24, 1869, and Mrs. Mary M. Harrington was killed in a street-car accident, in Cleveland, in 1895. Job Harrington was regarded as among the best of the citizens of Northampton township. He had held many offices of trust and honor, was a life-long member of the Methodist church, was the warm friend of morality and education, and had done as much as any other resident to advance these and to promote the material welfare of the people among whom he had so long made his home. Fred L. Harrington married, October it, 1866, Mahala Carter, who was born October II, 1842, and this union has been blessed with five children, viz: Charles E. , born February 24, 1869; Burt C, April 19, 1872; Frank, December 13, 1874; Myron E., May 22, 1877, and Laurel, July 9, 1886. Mr. Harrington owns a fine farm of 120 acres, which, through 632 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD long cultivation and careful management, has been developed into one of the best in the township. It has been thoroughly improved in all its departments, and its buildings are neat, substantial and commodious. In poli- tics Mr. Harrington is a democrat and has ever enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fel- low-townsmen, whom he has served as town- ship trustee two terms, as treasurer for thir- teen years, and for a number of years as a rhember of the school board. >Y* B. SWITZER.-- -An eminent writer m has appropriately written: " The true /• 1 history of a nation is best told in the lives of its illustrious citizens," and the remark may be accepted as an axiom in com- piling the biographies of the more prominent citizens of a county. In the present instance it is peculiarly pertinent, as will be found by a perusal of the following lines, descriptive of the life of J. B. Switzer, who is a representa- tive and energetic agriculturist, and a gentle- man of more than ordinary educational ad- vantages, and comes from one of the best known and most highly respected pioneer fam- ilies in Summit county, Ohio. He was born in Coventry township, August 8, 1846, and is a son of Charles and Rebecca (Tousley) Switzer. Charles Switzer, a well-known pioneer of this county, was a native of Franklin county, Pa., and was a mere lad when his father, An- drew, emigrated to Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, but later came to Summit county. Charles, the father of J. B. Brewster, served as an apprentice to the trade of carpenter and joiner, although his chief occupation through life has been that of an agriculturist, and it is said that he is one of the most wealthy farm- ers in Summit county, as he possesses a vast amount of real estate within the limits of Sum- mit and Portage counties. To his marriage with Miss Rebecca Tousley, daughter of John and Rebecca (Bishop) Tousley, both natives of Connecticut, have been born five children, viz: John A., a prominent agriculturist of Portage county and the father of five children, who are well educated, the eldest being now a law student under Mr. Willhelm, of Akron. The second born is Earnest, who graduated from the high school of Akron and is now en- gaged in teaching; Nettie, the third, is also a graduate of the Akron high school; Carrie and Earl are attending the district school. The second child of Charles Switzer was J. B., of this sketch; the third is L. Almira. who was first married to William Mongold, a carpenter, who died but a few years after his marriage; her next marriage was with John Brown, of CuyahoRa county, where she holds a position as postmistress. Orlando, the fourth child, died at an early age through an accident, and the fifth child is Daniel Scott Switzer, a well- known farmer of Springfield township. J. B. Switzer was primarily educated in the common schools, and was then given a training in the seminary at Greensburg, Ohio, and was also especially trained in vocal music, and qualified for teaching the art of voice cul- ture by taking lessons at the Akron normal school, and also under such well-known music teachers as N. Coe Stewart, of Cleveland, James North, of St. Louis, Mo., Miss Trow- biidge, of Michigan, Cook & Son, of New York, and finally from Prof. Hammerstine. In 1869, at the age of twenty-one, Mr. Switzer left the parental homestead and fol- lowed his profession, with marked success, in Summit and adjoining counties for several years, and then became instructor in music in the public schools, in which vocation he is still employed, his experience in this line now cov- ering a period of about thirty years, and he is also extensively engaged in agricultural pur- /l ti/^c.Q.a^l p.^U^^eAjj4i^i^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 637 suits, being owner of one of the best farms in Summit county. He has likewise devoted considerable time and attention to drilling for oil. About 1892, when the well-known oil ex- pert, H. D. Van Campen, of Belmont county, N. Y., made a tour of the west tracing the oil veins, he came to Toledo, Ohio, but con- cluded to change his course and came to Wadsworth, Ohio, and here convinced some of the leading capitalists that oil e.xisted in large quantities, and could be obtained by bor- ing. He wassuccessfulininaugarating a com- pany and the drilling process began. They reached a depth of 2,700 feet, when they struck a vein of salt, which was 300 feet thick, and those financially interested called a halt against Mr. Van Campen's efforts. They thought that salt was as good an enterprise as they cared for, and it is true that the citizens of Wadsworth have one of the best salt plants in the state. Mr. Van Campen was not satis- fied, since he was under the strong impression that oil existed there, so he came on to Akron, and here was successful in convincing a cap- italist that oil could be obtained in Summit county. So the work began here, and the same vein of salt was struck as at Wadsworth, but at a slightly greater depth, and the citizen was of the same opinion as the Wadsworth people; but the tenacity, will and fortitude of Mr. Van Campen grew stronger, and the pro- cess of drilling was proceeded with, 250 feet farther, as the expert had desired, and an abundance of oil was discovered November 9, 1892, and on the strength of the prospect for a successful venture, a company, " The Akron Gas & Oil company," was incorporated to de- velop the enterprise, and a few well-known citizens became members, viz: Lewis Miller, George W. Crouse, Attorney Atterhault, Col. Conger, Dr. Kranz and others. No business was transacted under this manage- ment, and the farmers of the immediate vi- cinity took upon themselves the responsibility of organizing a limited company. This com- pany was known as " The Brittain Gas & Oil company," and was incorporated in the beg;in- ning of the summer of 1893, when the follow- ing officers were duly elected: J. B. Switzer, chairman; T. J. Gilcrest, secretary; J. H. Lepper, treasurer; and a board of directors was elected comprising five members, viz: J. B. Switzer, T. J. Gilcrest, J. H. Lepper, W. H. Jones and P. V. McCoy. A new drill was begun August 5, 1893, and reached 3,533 feet in less than 100 days. The business is at a standstill at present, although, at a recent meeting the stock was increased three times the former amount, and the future success of the enterprise is manifest. It may be added that at the solicitation of the citizens of Wads- worth, State Geologist Horton lectured before the people, and warned them not to venture upon any enterprise unless it was for coal. His prophecy, on scientific ideas, did not prove to be well taken. J. B. Switzer was united in marriage July 5, 187s, with Miss Rebecca Yarrick, a scion of another old family, who were amongst the most prosperous farmers in Summit county. She is a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Switzer) Yarrick, is a native of Green town- ship. Summit county, and was born March 21, 1852, one of a family of seven sons and three daughters. Mrs. Switzer received her educa- tion in the common schools, and is a member of the United Brethren church at Akron, Ohio. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, was reared as a farmer and stock-raiser, and died January 23, 1885; her mother was born April 5, 1817, in York county. Pa., and died Jan- uary 30, 1897. Their remains lie interred in East Liberty cemetery, where a modest stone marks their last resting place. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Switzer have been 638 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born ten children, viz: Nellie J., who is a graduate of the Akron high school and of Buchtel college, having completed her educa- tion at the age of eighteen years, when she ac- cepted a position as inspector in the Akron Rubber works, which she still holds; Oscar F., Lula v., Charles W., Marjorie I., Francis W. and Gladys V. are still living, and Claude, Rose R. and an unnamed infant are deceased. The family are members of the United Breth- ren church, of which Mr. Switzer has been the Sunday-school superintendent for years. In politics he had for a long time affiliated with the republican party, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. Grant; of recent years he has espoused with ardor the principles of prohibition. Officiallj', Mr. Switzer has held the office of treasurer of Springfield town- ship, a strong democratic community, and he being an ardent republican. He has also been supervisor for two terms, and has been a strong supporter of the public schools. Daniel Scott Switzer, brother of J. B., is a well-known farmer and a gentleman of honor and integrity. He married Miss Mary L. Stooldraher, a native of Summit county, and to their marriage have been born five sons and two daughters, of whom five are living, as follows: Maud, a graduate of the Akron high school and now one of the successful teachers in the public schools of the county; Grace, Bradie, Leo and James, at home. Mr. Switzer is a republican in politics, and he and wife affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church of Pleasant Valley. Officially he has made a marked career in the directorship of the public schools. Both the Switzer and Yarrick families are among the most prominent and highly re- spected in Summit county, and J. B. Switzer has made for himself a reputation that will last as long as Summit county holds a place on the map of Ohio. >^ AMES ALVIN HATHAWAY, of North- M field township. Summit county, Ohio, A 1 and an old soldier of the Civil war, springs paternally from an old Penn- sylvania-Dutch family, and on his mother's side from a New York state family of English descent. James A. Hathaway was born in East Cleveland township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, October 24, 1840, a son of Peter and Man- dania (Austin) Hathaway. He received a common-school education and was reared a farmer. He enlisted in battery B, First Ohio light artillery, at East Cleveland, Ohio, Au- gust II, 1862, under Capt. William Standard, but was afterward under under Capt. Norman Baldwin. He was honorabl}' discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 16, 1865, having served nearly three years. He was in the bat- tles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Som- erset, Wild Cat Mountain, and several other important battles and in many skirmishes, and was in all the marches, campaigns, battles and skirmishes in which his battery took part and his battery never fired a gun in any engage- ment in which he was not present, and he vol- unteered several times to go with the infantry after guerrillas in Alabama. After the war he returned to Ohio and married, in Boston town- ship, Summit county, Amanda Mills, a daugh- ter of Curtis and Harriet (Richards) Mills, who was born in Akron, Ohio, September 10, 1850. Curtis Mills came from New York state to Akron at an early day and drove a team for William Buchtel, for whom he worked twenty- one years, but was killed when foreman of the lumbermen. His children were Hiram, Louisa and Amanda. He was a hard-working re- spected citizen and died aged about si.xty years, a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway located, after mar- riage, in Boston township, where Mr. Hatha- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 639 way farmed three years; he then moved to Northampton township and bought forty acres and finally moved to Northfield township in 1891. The children born to his marriage are Hattie, Curtis and Stella. Mr. Hathaway is an ex-meinber of Eadie post, G. A. R. . of Cuyahoga Falls, and in politics is a republican. Of his children, Hattie is married to Elmer McCuskey — a farmer of Stowe township, and has three children, two sons and one daughter; Curtis is a member of the Sons of Veterans of Bedford, Ohio, and the family is one of the most highly respected in Northfield township. QICHAEL HAWK, a successful farmer and a highly respected cit- izen of Tallmadge township. Sum- mit county, Ohio, was born in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany, about the year 1834, a son of Philip and Margaret (Fooreman) Hawk, who were the parents of five children, all of whom reached mature years, and of whom Daniel resides in Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Abbie, who was the wife of John Ginder, died March 3, 1881, at the age of seventy-two years; Ivatherine died August I, 1894, aged sixty-three years, and the wife of Henry Swartz; Philip died August 7, 1895, aged eighty years, and Michael, whose name opens this paragraph. The family came to Ohio in 1840, and settled in SulSeld township. Portage county, where the father departed this life December 28, 1S68, at the age of six- ty-three years, a prominent member of the Reformed chnrch, of which he had been a deacon for many years, after which sad event the widow joined her son Michael, in Tall- madge township. Summit county, where her decease occurred October i, 1873, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years and nine months, also in the faith of the Reformed church. Michael Hawk was but six years old when his parents settled in Portage county, which was then a wilderness, in which his father bought a tract of land. As Michael grew in size and strength, he assisted in clearing ofl the forest growth from the homestead, and aided his father until twenty-three years old, receiving, meantime, the meager education afforded by the pioneer school of his youthful days. At the age mentioned, although a poor young man, Mr. Hawk entered upon life's conflict upon his own account, and through hard work and good management has made himself one of the well-to-do farmers in the county of Summit. At the age of twenty- five years he found a helpmate in the person of Miss Albenia Bletzer, daughter of Michael and Catherine Bletzer, whom he married July 3, 1859, and which union has been blessed with three children, of whom two are still liv- ing, viz: Albert, a farmer of Tallmadge town- ship, and Lydia, wife of Frank Pieffer, and residing in Union Town, Stark county; Salinda, the deceased child, passed away at the age of five years and five months. Mr. Hawk, after marriage, continued his farming operations in Suffield township. Portage county, meeting with every desired success until 1870, when he came to Tall- madge township. Summit county, and pur- chased the large farm owned by the late Ira Sprague, on which, a few years ago, he erect- ed his present commodious and handsome dwelling, which is furnished with every possi- ble modern convenience; but here, although blessed with all that wealth can buy, he has met with the saddest misfortune of his life in the loss of the beloved companion of his early manhood, mellow middle age, and declining years, who died May 24, 1893, at the age of fifty-two years and three months. She was a devoted member of the Reformed church and a true Christian, a loving wife and mother and 640 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD a true helpmeet for her husband. Mr. Hawk is himself a member of the Reformed church, and while living in Portage county held the office of deacon a number of years, and is how a member of the Grace Reformed congregation at Akron. In politics he is a democrat, has served as township supervisor, and has been a member of the school board for nine years. Mrs. Albenia Hawk, the departed wife and mother, was born in Baden, Germany, March 26, 1 841, was confirmed in the Reformed church April 22, 1855, and was alwaj'S faith- ful to her church obligations. Mr. Hawk has ever been an industrious as well as a success- ful farmer, a kindly neighbor, and a free con- tributor of his means to the support of school and church, and to the promotion of every project designed for the advancement of the public welfare and the development of his township and county, and stands very high in the esteem of his immediate neighbors as well as in that of the community at large. •^EORGE HEIMBAUGH, who resides ■ ^\ near Monroe Falls, Summit county, \^^^ Ohio, and an e.x-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Middleton town- ship. Union county. Pa., February 3, 1837, a son of Peter and Amelia (Yarnell) Heimbaugh, natives of the same state and of German e.x- traction. Peter Heimbaugh, a hatter by trade, came from Union county, Pa., in the month of June, 1845, ^'^d settled in Summit county, but died in Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, at the age of fifty-five years, a member of the Reformed church, and the father of eleven children, of whom there now live Jacob, William, George, Catherine, Barbara and Sarah. George Heimbaugh was not quite eight years of age when he was brought to Summit county by his parents. He received but a limited district-school education, and soon after coming iiere was bound out, until eight- een years old, to Abraham Tyson, who proved to be a good and kind master, and when his term expired Mr. Heimbaugh hired to him for one year as a farm hand. Mr. Heimbaugh then worked out in the same capacity until his marriage, February 14, 1858, in Springfield township, to Miss Amelia A. Weyrick, who was born in that township April 26, 1840, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Walter) Weyrick. David Weyrick, also a native of Union county, Pa., settled in Springfield township about 1827, bought and cleared up a farm of 149 acres, becoming a substantial citizen. To his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Walter were born eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, Cath- erine, Polly, Sally, Rebecca, Susannah, Car- oline, Leah, George, John and Amelia A. He was a man of moral character, never used to- bacco nor liquor nor profane language, and lived to be seventy-five years old, dying on his farm in the faith of the Reformed church, while his wife was a Lutheran. George Heimbaugh enlisted, September 5, 1862, in Springfield township, in company I, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, and served until July 6, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Murfreesboro, Tenn., the war being closed. He was in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., was on the pursuit after Gen. Hood and his re- treating rebel troops, took part in many fierce skirmishes along the line of the Nashville & Tullahoma railroad, and sustained a flesh wound in his left arm during a skirmish at Stone River, on Lancaster pike, where, the same night, the Union troops captured a rebel cavalry regiment. Many members of Mr. Heimbaugh's regiment were captured and about 100 imprisoned in Andersonville, and at OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 641 least sixty of these were blown up on the steamer Sultana, on the Mississippi river, after having been exchanged and being on their way homeward. Mr. Heimbaugh was never captured, but was always at his post of duty, excepting a period of about sixty days in the early part of his enlistment, when he was confined at Camp Dennison with chronic diar- rhea. His brother William also served in the same regiment. After his return from the war Mr. Heim- baugh located in Summit county, and in March, 1876, settled at Monroe Falls, where he bought a neat place of eleven acres, pleas- antly situated on the banks of the Cuyahoga river. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Heimbaugh four children, viz: Daniel W., George W. (died aged one year), David L. and Minnie E. Mr. and Mrs. Heimbaugh are members of the Methodist church, and in pol- itics he is generally independent, but with re- publican proclivities; he is a member of Eadie post, G. A. R., at Cuyahoga Falls, and is greatly respected as a straightforward, hard- working citizen. aHARLES P. HELLER, a prominent farmer, stock-raiser and dairyman of Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, is the only child of Levi and Eliza- (Dutt) Heller, and was born in Medina county, Ohio, October i, 1855. Levi Heller, father of Charles P., was born in Plainfield, Northampton county, Pa , Au- gust 16, 1827, a son of Charles and Mary (Retnmel) Heller, was a hotel-keeper in Stockertown, Pa., and in the early days drove stage between Easton and Mauch Chunk. In 1852 he married Elizabeth Dutt, who was born in Upper Mount Bethel, Northampton county. Pa.. August 15, 1828, the eighth child of Charles and Dorothy Dutt. In 1853, Mr. and Mrs. Heller came to Ohio and settled in Guilford township, Medina county, where Mr. Heller followed farming until his death, April 27, 1865, his widow surviving until July 7, 1893— both dying in the faith of the German Reform church. Charles P. Heller attended school in Me- dina county until thirteen years of age and continued working on the home farm, taking care of his mother until he was twenty-six years old, when he came to Bath township, Summit county, bought his preseut farm and erected suitable modern buildings. April 28, 1883, he married Miss Mary Strunk, who was born in Hatfield, Montgomery county, Pa., August 21, 1857, a daughter of William and Mary (Shelley) Strunk, the former of whom was born July 22, 1821, and the latter March 15, 1823, emigrated to Sharon, Ohio, in 1861, and are now residing in Akron, the parents of seven children, viz: Sarah, who was born January 23, 1848, was married to Joseph Weaver, of Wadsworth, Wayne county, Ohio, and died August 10, 1880; Henry, born January 18, 1852; Matthias, born March 3, 1853, and died February 3, 1874; Katherine, born Feb- ruary 22, 1855, wife of F. J. Knapp, of Akron; Mary (Mrs. Heller); Samuel, who died in in- fancy, and Mahlon, born February 2, 1863, and died October 10, 1879. To Mr. and Mrs. Heller, however, no children have been born. Mr. and Mrs. Heller are members of Bath grange. No. 1,331, and Mr. Heller is a charter member of Bath tent. No. 281, Knights of the Maccabees, was its first com- mander, and has filled all the chairs; he is also a member of Star and Crescent lodge. No. 7, Red Cross, of Akron, and in politics is a re- publican, by which party he has been honored by election to several offices of trust. Mr. Heller's farm comprises 148 acres of excellent land, mostly cleared, and he gives especial at- tention to dairying, owning stock of the high- 642 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD est grades. Mr. Heller has always been a hard-working and industrious man, being what is usually termed self-made, and, it may be added, self-educated, for, although he was a pupil for a short time in the high school at Se- ville, Medina county, his information is practi- cally self-acquired. He and his wife are greatly respecled by their neighbors for their uniformly kind disposition and charity of thought as well as upright lives, and they well deserve the es- teem in which they are held. *-|r-» EWIS HOLZHAUER, of Northfield, I r Ohio, is one of the old soldiers of the ^I^J Civil war and a respected citizen. He was born November 22, 1845, in Baden, Germany, a son of William and Cath- erine Ann (Forbach) Holzhauer. He came with his parents to America at the age of nine years, and shipped from Havre, France, in a sailing vessel to Ne-v York city, and was but twenty-three days en route — a very quick passage for a vessel of that class — and landed in December, 1854. His father settled in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a s'onemason and worked at his trade in several plnces. Lewis Holzhauer received a common education and learned, when young, the stonemason's trade and plastering. He enlisted in August, 1863, at seventeen years of age, in Cleveland, Ohio, in company K, One Hundred and Twenty- foiinh Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Manning, for three j'ears or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Cleveland, in September, 1865, the war being closed. He was in the batiles of Chattanoo- ga. Chickam luga. Missionary Ridge and Buz- zard's Roost, and May 12, 1864, was shot through the right leg below the knee, was in hospital for several mom hs and rejoined his regiment in March, 1865, at Bull's Gap, Tenn. He was in many skirmishes and was an active soldier, and in all the battles, skir- mishes, marches and campaigns in which his regiment took part until wounded, and until that time was not sick a day, but always prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duty. After the war he returned to Cleveland and worked at stonemasonry and plastering four years, and then was in a mercantile firm for nine years. In 1876 he bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of 172 acres. He was in company with his father in this deal, and traded city property for the land. Mr. Holzhauer married in June, 1870, in Cleveland, Ohio, Helen Kirsch, who was born October 21, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Holz- hauer have been born Ida M., ^^'illiam W., Alfred A. and Helen H. In politics Mr. Holzhauer is a republican and has served as trustee of Northfield township. He is a mem- ber of Dunham post, G. A. R. , at Bedford, Ohio. He has always been hard-working and industrious, is respected by all who know him and has reared an excellent family. William Holzhauer was born June 16, 1816, at Baden, Germany, and married, in Germany, Catherine Ann Forbach, becoming the father of Almeda, Amelia and Lewis. Mr. Holzhauer is still living and has always been a good and law-abiding citizen. Mrs. Lewis (Kirsch) Holzhauer was called from earth February 28, 1891, a lady of many virtues. >Y'0HN H. JOHNSON, a prosperous M farmer of Northfield township. Summit /• 1 count}', Ohio, an old soldier of the Civil war and an ex-prisoner of the infamous Andersonville prison, descends pri- marily from sterling English ancestry and was born in Bedford township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, May 8, 1847, a son of William and Elizabeth (Wycle) Johnson. He received a very limited common education, his father OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 643 having died when he was but an infant of six months. He was bound out when but four years old, and was reared by Plato S. Brew- ster, a farmer of Summit county. He en- listed, when but fifteen years old, August 4, 1862, in Northfield township. Summit county, in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and served until hon- orably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 13, 1865, the war having closed. He was in several skirmishes with Wheel- er's cavalry in Tennessee in August, 1864, and on one occasion, when he and thirty-two of his comrades were guarding a block house on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga rail- road, in Tennessee, being on detached duty, were surprised by Confederate cavalry and ar- tillery under Gen's. Forrest and Buford, after a day's hard fighting, and were taken prison- ers — having surrendered with promise of being exchanged. He was taken with other prison- ers to Columbia, Tenn., and thence to Merid- ian, Miss., and thence to the dreaded stock- ade at Andersonville. When first captured they were stripped and robbed of guns, blank- ets, overcoats, knapsacks and valuables. In January, 1865, Andersonville had a large number of prisoners, was very filthy and af- forded no shelter from the weather. The rations were of the poorest quality, consisting of beans uncooked, corn-meal ground cob and all, and a very little meat, and Mr. Johnson was held a prisoner until the close of the war, about four months. He was sick with typhoid fever in Woodward hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, from August 23, 1863, to January, 1864, and came near death. After the war he returned to Ohio, and married, on the farm where he now lives, March ir. 1880, Miss Catherine AUbaugh, who was born in Carroll county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Catherine (Sell) Allbaugh. In politics Mr. Johnson is a republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He is a good citi- zen, and has always been industrious, and respected, and is a member of the E.\-Prison- ers' of War association of Cleveland, Ohio. William Johnson, father of John H., was born in New York state, a son of William, a soldier in the war of 18 12. William, father of subject, married, in New York state, Eliza- beth Wycle, and their children were Hiram, Thomas, John H., Sarah Jane and Martha E. Mr. Johnson owned a small farm in Bedford, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He died a young man of twenty-eight years of age. He had three sons in the Civil war — Hiram, Thomas and John H. Hiram was in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry and died of heart disease in Camp Chase, Ohio. Thomas was in company H, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, three years, and was disabled at Franklin, Tenn., and assigned to the veteran corps. Mrs. Johnson, mother of J. H. Johnson, married for her second husband John H. Gardner, of Bedford, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and their children were Oliver, Mary, William Helman, Alton and Harrison. William served in the Tenth Ohio cavalry during the late war, and died in the army, and thus five of the family served as soldiers and two died in the service. Mr. Johnson has thriven as a farmer, is in- dustrious and steady in his habits, and has won for himself a high standing in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. ■^•T^OHN S. LEE, a well-known carpenter M of Richfield township, Summit county, A 1 and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born July 4, 1847, •" Orland, Steuben county, Ind., a son of John and Elizabeth (Sanborn) Lee, both early settlers of Summit county, Ohio. Elizabeth Sanborn was a 644 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD daughter of John Sanborn and Sibyl (Fairwell) Sanborn, natives of Vermont. Elizabeth Lee died at Orland, Ind., in 185 i. John Lee, a farmer, was born in Pennsyl- vania, July 4, 1820, and was a son of George Lee, of German descent and an early settler of Boston, Summit county, Ohio. John Lee was married in Boston and to him and wife were born John S. and Helen A. His death occurred in December, 1865, a highly re- spected gentleman. John Lee married, for his second wife. Electa Oviatt, in 1864, to whom was born one son. Park B. Lee. She sur- vived him a few years. John S. Lee was about four years of age when his parents returned from Indiana to Richfield, Ohio, where they had previously resided. Here he received a common-school educ (tion, and at the age of sixteen years en- listed in the voluiiteer service, but was dis- charged through the action of his father, with- out whose consent he had enlisted. When he had reached the age of seventeen, however, he was permitted to enlist, August 29. 1864, at Weft Richfield, as drummer in compan\' H, One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio volunteer in'antry, to serve one year, if the war were not sooner closed, and received an honorable discharge at Greensboro. N. C, June 24, 1865, the war having ended the previous month. He fought at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Fort An- derson and Town Creek, N. C, and took part in several skirmishes. He was on one forced march of two days, from Tuliahoma to Mur- freesboro, and this was the hardest he had to undergo, although he took part, necessarily, in many others. After the war he returned to Richfield, where he has since been employed at his trade of carpenter. April 18, 1868, Mr. Lee married, at West Richfield, Miss Frances A. Pettit, a daughter of John and Charlotte (Hoight) Pettit, and who was born at Brecksville, April 9, 1847. John Pettit, her father, was a native of New York state,. and when a j^oung man came to Ohio, and located in Brecksville, Cuyahoga count}', but married in Westfield, N. Y., the result being five children — Henry B. , Alice, Esther, Sarah, and Frances A. His second marriage was to Hannah Searle, of Hinckley, Ohio, and to this union were born eight chil- dren. The death of Mr. Pettit took place in Newark, Ohio, 1880, at the age of seventy-five years, being a Methodist in religion and a re- publican in politics. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lee went to Manistee county, Mich., and located on a farm of forty acres in the woods at Bear Lake. This farm Mr. Lee partially cleared up, but two years later returned to West Rich- field, Ohio, moved to Newark, Ohio, in 1874, lived one year, and then came back to Rich- field, where he has ever since been engaged at his trade. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lee have been born two children, Lenna C. and Cora A. Mr. Lee is a member of A. N. Goldwood post. No. 144, G. A. R. , at West Richfield, and is greath' respected for his moral, temperate and industrious course through life. In politics Mr. Lee is republican. '^ yy w ^ ILLIAM OLIVER WISE, attorney # a I at law, of Akron, Ohio, is one of mjL^ four children born to Jacob and Martha Elizabeth Wise. He was born in the village of East Libert}-, Ohio, Sep- tember 8, 1875. His only sister, Idella Ray, who was his junior by nearly two years, died at the age of three and one-half years; his two brothers, twins, died in their early infancy. His father, Jacob Wise, is the son of Will- iam Wise, who was one of the most progressive and thriving farmers of Summit county during his day. He was a direct descendant of the famous Wise family who to this day inhabit ^jjJr&^jU^^.^ ^Ayin^Lxy il OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 647 the Shenandoah Valley of Pennsylvania and Virginia and which stock emigrated originally from Holland. Jacob Wise, aside from being a landlord of a village tavern, was also a dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements, thereby gaining a large circle of friends, especially among the tillers of the soil. He was also a partner of the firm, Betz, Hammerly & Wise, of Canton, Ohio, who were manufacturers of the Corn Stalk King Feed Cutter; Jacob Wise spent much time and money on this machine and took out several patents for improving it; and still later on the partnership organized it- self in a stock company which later amalgamat- ed with the Champion Lawn Rake Co., and which was then known as the Champion Lawn Rake & Feed Cutter company of Canton, Ohio. Several years later this company went into the hands of a receiver, as did numbers of other like institutions on the. advent of the panic. Jacob Wise then managed the hotel at Moga- dore, Ohio, for several years and in the sum- mer of 1896 he sold out and moved to Akron, Ohio, and became engaged in the selling of cigars, representing the S. R. Moss Cigar com- pany of Harrisburg, Pa. He is also the pat- entee of "Wise's Vehicle Headlight." Martha Elizabeth Wise was the daughter of Solomon Gigger, also a well-to-do farmer near East Liberty, Summit county, Ohio. Her father also spent a greater part of t .e winters in Akron and Cleveland, buildinf ships and canal boats, this being his regular irade. Oliver Wise, whose name opens this sketch, met with a sad misforture at the age of three and one-half years; he fell off of a fence at his Grandma Wise's home and in falling was caught by two fence pales and hung there until his cries caused his grandma to come to his rescue. In falling he broke his ankle and was confined to his bed for months, the final re- sults of the wounds being two strokes of paralysis. 26 He received his early primary education in the village schools of Manchester and Union- town, Ohio; also attended a country school outh of Akron, known as Moore's districts school. At the age of fifteen he removed with his parents to Akron, Ohio, and attended the Akron high school, from which he was gradu- ated. During a portion of his time spent in the Akron high school his parents were con- ducting the village tavern at Mogadore, Ohio. During a part of this time, after school hours, Oliver worked for Messrs. F. J. Kolb & Son, dealers in groceries, hay, straw and feed, doing business at the corner of West Exchange and Water streets. He baled hay and straw and delivered groceries and clerked in the store and did " chores " about the house, all in return for his board and a small salary. After graduating from the Akron high school he went to Pittsburg, Pa., and completed a course of study in Duff's mercantile college, and was graduated with first honors in his class from that institution. He immediately entered the law offices of Judge E. P. Green, Judge C. R. Grant and Col. George W. Sieber, of Akron, Ohio, and in the autumn of 1894 entered the Cincinnati law school, now the law department of the University of Cincin- nati, and was graduated in the class of 1896 with high honors, receiving the LL. B. de- gree (Bachelor of Laws), also completing a regular three-years' course in two years. He passed the Ohio bar examinations at the age of twenty, and on September 8, 1896, his twenty-first birthday, was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state of Ohio and had the distinction of being the youngest law- yer in the state. During the autumn of 1896 he matriculated as a post-graduate in law at Columbian uni- versity, Washington, D. C. At the same time that he attended this university he also held a law clerkship in the offices of Judge I. G. 648 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Kimball and his son, Harry G. Kimball, whoee offices are located on Fifth street, N. W., better known in legal circles as "Judi- ciiryRow." On November 9, 1896, he be- came a member of the Washington bar, hav- ing passed the examination and been admitted to practice in all the United States courts of the District of Columbia. Having fulfilled all requirements, he was very soon after also ad- mitted to practice in all the departments of the government, the war, navy, state, pen- sion, interior and treasury, and on the 3d of March, 1897, was admitted to practice before the United States court of claims, on motion of the Hon. Willism A. Maury, sometime assistant attorney-general of the United States. On March 8, 1897, Gov. Asa S. Bushnell, of Ohio, appointed him commissioner of deeds of Ohio within the District of Columbia. He also took an active part in the debates of the uni- versity. The post-graduate class in law of Columbian university selected him as one of its three representatives of the executive commit- tee of the Columbian Law Debating society. He was also honored by being elected by the post-graduate law class as its representative in several public debates. Having been a success- ful contestant in those debates, he was again elected by an unanimous vote to represent the post-graduate class in law in the final prize debate which was held at the end of the col- legiate year. To be selected as a representa- tive in this final prize debate is considered one of the highest honors a university student can aspire to. The other contestant selected with him from the post-graduate law class was Francis William Henry Clay, of Kentucky, a Cornell graduate, and a direct descendant of old Henry Clay. Oliver was graduated from Columbian university on June 8, 1897, and received the LL. M. degree (Master of Laws). On August 26, 1897, he began the practice of the law at Akron, Ohio, associating himself with A. B. Tinker, with offices in the Akron Savings bank building. There are but few young men better qualified to fight life's bat- tles, as well as legal ones, and we predict for Mr. Wise a very bright future. 5>^ERRY W. JOHNSON, one of the 1 ■ best business men of Franklin town- ^ ship. Portage county, Ohio, and well known in Kent and throughout the county, was born in Shalersville, this county, December 21, 1857, and is a son of Alonzo and Mary J. (Cook) Johnson, also natives of Portage county. Alonzo Johnson, father of Perry W. , farmer and butcher of Kent, was born in Shalerville township, May 25, 1835, a son of Ebenezer and Annis (Stoddard) Johnson, na- tives of Vermont and New Hampshire respect- ively — the latter born April 8 , 1 8 1 1 . Alonzo's paternal grandfather, Sylvester Johnson, was a farmer of Rutland, Vt., and his maternal grandfather, Stoddard, a native of New Hampshire. The parents of Alonzo settled in Siowe township, Summit county, Ohio, in 1834, and in 1835 purchased a tract of heavily timbered land in Shalersville township. Port- age county, which they cleared and improved, and where they lived until the death of the father in 1850, in his forty-second year. They had seven children: Alonzo, Lucinda (de- ceased), Emma (Mrs. Willard Seward), Syl- vester, Leander, Silas (died in the army dur- ing the late war) and Eben. The mother next married Rufus Newton, of Franklin township, Portage county, in 1857. He died in 1862 and she moved to Daviess county. Mo., in 1869, and subsequently married William Hughes, who died in 1879, and his widow re- turned to Ohio in 1880, and is now residing in Kent. Alonzo Johnson was reared in Shalers- ville township, and was educated in the com- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 649 mon schools. He resided in Shalersville township until 1863, when he removed to Kent, Portage county, and embarked in the grocery business, in which he was engaged two years. He then built the hotel known as the Collins House, which he conducted for three years, and during that time opened a meat market, which he carried on from 1S66 to March 30, 1885, when he retired from that business. He is now engaged in farming, in Franklin township, Portage county, owning the farm formerly occupied by Warren Burt. Alonzo Johnson was married in November, 1855, to Mary J., daughter of William and Lavina Cook, of Franklin township, by whom he had twelve children, nine now living: Willard, Berry, Emma (Mrs. Henry Barker), Albert, Ora, Nella, Clayton, Cora and Selah. Mr. Johnson is a representative citizen of the township and in politics is a democrat. Perry W. Johnson was engaged in the meat business with his father and older brother until 18S5, when they dissolved partnership; in connection with this they also held the ice business of Kent, after which Perry W. John- son carried on the ice business alone until 1889. His wife. Miss Carrie (Luce) Johnson, was born August 14, i860, being the youngest child of Elihu Luce. They had five children: Britton Johnson, Berty J. (deceased). Fay J., Malissa J. and Leonard J. Mr. Luce was born June 4, 1820, and Melissa Shirtlif? Luce, born August 26, 1820. Elihu Luce came from Ferrysburg, Genesee county, N. Y. , and settled at Franklin, Ohio. Melissa Shirtliff was the eldest daughter of Rule Shirtliff, who was born February 14, 1793 (died 1865), and Mrs. Melissa Loomis Shirtliff, born December 5, 1795 (died in 1873). They came from Massachusetts to Franklin, Ohio, in 18 18, the occupation of Mr. Shirtliff being that of gen- eral farming. Zebulon Luce, father of Elihu, was born July 4, 1790, was engaged in farming and also ran a saw and grist-mill at Sheldon, N. J., and died July 12, 1849. Rachael (Tomkins) Luce, his wife, was born September 10, 1795, a daughter of a farmer owning 1,600 acres of land at Ferrysburg, N. Y., and had born to them thirteen children. Zebulon Luce died July 12, 1849, a highly respected and useful citizen. *-!-* YMAN LAUDENSLAGER, one of I j the prominent and substantial busi- i A ness men of Hudson, Summit county, was born in Suffield township. Port- age county, Ohio, June 27, 1861, a son of John and Catherine (Hull) Laudenslager, Jr. John Laudenslager, Jr. , was one of the pioneers of Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio. They first settled in Springfield township. Sum- mit county, Ohio, and in 1839 removed to Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio. Here the grandfather of subject, John Laudenslager, Sr. , cleared up a farm from the woods, con- sisting of about 100 acres. He lived to be seventy-six years of age and died in 1879. His children were Jacob, Henry, John, Lydia and Fannie. John Laudenslager, Sr., was born in Northumberland county. Pa., about 1803 of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. He was a member of the German Reform church, in which he was a deacon many years, and a very prominent man in his church, assisting to build the first German Reform church in his town- ship. He was a much respected citizen and a democrat in politics. He had one son — Henry — in the Civil war, who died in the service of pneumonia. John Laudenslager, Sr., was well known among the pioneers as a substantial citizen and much respected man, noted for his sturdy and honest character. John Laudenslager, Jr., son of above and father of our subject, was born in Sufifield 650 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD township. Summit count}', June 19, 1835. He was a farmer and also traveling salesman, and married Catherine Hull, daughter of John and Catherine Hull. Mr. Laudenslager settled in Suffield township and moved in 1874 to Brim- field township, where he bought 100 acres of land and had a good home and farm. He was a life-long member of the German Reformed church, in which he was a deacon many years, taking his father's place. He was an active church worker and assisted to bui'd the pres- ent Reformed church in his town-hip. His children were Allen, Emanuel, Lyman, George, Frank and Mary. Mr. Laudenslager was an upright and practical business m^n, greatly re- spected in his community, and a good friendly neighbor. He died May 27, 1897. Lyman Laudenslager, our subject, received a good common-school education in the dis- trict schools, and was reared to farming. He next became a foreman of a company of men in the roofing business with his father, and afterward, in 1880, a foreman in the Carriage Gear works of Hudson. He married, Febru- ary 24, 1886, Miss Aurie Po.-^t, who was born at Twinsburg, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1861, a daugh- ter of Ebenezerand Maria (Davis) Post. Mr. Post was a pioneer farmer of Twinsburg and a prominent stock dealer and sptculator. Mr. Laudenslager engaged in the livery business in Ohio in 1886, in company wilh H. Wehner and Andrew May. Mr. Laudenslager and Mr. May bought out Mr. Wehner two and a half years later, and Mr. Laudensla'.;er bought out Mr. May in 1892 and became sole proprietor, and has since conducted the busi- ness. He has a well-equipped stable and keeps a first-class livery — one of the best in he county. Mr. Laudenslager is entirely a self-made man, having accumulated his prop- erty solely by his own exertions. In politics he is a stanch democrat and has been twice a member of the council of Hudson. He is a member of the German reformed church of Suffield township and assisted to build its church. Mr. Laudenslager is a man of straight- forward honesty of character among the peo- ple of the county, and as a businessman is ex- ceedingly popular. He has prospered by his thrift, industry and integrity. Mr. Lauden- slager has just bought, in company with E. W. Eby and Robert Adams, a large and first-class flouring-mill at Clinton, Ohio, but will still continue to reside in Hudson. He is a very publ.c-spirited man and takes an active inter- est in all public improvements. ^>^ ICHARD LIMBER, a practical build- I /^r er and carpenter of Tallmadge town- l_^P ship. Summit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, is a son of Isaac and Nancy (Keller) Limber, and was born in Tallmadge, May 12, 1838. Isaac Limber was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and is thought to have been of Irish ancestry, the surname being at one time in tlie past spelled Lambert. His wife, Nancy Keller, was of Pennsylvania-Dutch and Eng- lish descent. Isaac was a carpenter by trade, and caine to Tallmadge township from Mahon- ing county about 1835, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying at the age of six- ty-five years. He and wife were the parents of twelve children, viz: John, Alexander, Jefferson, Allen, Jesse, Otto, Richard, Hiram, Sarah A., Elizabeth, Fannie and Valentine who died at the age of three years. Five of these boys were soldiers in the Civil war, viz: Jefferson, Allen, Jesse, Otto and Richard. Of these, Jefferson was in the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio, 100-day service; Allen and Otto were in the three years' service in the Sixty-iourth Ohio infantry, and Jesse was in the One Huddred and Fourth Ohio infan- try, in the three-year service. Richard's mil- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 651 itary record will be mentioned more fully. Isaac Limber was a skillful mechanic, was a man of good education and fine intellectual capacity and genial disposition, and was much respected by all who knew him. Richard Limber received a fair common- school education and was reared to farm labor. He enlisted at Tallmadge, August 22, 1862, and was mustered in at Massillon, Ohio, under Capt. Joseph W. McConnell, in company I, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, Col. J. A. Lucy, to served three years or through the war, if sooner ended, and end it did before he received his honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, July 5, 1865, having been mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tenn. — just two months short of three years from the date of his enlistment. His services in the army were rendered at Cincinnati, Oh'o, for about a year; thence his regiment was sent to Nashville, Tenn., where it was divided, part going to Murfreesboro, and to this part Mr. Limber was attached, and there he re- mained, guarding the military works and the city until discharged. His only time off duty was when he was laid up a month with typhoid fever in Cincinnati, and one month at Mur- freesboro. After the war Mr. Limber returned to Tall- madge, and learned carpentering, bricklaying and plastering, and is now able to construct all kinds of buildings, and building has since been his occupation. January 2, 1869, he married, in Tallmadge, Miss Hattie G. Ogle, the nuptial knot being tied by Rev. Benjamin F. Wade, a Methodist clergyman. Miss Ogle was born in Barrow Waterside, Lincolnshire, England, December 11, 1848, a daughter of Richard and Sarah (Thompson) Ogle. To Mr. and Mrs. Limber the following-named children have been born: Edward L. (who died at the age of three years). Perry R. , Philo E. and Clinton B. The surviving children have all been well educated, Philo E. being a grad- uate of the Tallmadge high school. Richard Ogle, father of Mrs. Limber, was a brick and tile foreman for his father in Eng- land. To his marriage with Miss Sarah Thompson were born George, Elizabeth, At- kin, William, Sarah, Hattie G. and Mary in England, and after coming to America, in 185 1, there were born to him Richard, Henry, Charles, Thomas and Rebecca. After coming to America, Mr. Ogle located in Tallmadge township and engaged in farming; two years later he sent for his then family, who arrived in the spring of 1853, and here remained un- til 1868, when he removed to Clark, and then to Edgar county. 111., where he died at the age of seventy-one years. Two of his sons served in the Civil war — Atkin in the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio infantry for 100 days; William was in the Ohio cava'ry, in the three-year service, acted as scout fur Sherman in his march to the sea, was captured by"the enemy, and eventually died from the effects of prison life. Mr. and Mrs. Limber and family are mem- bers of the Methodist church, and Mr. Limber is a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., at Akron. In politics he is a republican and has held the office of township supervisor, but has been content rather to pursue a profitable pri- vate business than to trust to the precarious profits of public position, and in this respect he shows the sound sense for which he is given universal credit, as well as for his many other good qualities. ^-I-* GRAIN H. LOCKERT, of Richfield, I r Summit count)', Ohio, is one of the I ^ old soldiers of the Civil war, is a re- spected citizen and the head of an ex- cellent family. He was born in Richfield township, January 24, 1840, a son of James 652 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and Minerva (Moon) Lockert, or, as the name was originally spelled, Lockhart. He received a common-school education, was reared as a farmer and enlisted August 29, 1864, in com- pany H, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, at West Richfield, Ohio, and was mustered in at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, and served until honorably discharged June 15, 1865, from the hospital at David's Island, New York harbor. He was in the battles of the Cedars, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Fort Fisher, Town Creek, Wilmingion, and in the last of the Atlanta campaign, and at Goldsboro. Mr. Lockert was always an active soldier, prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duty, and was in all the campaigns, battles, skirmishes and marches in which his regiment took part. He was not wounded, nor a prisoner, but at Raleigh, N. C, he was taken sick with camp fever and was in hospital at Raleigh and New Berne, N. C. , thence taken on a hospital boat to David's Island, New York harbor, and was in hospital altogether about seven weeks. After the war Mr. Lock- ert returned to Richfield township and re- sumed farming. He married, January 6, 1870, in Richfield township, Helen Andrew, who was born December 17, 1844, in Boston town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, a daughter of Emanuel and Eleanor (Moffit) Andrew — both natives of England, and who settled in Boston township at an early day, where Mr. Andrew died soon after arriving. Their children were Emanuel, Robert, Ada, Lydia and Helen, of whom Emanuel and Robert were both privates in the Eighty-second Ohio regiment during the Civil war, in the three years' service. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lockert settled on their present farm of 116 acres. He has greatly improved his farm and built an attractive residence, and is a good, substan- tial farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Lockert have been born Harley L. and Wilbur H. In politics Mr. Lockert is a republican and is a member of A. N. Goldwood post, G. A. R., at West Richfield, Ohio, and he has held the office of senior vice-commander and quarter- master. James Lockert, father of subject, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., of Scotch origin, was a farmer and came to Summit county, Ohio, and settled in Richfield town- ship about 1830 or 1832 and bought a small piece of land in the woods, which he cleared up, and then bought the farm where Lorain H. Lockert now lives. He married, in New York state. Miss Minerva Moon, also of American extraction, and the children born to this union were Elizabeth, Julia, Mary, Mi- nerva, James, Alexander and Lorain H. The father, James Lockert, was a member of the Baptist church and a deacon many years. In politics he was a republican and a strong Union man. He went to David's Island, N. Y. harbor, when subject was sick, took care of him for about one v^^eek, secured his discharge and brought him home, as he was not ex- pected to live. Mr. Lockert was a well- known and much respected citizen, and was township trustee one year. Lorain H. has also been township trustee five years and holds the office at the present time. d HARLES M. LUSK, of Hudson, Ohio, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, but now a respected farmer, de- scends from pioneers of Summit county. His grandfather, Capt. Amos Lusk, came from Connecticut, settled in Hudson town- ship in 1 80 1, when it was a wilderness, and cleared up a farm. He was married in Stock- bridge, Conn., to Mary Adams, who was born 1 '^^^^^^^^1 ^^^H ^^B ' i^l ^^^^^^^^^^^^Pl>' "' . ^:. iHi «■*.:-.'-!-'. " ^Cdl / t- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 653 in Stockbridge May 15, 1768, a daughter of John Adams, who was a cousin of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom Diantha, born January 12, 1801, was married to John Brown, of Osa- watomie, Kan., and Harper's Ferry fame, and by him she had five children — John, Jason, Ruth, Owen and Frederick. In June, 1812, the little settlement of Hudson was startled by the announcement of the war with Great Britain. A company was formed at Hudson and surrounding townships and Amos Lusk was appointed captain of the company. The news reached Hudson that Hull had surrendered Detroit, and that the French and Indians in great numbers were making their way down the lake. The settle- ment was much excited, and preparations were made for placing the women and chil- dren in a place of safety, and the militia com- pany was summoned to the place of rendez- vous, and on a Sabbath morning Capt. Lusk paraded his company on the green and was prepared to act on the first order, when a messenger from Cleveland announced that the forces approaching were paroled troops of Gen. Hull. Later Capt. Lusk's company was ordered to old Portage, was placed under Gen. Wadsworth's command, and afterward was ordered to Hudson and Sandusky, and served three months, but saw no battle. Capt. Lusk settled in Hudson township on the farm now occupied by Charles M. Lusk. He cleared up a good farm from the woods, became a substantial citizen, and died May 24, 18 1 3 — aged forty years — from the effects of a fever contracted during the war of 181 2. His chil- dren were Minerva, Lorin, Iildward, Milton A., and Sophia, who married a Mr. Clow. Milton A. Lusk, father of our subject, was born June 2, 1803, in Hudson, Ohio, on the homestead, received a pioneer education, was reared a farmer, and learned the hatter's trade. He married, at the age of twenty-three, Dency Preston, born in Canton, Mass., and their children were Henry, Lorin, Charles, Lucy and Amos. Mrs. Lusk died, and he married Sallie Secoy (nee Post), born Septem- ber 14, 181 5, in Westbrook, Conn., a daugh- ter of Joshua and Mollie (Dee) Post. She was the eleventh daughter of a family of thirteen children — all living to be over sixty years of age, with one exception. Mr. and Mrs. Lusk had one daughter, Dency. Mr. Lusk was a substantial farmer, owning the old homestead of 116 acres and was a respected and industrious man, and was a strict abolitionist. His house was a station on the Under Ground railroad and he assisted in carrying runaway slaves to places of safety. He was a member of the Congregational church, a teacher and superintendent of the Sunday-school, and his father, Amos Lusk, was one of the founders of the first Congregational church at Hudson, September 4, 1802. He lived to the venerable age of eighty-one years, and died at Macedonia, Ohio, a highly re- spected citizen. Charles M. Lusk, our subject, was born October 28, 1832, on the old homestead, re- ceived a common education and learned farm- ing, engineering and steam fitting. In Bed- iord, Ohio, at the age of twenty-seven years, in April, i860, he married Mary J. Snow, a native of Independence, Ohio, and by her he had one child — Nellie E. — the mother being now deceased. Mr. Lusk first settled in Bed- ford, Ohio, and then went to Newberg, where he was engineer at the State Lunatic asylum. He next returned to the home farm and en- listed, at Hudson, in December, 1863, in Capt. J. R. Sanford's company E, One Hun- dred and Twenty-eighth Ohio volunteer infan- try, to serve three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, 654 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Ohio, July 5, 1865, the war having closed. Most of his service was on Johnson's Island, as guard at the celebrated prison for Confed- erate ofificers, and where there were at one time, 3,300 prisoners. Mr. Lusk assisted in calling the roll in the prison for eighteen months, and has a correct knowledge of the treatment of these men. He says that they were well supplied with United States blank- ets, and plenty of wood was furnished for fires. The prison was a stockade and barracks, and as good as was furnished for the guards. The food was good, with fresh bread daily and fresh meat was furnished three times a week, and other rations were abundant. They were furnished with tea and coffee until late in the war, when, as the Union prisoners were starv- ing in rebel prison-pens, these luxuries were shut off. Medical attendance was given them. Several plans were formed by the Confeder- ates for escape, but they were frustrated. After his service, Mr. Lusk returned to Newberg, and was an engineer a few years; then was first engineer for the city work-house four years, and then engaged in steam fitting in Cleveland for three years; was next janitor of the Central high school at Cleveland, and afterward did repair work for the Cleveland board of education and followed stationary en- gineering. In June, 1895, he came to his present farm of thirty-five acres, which he had purchased the year previous, and built an at- tractive residence. Mr. Lusk married, for his second wife, Mrs. Jane Louise Nelson (nee Giffin), born in Auburn, N. Y. , a daughter of William and Jane W. Giffin. Mr. and Mrs. Lusk had the following chil- dren: Nellie E., Rollin W. and Milton W. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lusk and Nelhe, Rollin W. and Milton W. are members of the Con- gregational church, and in politics Mr. Lusk is a republican. He is a member of the Knights of Honor of Cleveland, and at one time held the office of financial reporter. He is also a member of Gen. W. T. Sherman post, G. A. R. >rj*OHN H. McCRUM, treasurer of the ■ Akron Varnish company of Akron, m 1 Ohio, was born in Altoona, Blair county. Pa., July 3, 1865, and is a son of Ephraim B. McCrum, who was born at Mifflintown, Pa., October 7, 1833, and is a son of John H. and Margaret M. (Grier) Mc- Crum, also natives of Mifflintown, Pa. The McCrum family was one of the earliest to set- tle in Juniata county, Pa. The grandfather of J. H. McCrum was a farmer and miller. He was very prominent in the whig party, was twice elected under its auspices to the Pennsylvania legislature, and died in 1S54, at the comparatively young age of thirty-seven years. The Grier family was also among the early OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 655 settlers of Juniata county, the maternal great- grandfather of the subject of this review hav- ing come from the north of Ireland. His wife bore the maiden name of Priscilla McClellan, and was a relative of the famous Houstons, of Texas, and also distantly related to a former president of the United States, James Bu- chanan. The grandparents of Mr. McCrum were members of the Scotch-Irish Presbyte- rian church, the father being a man of un- usual public spirit and active in all things that tended to the public weal. John H. McCrum was educated in the public schools of his native city, and shortly after his school days were over he entered an insurance company's office, where he per- formed clerical work for two years. In Janu- ary, 1882, he entered the office of the B. F. Goodrich company of Akron, Ohio, with which he held a position as clerk until the fall of 1883, when he accepted a situation as cor- responding clerk with the King Varnish com- pany, and in May, i886, was elected its secre- tary. In 1889, in conjunction with D. R. Paige, he bought out this company, which was later incorporated as the Imperial Varnish company, and Mr. McCrum became its presi- dent. January 27, 1897, the Akron Varnish company was incorporated, with a paid-up capital stock of $250,000, as successors to Kubler & Beck and the Imperial Varnish com- pany, and is officered as follows: E. G. Ku- bler, president; J. M. Beck, vice-president and general superintendent; J. H. McCrum, treasurer, and S. H. Kohler, secretary, its plants being Factory A, corner of Main and State streets, and Factory B, on North Canal street. Mr. McCrum has always been active in promoting the business interests of Akron since his residence in the city, has interests in its mercantile or manufacturing concerns, outside his interest in the Akron Varnish company, and is altogether a wide-awake, up-to-date young man of business. The marriage of Mr. McCrum took place January 14, 1891, to Miss Sarah E. Motz, daughter of Henry M. Motz, of Akron, and this happy union has been blessed by the birth of two children — Ralph and Helen. The resi- dence of the family is at No. 208 Adolph av- enue, and a happier one is not to be found in yVkron. In his politics Mr. McCrum is a stanch republican, but has never sought offi- cial preferment. ,>^ OBERT ALEXANDER McKENZIE, I /«^ a respectable young farmer of North- I^^P ampton township, Summit county, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, April 25, 1861, a son of James and Nancy (Karr) McKenzie. His grandparents, Brodie and Jane (Young) McKenzie, were natives, respectively, of Scotland and Ireland, and were the parents of four sons and two daughters. Brodie McKenzie came to America in 181 8, and Jane Young came to America with her parents, William and Elizabeth Young, here married and settled in Holmes county, Ohio, about 1823. James McKenzie was reared a farmer and also learned the carpenter's trade. He served in the 100-day service in a Holmes county regiment of volunteer infantry during the Civil war, and in 1866 settled in Northampton, Summit county, where his death took place in 1890. He had led an industrious, upright and honorable life, and had won the respect and good will of all his neighbors, without excep- tion. The nine children born to him and wife were named, in order of birth, Martha Jane, Mary Elizabeth, Sarah Ellen, Matilda Ann, Robert Alexander, William Gibson, Cle- menzie, Nora and John Calvin, of whom 656 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the younger two were born in Northampton township. Robert A. McKenzie, whose name opens this sketch, remained at home with his parents until eighteen years of age, when he hired out on a farm; two years later he began working at the carpenter's trade, and this trade he has followed ever since in connection with farm- ing. March 6, 1888, Mr. McKenzie married Miss Irena May Wild, daughter of Frederick and Susan (Brumbaugh) Wild, of Northamp- ton township, and of whom more may be read in the memoir of Solomon C. Wild, a brother of Mrs. McKenzie, to be found on another page. Three children have blessed the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie, viz: Nancy Leota, born August 17, 1891; Olan Alex- ander, born November 3, 1892, and Ruth Irene, born November 20, 1895. In 1896 Mr. McKenzie bought a good farm of forty acres, on which he has already made many notable improvements, his skill ns a car- penter coming into good play in this respect. As he had passed his early life on his father's farm, he is as well qualified for the calling of an agriculturist as he is for following his trade of carpenter, and his success in the former will be merely a matter of time. In politics Mr. McKenzie is a stanch republican, and with his wife is a member of the United Pres- byterian church. He is very popular in his township, is respected as an upright citizen, and esteemed as an industrious young man who has earned his property by his personal efforts. ^Y^ RYAN MARTIN, one of the old sol- l/'*^ diers of the Civil war and a popular J^^J and careful official of Northfield town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, was born January 6, 1829, in county Meath, Ireland, a son of Patrick and Elizabeth (Kiernan) Mar- tin. Mr. Martin received his education in Ireland and came to America when a young man, embarking at Liverpool, England, March 29, 1849, on the good ship Silas Greenwood, and landing in New York city May 4, 1849. Mr. Martin came directly to Ohio, via the canal and steamboat. He worked on the state boat three years, making repairs on the Miami & Erie canal, and also worked at farm work until July 5, 1854, when he married Miss Mary Howard, who was born in county \\'ick- low, Ireland, in March, 1834, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Highington) Howard. Benjamin Howard was an English soldier and was at the battle of New Orleans. He mar- ried in Ireland, and his children were Ben- jamin, Thomas, Edward, Catherine, Ann and Mary. Mrs. Martin's mother died when Mrs. Martin was about two years old and the latter was reared by her father until twelve years of age, when she came to America, in 1847, with her brother Thomas and her sisters Catherine and Ann, and settled in Northfield township. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Martin settled in Northfield township, and Mr. Martin was engaged in various kinds of work until 1865, when he enlisted, at Cleveland, February 15, 1865, for one year or during the war, in com- pany B, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth regi- ment Ohio volunteer infantry, Capt. John H. McGrath, and served in Tennessee at Mur- freesboro and Tullahoma. Mr. Martin was company clerk, and after a month's service was detailed to be clerk at Gen. Dudley's headquarters, in Tullahoma, as he wrote a clear and beautiful hand, and served in this position until honorably discharged, Septem- ber 22, 1865. Mr. Martin then returned to Ohio and engaged in farming, bought his present premises in 1881, and now has a pleasant home. A republican in politics, he was elected assessor of Northfield township, in 1882, and has held this office to the satis- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 657 faction of the people since that time. His books are very clearly and nicely kept in the plainest of old-fashioned handwriting. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born Thomas, September 4, 1855; John, October 4, 1857; Mary E. , November 22, 1859; Bryan, Febru- ary 5, 1 861; Catherine, July 13, 1863; George, February 16, 1865; Ellen, July 14, 1869; Hattie A., October 14, 1870; Jeannette, No- vember 17, 1871, and Emma M., September 4, 1874. Mr. Martin is a member of George L. Watterman post, G. A. R., at Peninsula, and has always been an industrious and respected citizen, well known for his straight- forward dealings and honest character. St 'ILLIAM M. MARTIN, of West Richfield, Summit county, and an old soldier of the Civil war, who has reared an excellent family, springs paternally from sterling Irish ancestry and on the maternal side of sturdy Pennsyl- vania-Dutch stock. He was born May 7, 1839, in Wayne county, Ohio, on a farm four miles north of Wooster, on the old mud pike, a son of William D. and Abigail (Fetterman) Martin. He received a common-school education, was reared to farming, and enlisted when about twenty-one j'ears of age, at Marshallsvilie, Wayne county, Ohio, September 25, 1861, in company G, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, under Capt. Hamilton Richardson and afterward under Capt. Philip Smith, and was honorably discharged at C jlumbus, Ohio, November I,' 1864, having served one month, five days, over time. In February, 1862, he was engaged in general reconnoiteringat Cumberland Gap, and August 6, 1862, had sharp fighting against a surprise force at Tazewell, Tenn. December 27, 28, 29, was engaged in the battle at Chick- asaw Bayou, where the regiment lost very heavily in killed, wounded and missing. In a charge, December 29, Lieut. -Col. Kershner, eleven company officers and 139 men were taken prisoners. January 11, 1863, Mr. Mar- tin was at the battle of Arkansas Post; April 29, he witnessed the bombardment of Grand Gulf; May i, he was engaged in the fight at Port Gibson; May 16, 1863, took part in the battle of Champion Hills; May 17, 1863, was in the battle at Black River Bridge; May 19, was in the first charge in the rear of Vicksburg; May 28, was engaged in a general and bloody charge on the enemy, Shotwell, at Vicksburg; July 6, left with the expedition in pursuit of Johnson, and arrived at Jackson, Miss., July 10. Our subject was not in this battle, hav- ing been taken prisoner, with seventy-one of his comrades, while acting as guard near Clin- ton, Miss., but was paroled five days later, the rebels being surrounded at Brandon, Miss. Mr. Martin was sent to St. Louis, Mo., thence to Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky. , and New Orleans, La., where he was ex- changed in November. 1863, and rejoined his regiment there. In April, 1864, he was on the Red River expedition, and was in many skir- mishes near Alexandria, while company G was engaged in constructing the famous dam across the Red River, after which they were in camp, most of the time on the Mississippi, until dis- charged. Mr. Martin was always an active soldier, was not sick in hospital and was prompt and cheerful in the discharge of all his duties. He was in all the battles, skirmishes and campaigns and marches in which his regi- ment took part, e.xcept when a prisoner on parole. After the war, Mr. Martin returned to Stark county, Ohio, and September 17, 1872, married Susan Miller, who was born at Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, July 10, 1855, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Taylor) Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Martin located in Stark county 658 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Ohio, at Canal Fulton, and Mr. Martin engaged in drilling for coal and farming and threshing. In 1884 he came to Summit county and worked at Cuyahoga Falls in the rivet works three years, and in 1887 came to Richfield and farmed, and bought his present farm six years later. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had born to them the following children: Adam I., Clifford D., Ethel M. and Edward W. In politics he is a republican, and is a member of Goldwood post. No. 104, G. A. R., at Richfield, in which he has held the office of senior vice-com- mander. He is also a member of the Knights of Maccabees. Mrs. Martin is a member of the Presbyterian church. William D. Martin, father of William M., was born in Lancaster county. Pa., a son of a native of Ireland, who came to Pennsylvania be- fore the war of the Revolution, in which he was a soldier. William D. Martin was a farmer and married in Wayne county, Ohio, where he came when a young man. He had been a soldier in the war of 18 12. His wife, Abigail Fullerman, was of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and a daughter of Peter Fullerman — a farmer of Wayne county. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born the following children: William M. , Francis M., Peter C, Susan and Lorinda. In politics Mr. Martin was a democrat. He died in Canal Fulton, aged seventy-seven years, a member of the Lutheran church. He had two sons in the Civil war. Francis M. was in the One Hundred and Fourth regiment, company A, Ohio volunteer infantry, in the three years' service and was wounded in battle, being in the Atlanta campaign and with Sherman to the sea. Mrs. William M. Martin is the daughter of Henry Miller, who was born in Lebanon county. Pa., and is from an old Pennsylvania- Dutch family. His children were Susan, Franklin, Nora, Mary J., Nathan and Edward C. Mr. Miller was a farmer and moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled in Williams count}', where he married. He then made his home in Stark county, where he died, aged sixty-three years, and was a hard-working, in- dustrious man, respected by all who knew him. >Y*AMES E. MARQUITT, of West Rich- M field, Ohio, an old soldier of the Civil A J war and a prominent farmer and re- spected citizen, was born in Hinckley township, Medina county, Ohio, June 20, 1835, ^ son of Zachariah and Susan (Seaton) Marquitt. He received a good common- school education and taught school six years in Berea. Hinckley and Brunswick. He en- listed at Brunswick, June 22, 1862, in com- pany K, One Hundred and Third regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, served out his time and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, August 22, 1865, having been mustered out at Raleigh, N. C. He was in the battles of Cov- ington, Ky., during Morgan's raid, shirmishes at Georgetown, Lexington, Frankfort, Louis- ville, Bowling Green, Danville, all in Ken- tucky, and at Stanford, Crab Orchard, Somer- set, and he was with Burnside on the moun- tains of east Tennessee, and during this raid every man carried fifteen days' rations. There was skirmishing at Knoxville, Tenn., and there the regiment struck the railroad, having marched between 300 and 400 miles, and Mr. Marquitt was much worn out and much weakened by dysentery. After de- stroying the railroad from Knoxville to Lou- don, Tenn., they went into Knoxville, guarded the city for about one month and were hemmed in by the rebels nineteen days on one-fourth rations and suffered greatly from hunger. They were in this vicinity until the spring of 1864 then went from Knoxville to Chattanooga, joined Gen. Sherman, and were OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 659 all through the Atlanta campaign. He was in the battles of Dalton, Re?aca, Pumpkinvine Creek, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the battle in which Gen. McPherson was killed and saw him carried from the field, and he was also in the great general battle be- fore Atlanta and in the battle at Jonesboro, and then his regiment went after Hood, and was in the battles of Franklin and Nashville; they followed Hood to Clifton and took part in the battle, and then took transports to Louisville, Ky. Being transferred to Cincin- nati, Ohio, by rail, they went to Washington, D. C. , and Alexandria, Va., and saw at the latter place the hotel in which Col. Ellsworth was shot; they next took transports from Alexandria to Fort Fisher and were in the bombardment of that fort and were in a skir- mish at Smithville, N. C, where they captured 400 prisoners and fought through to Wilming- ton, N. C. , which they captured. They had fighting at New Berne and shirmishing through to Raleigh, N. C. (Mr. Marquitt being color bearer by detail) and here his regiment cap- tured rebel Gov. Vance, whom Mr. Marquitt and four comrades and an officer, Lieut. Spencer, were detailed to take to Washing- ton, where they turned him over to Sec. -of- War Stanton. Gov. Vance gave each of the guards $20, Confederate money, and said: " Boys, if these were greenbacks I would see that you fared better." W'hen they turned him over to Stanton, the secretary, seeing the lieutenant in charge had a furlough home, said, "Boys, would you not like a furlough home.''" and gave them free transportation home and back to their command by any route they chose to take. Mr. Marquitt re- joined his regiment at Raleigh, N. C, but the war was closed. They took boat via the ocean to Baltimore, took train on the Pennsyl- vania Central, and eighteen miles from Altoona a car wheel broke and piled up several cars, and threw several cars full of soldiers sixty feet, down an embankment; fifteen soldiers were killed and many injured. Mr. Marquitt escaped serious injury. His car went down end- wise and several soldiers inside it were killed. Mr. Marquitt was on top and held on to the break, and his comrade, Hiram B. Floyd, of Me- dina county, was killed at his side. Mr. Marquitt served two years as color guard, a position of importance and great danger, and was mus- tered out of service with the rank of corporal. At the battle of Resaca, Ga., apiece of shell struck the " U. S. " in his belt and knocked him down, but he arose and valiantly took his place in the ranks. This happened while they were making the charge, and while in line of battle in the same action a niinie ball struck his blouse sleeve and tore it from wrist to el- bow while he was in the act of capping his Enfield rifle. At Frankfort, Ky. , his wife's cousin, James Abbott, of company E, took sick, and Mr. Marquitt attended him till his death, and his remains were sent home to Cleveland. After the war Mr. Marquitt returned to Hinckley and resumed farming. He married, April 16, 1859, in Hinckley township, Isabella Clyne, who was born at Westfield, Medina county, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Norman) Clyne, natives of Scotland. To Mr. and Mrs. Marquitt have been born Eliza- beth, Charles J., Jessie J. and John N. In politics Mr. Marquitt is a republican and an ex- member of A. N. Goldwood post, G. A. R. He is an honored citizen, a substantial farmer and straightforward, industrious man. y^TX ARTIN H. MARQUITT. whose post- Ill o*^" address is West Richfield, \^ £ ^ Ohio, is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a re-pected citi- zen of Hinckley township, Medina county, 660 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD where he was born March 17, 1839, on the old Marquitt homestead, a son of Zachariah and Susan (Seaton) Marquitt. The name was originally spelled Marquette, and is of French origin. He was brought up a farmer and en- listed, April 23, 1861, at Akron, Ohio, and was mustered in April 27, at Camp Jackson, Ohio, to serve in company K, Nineteenth reg- iment, Ohio volunteer infantry, for three months, Capt. A. J. Konkle. He served four months and fifteen days, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, August 31, 1 86 1. His service was in West Virginia, and he took part in the battle of Rich Mountain, and was in many skirmishes after the guerril- las — a dangerous and arduous service. He re- turned home after his term expired, and re-en- listed in Hinckley township as a member of Capt. Charles Cotter's company A, First regi- ment Ohio light artillery, was enrolled on the fourth day of September, 1861, at Columbus, Ohio, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged December 31, 1863, at Cincinnati, Ohio, by reason of re- enlistment as a veteran volunteer. He re-en- listed in the same organization, under Capt. W. F. Goodspeed, and was enrolled January I, 1864, to serve three years, and was again honorably discharged as corporal of company A, First Ohio light artillery, July 31, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio, his captain being Charles W. Scoville — having served his country faithfully four years, three months and eight days — this being the longest service of any soldier from Medina county. He was promoted to cor- poral, for meritorious service, September 13, 1864. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, skirmish at Shelby ville, Lawrenceburg, Ky., Dog Walk, Perryville, Danville, Crab Orchard, Mill Creek, Murfreesboro or Stone River, Chickamauga, and on the famous Atlanta campaign, where the troops were under fire 120 days; at the battles of Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahooche River, Peach Tree Creek, battle in front of Atlanta from July 22 to July 28, Lovejoy Station, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Marquitt was always an active soldier, was not wounded nor sick in hospital, but was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part. In the rout of the right wing at the battle of Stone River, his gun was captured, and Mr. Marquitt motioned to the colonel of the Fourth Ohio cavalry, and he made a charge with his company, and they recaptured the gun. At the same battle Mr. Marquitt saved one gun of his battery and six horses, which had been abandoned. His comrades, William Gargett and John Marquitt, came across the gun on the retreat. William Gargett and John Marquitt rode off a team of horses each, and Mr. Marquitt rode the wheel team with the gun under an enfilading fire. He lay on the side of the horse and got away safely. The middle team were down and en- tangled when he came upon them, and he, assisted by his comrades, straightened up the team under fire. Battery A fired, on the At- lanta campaign, 3,680 rounds of ammunition, and lost in killed, captured and abandoned, 1 19 horses. Zachariah Marquitt, the father, was born March 28, 1804, in Sodus Point, N. Y., a son of Daniel and Catherine (Tremper) Marquitt — an old New York state family, Daniel Mar- quitt being a farmer. His children were Cath- erine, Louisa, Maria, Betsey Lucinda and Zachariah. Daniel came to Hinckley town- ship, Medina county, Ohio, about 1835, set- tled in the woods and cleared up a good farm. He took great interest in the Methodist church, his house being the home of the pioneer Meth- odist preachers. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age. He was a man of excellent OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 661 character and of kindly and mild disposition, was never angry and lived up to his profession. Zachariah Marquitt was married in New York state and two of his children were born before he moved to Ohio, in 1835, when he settled on 114 acres of land in Hinckley township, and by thrift and energy he increased this to 300 acres of good land and was a substantial farmer. His children were Mary, Daniel, James, Martin and John. In politics he was an old-line whig and republican and served as township trustee. He lived to be eighty-five years old, and died December 23, 1889, at Wellington, Ohio, where he had retired to pass his days. He was a strong Union man during the war and all his sons were soldiers in the Union army. John A. was a private of battery A, First Ohio light artillery, enlisting in the spring of 1861, and was in all the marches and battles during 1862-1863. At the battle of Stone River he assisted his brother Martin and William Gargett in saving the gun from falling into rebel hands, as men- tioned above. He re-enlisted as a veteran, and while at home on veteran furlough died of consumption, April 12, 1862 — having taken a severe cold in Kentucky by fording streams in cold weather on his return home. Daniel J., another son, enlisted in an Ohio regiment, but saw no service. Zachariah Marquitt, father of subject, was a man of unblemished character, well known for uprightness and honesty. Martin H. Marquitt received a common- school education and attended, one year, Baldwin university, and when the war broke out he enlisted. After his return from the war, September 12, 1866, he married Maria B. Gargett, of Hinckley township, Medina county. She was born January 11, 1844, in Hinckley township, a daughter of John and Mary (Woodward) Gargett. John Gargett was born in England in 1804, a son of John Gargett, a farmer. John Gargett came from England when a young man and settled in Hinckley township, Medina county, Ohio. He was a stonemason by trade and farmer. He built the Perkins house in Akron and his stone residence on his hotnestead in 1840. He married, at Sharon, Medina county, Ohio, January r, t837, and settled in Hinckley town- ship, on 120 acres with good improvements, paying $4 per acre, although it was almost in the woods. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he was first an old line whig and then a repub- lican. Their children were Mary, William, Maria, Robert, L;iura, Alice, James, Henry and Elizibeth. Two sons were in the Civil war — William and Robert. William J. was in battery A, First Ohio light artillery, and served through the war; Robert was in the Second Ohio cavalry, served one year and was in the ba'tle of Pea Ridge. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Marquitt settled on 160 acres of good land and have made many improvements. Their children are Dehio, Clifford and Lura. Mrs. Maiquitt is a member of the Methodist church in Rich- field, and in politics Mr. Marquitt is a repub- lican. He voted for A. Lincoln on his first nomination for the presidency, and was one of the original republicans of Medina county. He is a member ni Go'dwood post, G. A. R., at West Richfi Id, has served as township trustee two times, has been a member of the school board twenty years and reared an excel- lent family. (D INOTT L. NEWTON, a well-known farmer and stock raiser, was born and reared on the farm which he still owns and occupies in Richfield township. Summit county, Ohio, his birth hav- ing occurred March 6, 1845. 662 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD John Newton, grandfather of subject, was born in Connecticut February 24, 1787, and came to Ohio in 1806, locating in Hudson, where he Hved about four years, then returned to his native state, where he married, in 18 10, Miss Laura Thompson, and in 1815 came back to Hudson, Ohio, with his wife and two chil- dren — Marcus and Lucius. A few years later he came to Richfield, where he soon rose to prominence as an agriculturist and statesman, becoming a member of the state legislature and an associate judge of the state supreme court. His death occurred in March, 1867, and that of his wife about four years previously, leaving a memory still held in honor through- out the county and state. Beside the two children, Marcus and Lucius, born in Connect- icut, two others were born in Ohio — John T. and Rebecca. Of these, Marcus was a farmer and a local minister of the Methodist church, and died in January, 1874, a pious and ear- nest Christian; Lucius will receive further men- tion in the following paragraph; John T. be- came prominent as a lawyer in Toledo, and Rebecca, now Mrs. Weld, is living in Richfield. Lucius Newton, father of subject of this memoir, was born December 19, 18 14, and began the battle of life at the age of twenty- two years, locating in Royalton, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he purchased 640 acres of timbered land, 200 of which are cleared and fenced, and devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising for about five years, and then came to Richfield township. Summit county, where he resumed the same calling, of which he made a decided success and followed until his death, which occurred on December 4, 1896. He owned at onetime fully 1,000 acres of fine land, the greater part of which he di- vided among his children. He was married in May, 1838, to Miss Caroline Brockway, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 181 8, of Connecticut parentage. The children born were five in number, viz: John T. , an influ- ential farmer-citizen of Hudson township. Summit county; Homer E. , deceased; Minott L. , our subject; Laura, wife of J. M. McKin- stery, secretary of the Royal Arcanum of Cleveland, Ohio, and Virgil L., deceased. Minott L. Newton was educated in the district schools of Richfield township and at Oberlin college, and later went through a business course at Hiram college. April 15, 1885, he married Miss Emma Ellas, a native of Summit county, Ohio, born February 21, 1 861, a daughter of Louis P. and Amanda (Munday) Ellas, who was born in Tioga county, N. Y. , in 1834. Loren Ellas, father of Louis P., was a native of Vermont, was married in that state to Sarah Hardy, a native of Connecticut, and later went to New York state, where he was engaged in farming and lumbering until 1837, when he brought his family to Ohio and settled on a farm in North- ampton township. Summit county, where his death took place in 1867, when his widow removed to Steuben county, Ind., where she expired in 1874. Louis P. Ellas, when a young man, learned boat-building and carpentering in Boston township. Summit county, Ohio, and followed these trades about thirteen years, and then for two years kept a grocery in the same town- ship. Removing to Bath township, he kept hotel three years, or until April, 1863, when he settled in Richfield township, kept hotel at West Richfield a year, and then removed to the East Center, where he kept a popular and prosperous hotel and also engaged in buying and selling live stock until 1874. He then sold his hotel and bought a farm, which he cultivated three years, making a specinlty of raising stock on his land. Again he engaged in the hotel business, opening up a most favorite resort in Richfield, which he operated until April, 1881, when he retired. To his C4^-^^M^^i^i3^*^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 665 marriage, in April, 1856, with Miss Amanda Munday, who was born in Tioga county, N. Y. , in 1 83 1, there were born three children, viz: Elmer C, Emma and Ella. Mrs. Ellas is now deceased, but Mr. Ellas still resides in Richfield, a most respected gentleman. To Mr. and Mrs. Newton was born a bright little daughter, March 15, 1891, now the sunbeam that shines the brightest in the household. Mr. Newton's splendid farm of 400 acres is one of the best in the township and is excel- lently well improved. He makes a specialty of raising Durham cattle and as a breeder his fame has spread far and wide. In politics he is a republican, but has never been ambitious to hold public office, but as a citizen he has always been public-spirited, and is greatly esteemed on account of his individual merits and progressive proclivities. aHARLES A. WIGHTMAN, district agent of the John Hancock Life In- surance company of Boston, Mass., with headquarters at rooms Nos. i and 2, Odd Fellows' temple, Akron, Ohio, has had the charge of his company's affairs in this city since the spring of 1893, when he suc- ceeded Frederick E. Smith, now vice-pres- ident of the Second National bank. The dis- trict over which Mr. Wightman holds control in the interest of the John Hancock Insurance company covers Summit, Portage, Medina, and parts of Cuyahoga and Wayne counties, and within the short time Mr. Wightman has been its agent, the business of the company has been increased over a half a million dol- lars — an instance of the wonderful energy and business ability of Mr. Wightman, who had previously been in the insurance business three years only, having before that time been a shoe dealer in Akron. Mr. Wightman was born August 5, 1852, 27 in Bedford, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, a son of Horace F. and Mary P. (Burgess) Wightman, of old Connecticut stock, his grandfather, John Wightman, having come from the Nut- meg state and having settled in Cleveland when it was little more than a village. John Wightman kept the first house for public en- tertainment in the embryo city, which house was known as the Old Red hotel. Of his five sons who came with him, one became sheriff of Cuyahoga county; one went south and be- came a planter near Natchez, Miss., one be- came a real estate dealer in Cleveland, and one sought his fortune in the west. The fifth, father of subject, settled down to farming, be- came very active in local affairs and died, an honored man, about 1869. His children were si.\ in number, and were born in the following order: .'\nna, the wife of Edward D. Bene- dict, of Bedford, Ohio, and with his filial daughter the venerable mother now makes her home at the age of seventy-eight years; George, a wholesale dealer in oysters on An- tonio" street, Cleveland; Permilia, who died at the age of four years; Frank A., in the oyster business with his brother, but residing on Harvard street, Newberg, Ohio; Charles A., the subject, and Minnie, wife of Theodore Lambson, with the Kinsley Paper company, of Newberg, Ohio. Charles A. Wightman was educated in the district schools of Bedford, Ohio, and at the age of seventeen years took a position in the Ohio Insane asylum as an attendant, and two years later, quitting the asylum, entered the employ of E. D. Sawyer, shoe dealer of New- berg, Ohio, with whom he remained two years; he next was employed for a year by George Sell, shoe dealer, at Ontario and Prospect streets, Cleveland, and then entered the Newberg wire mills, learned fine wire drawing and two years later was appointed foreman over a force of 300 men, which posi- 666 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tion he filled for three years; next, was em- ployed by N. O. Stone, of Cleveland, and then, in 1880, came to Akron and was em- ployed for five years by M. T. Cutter. He then opened a shoe store on his own account and conducted this with varying success until 1892. In the spring of 1893 he associated himself with the John Hancock Insurance company, and has since devoted his entire time and attention to the advancement of this company's interests, with the magnificent re- sults noted in the opening paragraph of this article. Politically, Mr. \\'ightman is a stanch re- publican, and in his societarj- relations is a member of the Akron lodge. No. 547, I. O. O. F., and also of Akron encampment. No. 18, and canton Expeditus, No. 2. For three years he was a first lieutenant in battery F, Ohio national guard, but resigned, through business exigencies. Mr. \\'ightman was married February 15. 1884, to Miss Alfretta Miller, daughter of George F. Miller, the result of the felicitous union being one child — Earl D. The residence of Mr. Wightman is at No. 934 East Market street, where, surrounded by many warm friends, they enjoy all the happiness that is vouchsafed to mankind. eLIAS MILLER, one of the most re- spected old-time farmers of Bath township. Summit county, was born in Stark county Ohio, March 12, 1824, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Will- iams 1 Miller, the former of whom was born October 5, 1796, and was a son of George Miller, who was born November 7, 1763. Peter Miller married Miss Mary Williams February 13, 1823, and came to Bath town- ship, Summit county, in 1848, and settled on a farm one-half mile east of the center thereof, where he continued to follow his life-long vo- cation as an agriculturist and attained a con- siderable degree of popularity and influence with his fellow-townsmen, whom he served as township trustee, school director and justice of the peace, having been elected by the democratic party, of which he had been a member until a few jears before his death, when he became a republican. In religion he was from boyhood a convert to the Evangel- ical faith and was a consistent member of the church of that name. He lost his wife, Mary, in 1826. She had borne him two children — Elias, the subject of this biography, and Robert S. For his second helpmate he mar- ried Nancy Sprankle, who gave birth to three children — James, Joseph and Milton. Joseph died February 25, 1843, and the death of Peter Miller occurred March 31, 1870. Elias Miller was well educated in the dis- trict schools of Stark and Summit counties, and was reared by his father to the honorable and noble pursuit of agriculture. He married, April 16, 1848, Miss Sarah Sprankle, who was born June 16, 1827. a daughter of Jacob Sprankle, who was born in America in 1798. Mrs. Sarah Miller died May 10, 1895, the mother of the following-named children: Jacob S., who was born November 12, 1849, married Miss Mary E. Ball, of Copley town- ship, January i, 1874, and died at Canal Fulton, May 7, 1878; Elta Ann, who was born November 28, 185 1, was married to Wait Hopkins, and died January 13, 1896; Nancy, born December 18, 1854, now the wife of Daniel Mull, and a resident of Cleve- land; Mary A., who was born February 27, 1857, is married to Newton Hockett and re- sides in Bath township, on the old homestead; Ema A., born February 19, 1859, died Octo- ber 3, 1 871; Sarah D., born June 13, 1864, was married to John Rothrick, and died July 18. 1892, and Peter Milton, who was born in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 667 Bath township February 6, 1867, and died October 22, 1885. Elias Miller, the slibject, married for his second wife, April 11, 1897, a widow, whose maiden name was Margaret A. Drushal, and his residence is at Hornersville, in Medina county. Mr. Miller has led a very active and industrious life, having cleared up nearly all of his 1 30-acre farm and made all the improvements, the buildings being sub- stantial and neat and tasty in appearance, while the farm itself, which is situated three- quarters of a mile east of Center, of Bath, presents an aspect of thrift and good manage- ment unsurpassed by any farm of its dimen- sions in Bath township. In politics Mr. Miller affiliates with the republican party, but has persistently declined to accept public office. He has long been a member of and class leader in the Evangel- ical church, and fraternally is a member of Richfield lodge. No. 266, F. & A. M., in which he has held the chair of senior deacon. He is now living in comparative retirement, having done no practical work for the past ten years, his ample means affording him the privilege of enjoying in ease the fruits of his early industry, although he keeps a general oversight in the management of his estate. He is an honorable and upright gentleman in every sense of these words, and holds with a lasting tenure the respect of his neighbors. (D L. MILLER, a prominent young farmer of Norton township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Medina county, January 29, i860, and is of German descent. Joseph Miller, father of subject, was born in Lehigh county, Pa., June 3, 1823, and was there reared to manhood and married to Caro- line Steckle, who bore the following-named children: Alvin D. , Amos W. , Ellen E. (de- ceased wife of James Mohei), Joseph H. , Mary M. (wife of Charles Leiby, a farmer of Medina county), Sarah I. (widow of Samuel Hoaglin), and Martin L. , the subject of this memoir. The mother of this family died January 28, 1867, and the father chose for his second wife Rebecca J. Lower, daughter of Samuel Lower, and to this marriage have been born Alice V., wife of Peter Snyder; Cora A., wife of William Disher; Charles and Oliver. Joseph Miller, after his first marriage, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located in Norton Center, Summit county, in 1846, and in 1848 removed to Sharon township, Medina county, where he became a prosperous farmer, owning 100 acres of well-cultivated land, im- proved with substantial buildings. He filled all the township offices, including that of trustee, and has always been prominent as a member of the Lutheran church. Martin L. Miller has been identified with agricultural interests since his childhood, and has also been a successful educator. After a proper preparation in the common schools, he attended Ada Normal college, and for seven- teen years after graduation met with unwonted success as a school-teacher. As a republican in politics, he served as township clerk of Norton township in 1885, and served as dea- con and elder in the Reformed church, in which he was for eleven years also superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school. The marriage of Mr. Miller took place on the 2 1st day of March, 1883, to Miss Alice L. Strobl, who was born in Norton township Jan- uary 13, 1 86 1, a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Reamsnyder) Strobl. The father of Mrs. Miller, Jacob Strobl, was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., born in 181 8, and while yet a single man came to Ohio and located in Stark county, where he married Miss Reamsnyder, who was born June 7, 1825. In 1848 Mr. Strobl came to Norton township, Summit 668 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD county, bought sixty-five acres of land and made a good home for himself and family, which consisted of the following-named chil- dren: Sarah, wife of Jacob Smith; Lucy A., wife of J. W. Hall; Hattie, married to Henry Everhart; Melinda, now Mrs. Silas Strotter; Mary E., wife of William Fendenheim; Ma- haha A., wife of George Shook; Alice L. (Mrs. Miller); George A. ; Wellington, and Effie G., wife of Richard Lee. George A. died May 13, 1894. The family were all reared in the faith of the Reformed church, of which the father was a deacon and pillar. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Miller were seven in number and named as follows: Lu- cretia M. (deceased, Wadie E., GracieM., Maud A. (deceased), Ruth A., Guy E. and Fern A. Mr. Miller has an excellently improved farm of eighty-three acres, on which he has lived ever since he has been a resident of Norton township. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum lodge, No. 382, of Doyleston, Ohio, in which he has filled all the offices, and which he has twice represented in the state lodge. In politics he is popular not only with his party, but with the community at large, and is recognized as a worthy and public- spirited citizen. ^I^ILAS PAYNE, a thriving and re- •^^^^ spected farmer of Richfield township, K^^_^ Summit county, Ohio, and an old soldier of the Civil war, was born July 9, 1839, in Copley township, Summit county, Ohio, a son of William and Frances (Carey) Payne, and springs from sterling English ancestry of Virginia colonial stock. Silas Payne received a common-school ed- ucation and was reared to farming. He mar- ried, in Bath township, in August, 1861, Mary B. Hogue, who was born in Northampton township. Summit county, July 22, 1833, a daughter of Samuel Hogue. To Mr. and Mrs. Payne was born one son, George E. Mr. Payne, on marrying, settled in Bath township and enlisted October 16, 1861, in Capt. Jonas Schoonover's company H, Twenty- ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years, but was honorably discharged on ac- count of disability February 18, 1863, at Dumfries, W. Va. He re-enlisted in North- ampton township in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio infantry, in Capt. Sam- uel J. Tracy's company H, and was again honorably discharged at Greensboro, N. C, June 24, 1865, the war having closed." He was in the battle of Cedar Mountain, W. Va., Port Republic and several severe skirmishes. He was seriously sick about three months in hospital at Washington, D. C. , of typhoid fever, in 1862, but with this exception Mr. Payne was always an active soldier and was prompt and faithful in the discharge of every duty, and endured all the hardships of a soldier's life for two years and four months with fortitude and cheerfulness. Mr. Payne was in all the marches, campaigns, battles and skirmishes in which his company engaged, except the battle of Winchester, when he was in camp on guard duty. He considers his hardest march to have been from a point four miles north of W^inchester, coming south a distance of over thirty-two miles during a a heavy rain storm in the spring, the march lasting two days and one night, and, including the return to camp, making a distance of sixty-four miles. One comrade, Norman Salsberry, of West Bath, Summit county, died three days later from the effects of the fa- tigue and exposure of this march. After the war Mr. Payne returned to Summit county, Ohio, where he remained un- til his removal to Eaton county, Mich., in 1880, where he settled on a farm, which he OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 669 resided on for seven years. Here his first wife died September 17, 1887, a member of the United Brethren church and a woman of great amiability. Mr. Payne then returned to Summit county, Ohio, and married, Novem- ber 14, 1890, in Richfield township, Saman- tha J. Kemery, who was born November 9, 1850, a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Yergin) Kemery. Mr. and Mrs. Payne settled on their present farm, which was the home of Mrs. Payne. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are members of the United Brethren church, called the U. B. Centennial, and Mr. Payne is trustee of sev- eral churches and parsonages, is a class leader and takes an active interest in church matters, as does his excellent wife. Mr. Payne cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and has always advocated the principles of the repub- lican party. *y ^ ERBERT A. PECK, one of the prom- |f\ inent and substantial farmers of ^L.r Tallmadge township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, is a son of Anthony Peck, a pioneer of sterling English Puritan stock. The founder of the family in America was Joseph Peck, of Hingham, Norfolk county, England, who fled from England to America, on account of church persecution, in 1638, coming with his family in the good ship Diligence, John Martin master, Joseph Peck, his wife, three sons and a daughter, two men servants and three maid servants coming at the same time. He settled at Hingham, Mass., and was one of the founders of the town. The genealogy of the Peck family extends back from Joseph for twenty generations, and is certified to by the Heralds' college of the British museum, and descends from John Peck, of Belton, Yorkshire. The family is of noble origin and of sterling Saxon stock. Joseph Peck's chil- dren were Anna, Rebecca, Joseph, John, Nich- olas, Samuel, Nathaniel and Israel. After them came Joseph, Samuel and Heath; then Michael and Fenn. Capt. Fenn Peck, grandfather of subject, was born in Milford, Conn., and was a sea captain. He married Sarah Treat, a direct descendant of Gov. Treat, thirty years gov- ernor and deputy governor of the old colony of Connecticut. Their children were Anthony and Treat Fenn. Capt. Peck died at Gauda- loupe. West Indies, of yellow fever, in 1803, aged only about twenty-four years. Anthony Peck, father of subject, was born in Milford, Conn., 1799, and received a good education. He married, December, 1821, in Milford, Conn., Harriet Clark, of the same place, a daughter of Abraham and Mehitable (Peck) Clark. Abraham Clark was in the Revolutionary war when he was but fourteen years old, and with Capt. Samuel Peck, who served in Gen. Washington's army. The great-grandfather of subject, Anthony Peck, was a ship builder and well-to-do for his time. He lost his property, and came as a pioneer soon after his marriage, in 1822, in April, to the Western Reserve, making the journey with a two-horse covered wagon, and both of them walked most of the way, the road being very bad. They drove direct to Tallmadge, and Mr. Peck bought the land where our subject now lives, consisting of 160 acres, all in the wilderness. He cleared this up, and, by per- severing labor and industry, added to it until he owned about 200 acres, and erected a tasteful residence. His children were Sarah Treat, Charlotte Clark, Harriet Antoinette and Herbert Anthony. Mrs. Peck was a mem- ber of the Congregational church, and Mr. Peck was a member of the Congregational so- ciety and church trustee for many years, and assisted to build the Tallmadge church. Mr. Peck was township trustee and assessor and 670 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD an honored citizen. He prospered by his sterling thrift, and educated his children well — his daughter Sarah at New Haven, Conn., and his daughter Charlotte at Canandaigua, N. Y. Mr. Peck died at the age of forty- seven, in 1845, killed by accident. He was a conservative and a stout whig and a great ad- mirer of Henry Clay. His daughter Sarah married H. B. Eldred, who recently died in in Cleveland. Mr. Peck's daughter Charlotte married Volney Acer, of Medina, N. Y., and has four sons, all prominent men. Herbert A. Peck was born November 13, 1842. He received a good education in Tall- madge academy, and has always been a farmer. Mr. Peck is an honored citizen, has been a township trustee, and has been treasurer of the Summit county Agricultural society five years and secretary six years, and was re- elected to both offices unanimously, but re- signed. Mr. Peck has prospered like his father before him and has a splendid farm af 300 acres, part of which is the old homestead. His beautiful lawn, ornamented with fine ever- greens and other shade trees, is one of the most attractive in the county. Mr. Peck is a man of excellent business capacity, is well read, and keeps up well with the times. His pleasant homestead is presided over with grace and dignity by his sister, Antionette, and his residence shows the taste of cultivated and re- fined people. Mrs. Anthony Peck reached the great age of eighty-nine years, and died May •9> '893, a woman of high character and many virtues. 'AMUEL W. PERRY, a greatly re- CC •^^11 spected citizen of Northfield township, Ky^_^ Summit county, Ohio, was born in Deckertown, Sussex county, N. J., November 17, 1838, a son of David and Sarah A. (Benjamin) Perry, and is a descendant of an English family which was among the early colonial settlers of New England. He re- ceived a fair common-school education, was reared to farming, and in September, i860, left his home for the west, stopping for a month with an uncle in New York state and then working a short time at East Sharon, Potter county. Pa. June 17, 1861, he arrived at Brandywine, Ohio, and August 7, 1862, married, in Akron, Miss Laura M. Barnhart, daughter of William and Luna (Chaffee) Barn- hart, and born in Peninsula, Ohio, May 15, 1839. Mrs. Perry's father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was reared as a mechanic and builder of boats. He was educated in the common schools, then emigrated to the west in an early day, when the city of Cleveland was almost a hamlet. In politics he was a republican, and fraternally was a Mason. He was born in 1812 and died March 19, 1879; the mother of Mrs. Perry was born in Boston township, Summit county, of Puritan stock, about 1820, and died in 1849. The remains of these parents are interred in the village cemetery at Boston, where a beautiful monu- ment stands sacred to their memory. There were four children in the family, one son and three daughters — all living — and of whom Mrs. Perry is the eldest. William H. Barnhart, a resident of the city of Akron, is a painter by trade. He married Miss Cornelia Coe, a na- tive of Summit county. They had four chil- dren, of whom two sons are deceased. Helen A., wife of A. Curtis, resides at Springer, Colfax county, N. M. Mr. Curtis is a stock- raiser, and was formerly sheriff of Summit county, from 1869 to 1873. They had two children, both deceased. Luna v»'as one of the honored teachers of Summit county, and is now engaged as an accountant in the Buck- eye Manufacturing Co.; Harold A., a resident of Akron, Ohio, is a graduate of Akron OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 671 high school, and is now a bookkeeper in the Goodrich Rubber Co.; Mary M., wife of Les- ter Crittenden, is a resident of Burton, Geauga county, Ohio. Mr. Crittenden is a contractor and builder and is now postmaster at that place. They have three sons: William H., Arthur C. and Roy L. Seven days after his marriage Mr. Perry enlisted, August 14, 1862, at Northiield, Ohio, in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, and served until mustered out at Murfreesboro, Tenn., June 22, 1865, on account of the close of the war, and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio. His service was chiefly rendered in Tennessee, and in November, 1864, at LaVergne, had a skirmish with Wheeler's cavalry; one month later he and fifty comrades, while guarding the railroad at LaVergne, were surprised and captured by cavalry and artillery under Gens. Forrest, Burford and Jackson. They were taken to within five miles of Nashville and kept in the woods five days, receiving for rations two-thirds of a pint of corn-meal and a piece of raw beef, two or three inches square. They were eventually taken to Columbia and confined in the upper story of the court house, but two days later James Cassidy and David Thomas, both of Summit county, together with Mr. Perry, managed to escape, and were eight days in making their way to Murfreesboro, which town they reached December 22, 1864. There being but twenty-two of Mr. Perry's company left alive, they were detailed to lay out the cemetery on the battle field of Stone river and to inter the dead. After the war, Mr. Perry, who had bought a piece of land in Tennessee, traded it for his present farm of eighty-two acres in Northfield township, which he has greatly improved and placed under a high state of cultivation. To Mr. and Mrs. Perry have been born two chil- dren — Helen M. and Sadie E. Mr. Perry is a republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote in the ranks for Mr. Lincoln, is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and a good and useful citizen. He still suffers from the hardships he endured during the war; although never wounded, he was at one time confined in hospital at Camp Den- nison with typhoid fever, and although his wife went there to nurse him, it was seven weeks before he recognized her. He and his two comrades, who escaped from the rebels at Columbia, and who reside in Summit county, have been in the habit of holding a yearly re- union, at the first of which there were but six attendants — the three prisoners and their wives — now there are twenty attendants, in- cluding their children. The eldest child, Helen M. , is the wife of Marvin L. Berry, who is engaged in a manufac- tory in the city of Cleveland, and they have one child, by name Alvin P.; Sadie E. is at home" with her parents; she is an artist of more than ordinary skill, having graduated from the Cleveland School of Art, in 1895, and her specimens of oil, crayon, pastel and water colors, which are displayed in her parents' home, are gems. She has some specimens from nature taken in New Mexico, where she resided for five years, which would find favor in any studio. She has taught her profession for some years. Vj— rf ENRY PETTINGELL, an honored •^"X citizen of Hudson township. Summit I P county, Ohio, was born in the city of London, England, January 24, 1843, a son of William and Julia (Fosett) Pettingell. William Pettingell, the father, was also born in London, and was a habit-maker, or tailor, by trade, and there married. Mr. Pet- 672 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tingell came to America in 1843, landed at New York, came through to Painesville, Lake county, Ohio, and bought a farm of 1 1 7 acres, improved it and made a good home. He finally sold his farm, lived in Painesville two years, then came to Hudson. Ohio, in 1853, as secretary and treasurer of the Western Re- serve college, and held this position for more than thirty years with credit to himself and greatly to the advantage of the college. He was a well educated business man, a careful and skilled accountant, very accurate, and wrote a clear and beautiful hand. To Mr. and Mrs. Pettingell were born William, Eliza, Alfred, Charles E., Henry, and Julia M. Mr. and Mrs. Pettingell were members of the Congre- gational church, of which he was a deacon several years. In politics he was a republican and a strong abolitionist. He was an honored citizen of Hudson, was its mayor one term, and was noted for his integrity of character and sterling worth. He was a strong Union man during the Civil war, in which he had two sons — Charles E. and Henry — both in the same company and regiment. Mr. Pettingell reached the advanced age of eighty-three years and died in Hudson. Henry Pettingell was about a month old when he was brought to America by his par- ents. He was educated in the public schools of Hudson, and here learned the carpenter's trade. He enlisted, during the Civil war, in company B, Eighty-fifth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, to serve three months, but served four, and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. His service was at Camp Chase, and on the Mississippi river, on a steamer, as guard of rebel prisoners on their way to be exchanged at Vicksburg, Miss., and during this trip the boat was fired on several times. After being mustered out, Mr. Pettin- gell returned to Hudson, and married, June 21, 1 87 1, Dency S. Lusk, who was born at Hudson, Ohio, July 31, 1847, a daughter of Milton Adams and Sallie Maria (Seacoy) Lusk. Mrs. Sallie M. Lusk was a widow and a daughter of Joshua and Mollie (Dee) Post, and by her marriage to Chester Seacoy was the mother of several children, of whom Lester, Mary J. and Pinkey P. grew to maturity. Joshua Post was born in Seabrook, Conn., and was a soldier in the war of 1812. The Dees were an old Connecticut family of Rev- olutionary stock. Joshua Post came to Ohio in 1 8 10 and settled in Boston township, Sum- mit county, where he bought a farm of 400 acres, on which his son, Joshua Post, had built a log house, having previously come to select land. Mr. Post cleared up a large part of his farm and built a bridge across the Cuyahoga river, being a most public-spirited man. His children were Joshua, Polly, Deborah, Han- nah, mily, Diana M., Juliet, Ann, Jerusha, Mercy B., Belinda, Sallie and Philo. Mr. Post died a member of the Congregational church. Since marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pettingell have resided in Hudson and built an attractive and pleasant residence. To them have been born four children — Harry M., Bessie L. , Joseph W. and Raymond O. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pettingell are members of the Congrega- tional church in Hudson, and in politics Mr. Pettingell is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. He is a member of the G. A. R. , Gen. W. T. Sher- man post, No. 68, at Hudson, and has filled the offices of adjutant, chaplain, senior and vice-junior commander, and is now com- mander. Mrs. Pettingell is a niece, by mar- riage, to the famous John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame. John Brown married for his first wife Diantha Lusk, a sister of Mrs. Pettin- gell's father, Milton A. Lusk, who had previ- ously married Dency Preston, and they were the parents of Henry, Lorin, Charles, Lucy A. A. VIALL. MRS. A A VIALL. i OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 677 and Amos. Mrs. Lusk had one son, two step-sons and a son-in-law in the Civil war. Her son, Lester Seacoy, was a private in the Second Ohio cavalry, served four years and three months, and was in hiany battles; the other soldier boys were Charles and Amos, sons of her husband, by his first wife, and son-in-law — Charles Robinson. Mr. and Mrs. Lusk had but one daughter, Dency S., who married our subject. Milton A. was a son of Amos Lusk and his wife, Nancy Adams. Amos Lusk was a pioneer of Hudson, Ohio, from Vermont, and came to Summit county among the first. His son, Milton A., was the second male child born in Hudson. Amos Lusk was a captain in the war of i8i2, and contracted a fever from which he died six weeks after returning home, before the con- clusion of the war. The children of Capt. Amos Lusk were Dr. Lorrin, Amos, Edward, Julian, Milton, Julia, Sophia, Diantha, (who married John Brown), Maria and Minerva. HLBERT A. VIALL, the well-known saw-mill proprietor and lumber dealer at Tallmadge, Summit county, Ohio, and one of the youngest of the vol- unteers of the late war, was born in East Akron November 29, 1849, a son of Emory D. and Orpha L. (Wilcox) Viall, the Viall family being descendants of old New England col- onists of Connecticut and Vermont. Emory D. Viall, a lumberman, married, in Stowe township. Miss Wilcox, a daughter of L. H. and Hannah (Porter) Wilcox, who were from New England. The children born to this union were Albert A., Frank H., Arthur J. (deceased), Alfred C. (deceased), Carrie M. (a practicing physician of Cleveland), Nellie (deceased), and Cynthia E. Mr. Viall con- ducted an extensive business for many years, was a highly respected gentleman, and was killed in a railroad accident December 16, 1888. Albert A. Viall received a good district- school education, and was but twelve years of age when the first shot of the Civil war was directed against Fort Sumter. This fired his youthful patriotism, which grew with the growth of the war. Finally, with the consent of his parents, who, in fact, could not restrain him, he enlisted at Alliance, Ohio, January 26, 1865, in company F, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, for one year, unless sooner discharged on account of the war being brought to an end. He was a large lad, stood five feet seven and one-half inches high, weighed 167 pounds, and but a little over fifteen years of age at the time, and but twenty-seven days older than the youngest enlisted soldier, as reported at the reunion of the Grand Army of the Republic at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1897. He served in Ohio, at Nash- ville and Chattanooga, Tenn., Bridgeport, 678 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Ala., Edgefield, Tenn., and Lookout Moun- tain, his duty being principallj' in guard, patrol and garrison service, and pursuit of bush- whackers. He was much exposed during a march from Zollicoffer Barracks to Missionary Hill, Nashville, Tenn., during a cold rain in May, 1865, and contracted rheumatism, but he served cheerfully and faithfully, and was honorably discharged September 20, 1865, the war having been brought to an end the previous April. After his return from the army to Ohio, Mr. Viall worked for his father some time in his saw-mill at Monroe Falls, then worked by the month for some years for other parties, and in 1875 engaged in the saw-mill business on his own account in Tallmadge, this being now the largest of its kind in the township. October 27, 1879, he married, in Tallmadge, Miss Helen J. Carruthers, who was born in Northampton township, in 1848, a daughter of John A. and Julia E. (Merrick) Carruthers, and to this union has been born one daughter — Anna Trowbridge Viall. John A. Carruthers, father of Mrs. Viall, was born in Tallmadge and was a son of John, a soldier of the war of 181 2 and a pioneer of Tallmadge township. John A. was a prominent business man in his day, was engaged in the lumber business, and was also a manufacturer of apple butter, making as high as 1,000 gal- lons per day, and was the largest shipper of of this article in the country. To his marriage with Miss Julia E. Merrick were born Helen J., Lucy M., and Clarence D. Mr. Carruthers was greatly respected by his fellow-townsmen, and died at the age of sixty-eight years. Albert A. Viall and wife are members of the Congregational church at Tallmadge, and fraternally Mr. Viall is a member of Cuyahoga Falls lodge, No. 6^, I. O. O. F., of the Tall- mage grange, P. of H., and of Buckley post, No. 12, G. A. R., of Akron. He is also a Freemason, and a member of Starr lodge, No. 187, at Cuyahoga Falls. In politics he is a republican, and is a member of the board of education at Tallmadge. He has always been an energetic business man, and his fortune is of his own making, as he began his business life absolutely with no capital, saving his hands and brains. Beside his mill in Tall- madge, which he erected in 1879, at the same time he erected his dwelling, he owns a mill in Portage county, and has been extensively en- gaged in the lumber business for twenty years. He is a true patriot, and on decoration day, 1897, presented to the township of Tallmadge a beautiful silk national flag, with staff, in commemoration of the heroes of 1776, 1812 and 1 86 1, and is now interested in furthering a movement looking to the erection here of a monument to the memory of the soldiers of the Civil war. *y* AWRENCE B. PIERCE, a well- I J known nurseryman of Tallmadge I A township, Summit county, Ohio, and one of the soldiers of the Civil war, was born in Tallmadge township, April 30, 1840, a son of Nathaniel and Minerva (San- ford) Pierce. The Pierces were of English Puritan stock and the name was originally spelled Pearcy, and of the old English family of the name. The name has been corrupted to Pearce — formerly Percy — until the last few generations, a member of the family finally changed the name to Pierce. Our subject re- ceived a good education in the academy at Tallmadge, and later attended school in Con- necticut; he became a farmer and also ac- quired a good knowledge of the carpenter's trade. He enlisted, in 1862, at the age of about twenty-two years, in the Ohio national guards, in company B, Fifty- fourth battalion, to serve five years, and was enrolled at OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 679 Cleveland, Ohio, May 2, 1864, as a member of company D, One Hundred and Sixty- fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, try, to serve 100 days, and was honorably dis- charged August 27, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio. His service was in Virginia opposite George- town, D. C, on guard duty. He was always an active soldier and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duty. He was sick with erysipelas and in hospital at Fort Strong about one month and came near death. Mr. Pierce returned to Tallmadge township and engaged in the nursery and fruit-growing business. He married, May 14, 1873, at Kent, Ohio, Miss Emeline M. Bradley, who was born in Kent, Ohio, February 16, 1848, a daughter of Ran- som and Mary (Tyson) Bradley. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have been born Robert C. and Roger B. Mr. Pierce is a member of H. Day post. No. 115, of Kent, and in politics is a re- publican. He was a member of the board of education in Tallmadge township one term and he is a member of the First Congregational church at Tallmadge. Mr. Pierce is a sub- stantial citizen and well known for integrity of character. Nathaniel Pierce, father of subject, was born at Woodbury, Conn., August 27, 1809, a son of Simon and Thankful (Hunt) Pierce. Nathaniel Pierce came to Ohio in September, 1838, via the lakes, and settled on the farm of 160 acres where our subject now lives, of which he cleared about one half. His children were Minerva S., Susan L., Frances (deceased) and Lawrence B. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were both members of the Congregational church. In politics he was an old-line whig and repub- lican, and a stanch abolitionist, and was one of the early and leading temperance advocates of Connecticut, being an early member of the Sons of Temperance, and his wife was a nearly member of the Washingtonian society — the first American temperance organization. Mr. Pierce was at one time mobbed in Connecticut on account of his anti-slavery utterances. He reached the venerable age of eighty-seven years and was a man of sterling integrity. Lawrence B. Pierce, our subject, is a gen- tleman who is widely known as a writer for the press, especially the leading agricultural and horticultural papers, and, in his early days, was an occasional story writer. He is a clear thinker and reasoner, and writes from actual experience, and his letters are widely read. Mr. Pierce is a practical gardener and horti- culturist, having passed his life in these pur- suits, and for years he has been a leading ex- hibitor at agricultural society displays, in which he takes a wide interest. * m ^ ENRY T. PORTER, of West Rich- 1^"^^ field, Summit county, Ohio, and one I ^ P of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected farmer, springs from ster- ling English ancestry and was born in Rich- field township, January 9, 1843, a son of Charles and Mary (Neuman) Porter. He re- ceived his education in the district schools, was reared to farming, and enlisted at Cleve- land, Ohio, in November, 1862, in company I, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve nine months, but was discharged while sick in hospital at Cleveland, Ohio, with quinsy — having served four months on guard duty at that city. He was sick in hospital one month, when he hired a substitute and returned home. He then re-enlisted at Wooster, Ohio, in com- pany I, One Hundred and Third regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, in March, 1865, for one year, or during the war, and was placed on guard duty at Raleigh, N. C, where he served until honorably discharged at Salisbury, N. C, in July, 1865. He was sick in hospital with measles at Goldsboro, N. C, but out- side of this he was prompt and cheer- 680 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ful in the discharge of every duty. He was transferred at Raleigh to company E, One Hundred and Eighty-third regiment Ohio vol- unteer infantry, and was with this regiment when discharged. After the war, Mr. Porter returned to Ohio and married, April 8, 1868, at Hinckley, Lydia Smith, who was born in Medina county, at Granger, a daughter of Will- iam J. and Lydia (Ingram) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Porter first located in the north part of Hinck- ley township, where Mr. Porter bought a farm of seventy-five acres; he bought his present farm in 1876, and has a well-stocked farm of 138 acres — advantageously adapted to stock- raising. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Porter are Minott E. and Pearl. In politics Mr. Porter has been a republican since Lin- coln's second term. Mr. Porter has always been an industrious, hard-working man, and is an honored citizen. He has held the office of township trustee, and has been a member of the school board three years. His son Minott is a graduate of the university of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and is now in the government employ in the naval observatory, Washington, D. C, being an ex- cellent mathematician. Charles Porter, father of subject, was born at Hadharn, Cambridgeshire, Eng. , was a farmer, and to his marriage with Mary Neu- man there were born the following children: Martha, Charles, John B., Mary, Henry T. , Robert, Alice and Harriet. Mr. Porter came to America in March, 1837, coming from Liv- erpool to New York, and being six weeks on the voyage. He settled in Richfield township. Summit connty, Ohio, and finally bought land in Hinckley township, Medina county, Ohio, consisting of seventy-five acres, and improved it, building a good dwelling and making a good home. He is a member of the Meth- odist church and in politics is a republican. He had two sons in the Civil war — Robert, who was in the One Hundred and Third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, com- pany I, one year, and Henry T. William J. Smith, father of Mrs. Porter, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1 8 10 or 181 1, came to America when a young man and married Lydia Ingram at Granger, Ohio. Mr. Smith was a farmer, owning 1 56 acres of land in Hinckley township. His children by a first wife are Harriet, Mary, Sarah, Lydia and Rose. After her death he married Emma Damon, and their children are Jasper, George, Frank, Fred, Al- bert and Lucy. Mr. Smith is yet living, aged eighty-seven years. He has always been an industrious, respected citizen. HDAM RUBBINS, a farmer of Hudson township. Summit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, August 31, 1830, a son of John H. and Sarah (Foster) Rubbins. He was reared to farming when young, and came to America when about twenty years old, with the family, sailed from Liverpool, England, in the good ship Universe, of the Black Star line, in October, 1850, and was six weeks on the passage to New York city, all the family coming except Mr. Rubbins, the father, who had come two years previously. Adam at once went to Little Falls, Herkimer county, N. Y., where his father had settled, and worked at farm work until he enlisted, in April, 1861 — the Tuesday after the fall of Fort Sumter — in company G, Thirty-fourth regi- ment New York volunteer infantry — Capt. Brown, of Oneida, who was afterward killed at Malvern Hill. Our subject enlisted for two years or during the war and served until hon- orably discharged at Albany, N. Y. , July 3, 1863, having served faithfully for twenty-one months. He was in the battles of Edward's Ferry, Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg, White OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 681 House Landing, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania Court House, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, York- town, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Bull's Run, Fredericksburg (second battle). Saint Mary's Heights, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Sandy Hook, and many other battles not remem- bered and many skirmishes. Mr. Rubbins was wounded in the nose, sustained several slight wounds, and several balls passed through his clothing. He was sick in field hospital six weeks after the battle of Antietam, with trou- ble in his head, falling to the ground on the march from Alexandria to the battle of Antie- tam, and was also troubled with rheumatism. Mr. Rubbins was always an active soldier, was always prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duty, and was a good, efficient soldier. After an honorable discharge," Mr. Rubbins returned to New York state and was employed at farm work. He married, July 4, 1867, at Little Falls, N. Y., Mary Esther Kent, who was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., a daugh- ter of Jacob Kent, of Scotch parentage. He was a farmer and married Mary Widrick, and his children were named David, Sylvano, Charles, Alden, Mary E., John, Isemar, Alice and Isaac. Mr. Kent died in New York state, an aged man, respected by all. He was a soldier in the Civil war. One Hundred and Twenty-first regiment. New York volunteer infantry, in the three years' service, was in many battles and wounded at the second battle of Fredericksburg, but served out his time. He also had two sons in the Civil war — Charles and David — Charles in the navy and David in the One Hundred and Twenty- first New York infantry. Mr. Rubbins lived in Herkimer county until about 1868, when he came to Hudson, Ohio, and worked at farm labor until he bought his present farm in part- nership with his father, in 1869, and has since lived here. He has improved his property and built a good residence. His children are Jennie M. , John W. and Charles Foster. Mr. Rubbins is a member of the Disciples' church, and in politics is a republican. He is a mem- ber of W. T. Sherman post, No. 68, G. A. R., at Hudson, Ohio, and has always been an industrious, hard-working man and straight- forward in all his deals. John H. Rubbins, father of subject, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, was a farmer, married Sarah Foster and reared a large family. He came to America about 1848, and sent for his family about 1850, set- tled at Little Falls, N. Y. , and moved to Hud- son, Ohio, in 1863, and bought a place in the village in conjunction with his son, Adam, as has already been mentioned. He reached the great age of ninety-five years and seven days, having always been a hard-working and re- spected man. He had four sons in the Civil war, John, Adam, William and Foster, all four in company G, Thirty-fourth New York volunteer infantry, in the two years' service. William was killed in the battle of Antietam, Foster was killed in the battle of P'redericks- burg, John re-enlisted in the Sixteenth New York heavy artiller}' and was wounded in front of Petersburg, but he served to the close of the war. This family has a splendid military record — having fought many battles for the preservation of the Union. HLEXANDER C. RUPEE, a well- known contracting carpenter of Rich- field, Summit county, Ohio, and a veteran of the late Civil war, descends from colonial New Jersey ancestors of German extraction and of patriotic instinct and im- pulse. His great-grandfather, Baltus Ruple, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; John Ruple, his grandfather, was a soldier in the war of 181 2, and his grand-uncle, James, was a colonel in the same war, when, for the 682 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD second time, imperious, arrogant and perfidi- ous Albion was compelled to lay down her arms before the conquering Americans. Alexander C. Ruple was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, August I3, 1832, ason of Seth and Jane (Beers) Ruple, received a good com- mon-school education, and was there taught the carpenter's trade. February 20, 1856, he married, at Richfield, Ohio, Miss Caroline E. Bailey, who was born in Goshen, Conn., Janu- ary II, 1834, a daughter of Asahel and Mary (Humphrey) Bailey, and on his marriage settled in East Cleveland, where he worked until his enlistment, July 18, 1862, at Cleveland, in company K, Second Ohio volunteer cavalry, under Capt. John Clapp, who was accident- ally killed by being thrown from his horse be- fore reaching the front, his place being sup- plied by Capt., afterward Gen., Nettleton. Private Ruple was soon promoted to be second sergeant, and in September, 1862, was trans- ferred to the Twenty-fifth Ohio independent battery, with the rank of second lieutenant; was again promoted, for meritorious conduct, to a first lieutenancy, and resigned his com- mission March 20, 1865, having fought at the battles of Newtonia, Mo., September 30 and October 4, 1862; Kane Hill, November 29, 1862; Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7, 1862; Van Buren, December 28; Brownsville, August 25, 1863; Bayou Metse, August 27, and Little Rock, September 10, all in Arkansas, and in all the other battles of which record is made in the sketch of John Mott. Lieut. Ruple was always promptly at his post of duty, took part in all the campaigns of his regiment, but escaped all injury, except- ing a slight fiesh wound in his left hand. He made an excellent military record, having left his wife and three small boys at home when he enlisted, and rising from the ranks to be a commissioned officer. On his return from the army he resumed his trade in East Cleveland, where he owned a nice little residence and three acres of land, and lived there until 1868, when he came to Richfield, continued to work at his trade, and in 1878 purchased his present home, which is one of the most pleasant in Richfield. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ruple were born eight children, viz: Will, Dudley, Orian, Alvah, Asahel, May, Glen and Mark, who are settled in different parts of the United States. The mother of these children was called from earth October 4, 1895, a member of the Congregational church and a woman of many christian virtues. John Ruple, grandfather of Alexander C. Ruple, was born in Trenton, N. J., where his father had lived in the days of the Revolution. John married Betsey Craft, and had born to him the following-named children; Baltus, Cyrus, Lawrence, Samuel, Abraham, James, Seth, Sarah, Anna, Nancy and Mary. He came to Ohio in 1805 and settled in Euclid township, Cuyahoga county, where he had purchased 320 acres of land in 1803, all in the woods, but which he cleared up and con- verted into a comfortable home. He served in the war of 1812, held many township offices and died at the age of ninety-three years, a deacon in the Presbyterian church and a highly respected citizen. Seth Ruple, father of Alexander C, was born in Euclid township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1807, was reared a farmer, married Jane Beers, and to this marriage were born John, Alexander C, Dudley and Jane. Two of these sons served in the Civil war — Dudley being a private in the One Hundred and Sev- enty-second Ohio infantry, and serving three years. Seth Ruple died on his farm in 1885, a substantial and greatly esteemed citizen, and in politics a democrat. Alexander C. Ruple was one of the found- ers of the republican party, cast his first pres- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 683 lential vote for John C. Fremont, and has Dted for every republican nominee for the residency ever since. He is a member of le A. N. Goldwood post, No. 104, G. A. R. , [ West Richfield, of which he has been com- lander, as well as filled all the other offices, nd stands deservedly high in she estimation f all the good citizens of Richfield township. aEYLON F. RUSH, of Hudson town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, springs from an old New York state family of German ancestry. He was born pril 7, 1846, at Titusville, Crawford county, a., a son of Isaac W. and Mary M. (Drown) lush. Ceylon F. Rush received a limited common- ;hool education. He enlisted January 10, 862, at the age of about fifteen years, and as the youngest soldier in his regiment. He as assigned as a drummer to company F, ifty-eighth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteer ifantry, to serve three years or during the ■ar. His services as a drummer were for but iree or four weeks, and the remainder of the me he carried the musket as a private. He 'as honorably discharged, by reason of re- nlistment, as a veteran of the same organiza- on, January i, 1864, at Little Washington, [. C, and served until honorably discharged ■om the general hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., .ugust 25, 1865, by reason of wounds received 1 battle. He took part in the battles of ortsmouth and Newton; Gosport Navy Yard, lay, 1862; Zuni, October 24, 1862; Black Vater, 1862; skirmish at Cove Creek, March, 863; Gum Swamp, May 22, 1863; Batchelor's Teek, May 23, 1863; Arrowfield Church, lay 9-10, 1864; Dewey's Bluff, May 14, 864; Bermuda Hundred, May 18 to 26, 1864; ^old Harbor, June I to 12, 1864; assault on 'etersburg, June 15 to 19, 1864; before Petersburg, June 15, 1864, to April 2, 1865; Chapin's Farm, September 29 to 30, 1864; Fair Oaks, October 27 to 28, 1864; F"all of Petersburg and Richmond, April 2, 1865, and in many smaller battles and skirmishes — twenty-two general engagements in all. He was thrice wounded September 29, 1864, at the battle of Chapin's farm, and once at Fort Harrison — shot through the left shoulder — and was in hospital at Fort Monroe, Washington and Philadelphia. He rejoined his regiment before he had fully recovered, and was at the fall of Petersburg and was sent back to hos- pital. His left shoulder was struck twice and he was also shot in the foot — this ball being from the rear, the first ball turning him com- pletely around. Of his company of forty-two men at Chapin's farm, but four men escaped alive. The order for this charge was counter- manded, but the company did not hear the countermand and charged in a desperate place. Mr. Rush was always an active soldier, and was in all the marches, battles, campaigns and skirmishes in which his regiment took part. He was but nineteen years old when he was discharged. After the war he returned to Pennsylvania and sold the first history of the rebellion (that was published), for one year, in Clarion and Armstrong counties. Pa., and did a good business. He was in Pennsylvania during the early oil excitement, and was per- sonally acquainted with Col. Drake, who drilled the first oil well. Mr. Rush came to Ohio in 1867 and worked at carriage work at Wood, Portage county, one year. He married, in Lake county, Ohio, October 13, 1868, Marie A. Tyler, who was born May 29, 1843, at Char- don, Geauga county, Ohio, a daughter of Miles and Sallie (Tyler) Tyler. Miles Tyler was the son of Jacob and Fannie Tyler. Jacob Tyler was born in Broome, Scoharie county, N. Y. , was of Scotch descent, and was a 684 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD soldier in the war of the Revolution. He was a farmer and moved to Geauga county, Ohio, at an early day, cleared up a good farm and became a substantial citizen and lived to be an aged man. Of his children, Hiram, Polly and Miles are the only ones who are remem- bered. Miles Tj'ler was born in Boome, N. Y. , was a farmer and was married in New York, and came to Geauga county, Ohio, among the pio- neers. His children were David, Franklin, Elisha, Wheeler, Tammy, George, Adaline and Maria. Mr. Tyler died in Concord, Lake county, Ohio, aged about eighty years, a member of the Methodist church, and in poli- tics a republican. He was a strong. Union man and a captain, when a young man, in the old New York state militia. He had two sons in the Civil war — Franklin and George — the former a private in a Massachusetts regiment, and George was in an Ohio regiment and lost his left arm in battle. Mr. and Mrs. Rush settled in Lake county, Ohio, after marriage, and later moved to Wood county, and afterward to Portage county, Ohio, and afterward moved to Penn- sylvania. Mr. Rush followed carpentering and the oil business in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in the spring of 1872 and settled in Lake county. In 1875 they came to Summit county, settling in Akron. In 1882 he bought his present residence property in Hudson. Mr. Rush now follows his business of a car- penter and is a skillful and reliable workman. To Mr. and Mrs. Rush two sons have been born: Adelbert Bruce, June 14, 1872, in Concord, Lake county, Ohio, and Raymond Clare, August 8, 1875, at Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio. Mr. Rush in politics is a re- publican; fraternally he is a Mason and a mem- ber of the lodge at Hudson, Ohio. Isaac W. Rush, father of subject, was born in Genesee county, N. Y. , and married, in Michigan, Mary M. Drown, of Owasso, Shia- wassee county, a daughter of John and Lydia (Calhoun) Drown. Mr. Rush was a shoe- maker and farmer, at one time owning a farm in Clarion county. Pa. His children by his first wife were Polly, Irena, Laura A., Ira W. , Ceylon F., Manley B. , Mary, Charlotte, Fanny, and Zelina. Mrs. Rush died, and Mr. Rush next married Mrs. Catherine Russell (a widow), and their children were Freelove and one who died an infant. Mrs. Catherine Rush also died, and the third marriage of Mr. Rush was to Clarissa Hine, and their children were Lina L. , Ella, James, Jennie, Isaac, John, Flora, Almeda, Hattie, and one died an infant. Thus Mr. Rush was the father of twenty-two chil- dren. Two sons — Ceylon and Manley — were soldiers in the Civil war — both in same com- pany and regiment. Manley enlisted later than Ceylon, and when he also was but fifteen years old. Thus these two patriotic boys were among the youngest soldiers of the Civil war. BREDERICK W. WOODBRIDGE, one of the oldest and one of the best-known business men of Ra- venna, Ohio, was born in Manches- ter, Conn., in 1824, and is a son of Frederick and Clarissa C. (Pitkin) Woodbridge, the former of whom was also a native of Manches- ter, Hartford county. Conn., was there mar- ried, and to his union with Miss Pitkin were born three children, viz: Frederick W. , Eliza- beth P. (now the widow of James W. Cone, of Kent, Ohio) and Charles D. , of Cleveland — both families being of English descent. Diodate Woodbridge, the paternal great- grandfather of Frederick, was a patriot of the Revolutionary war and fought in the memora- ble battle of Breed's Hill, better known as Bunker's Hill. Dudley Woodbridge, paternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Con- F. W- WOODBRIDGE- n-o^- /^ >!! OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 689 necticut, married Betsey Pitkin, became the father of twelve children, and died in his na- tive state at about the age of sixty years. Joseph Pitkin, the maternal grandfather of subject, also was a native of Connecticut, was one of the first cotton manufacturers of that state and died at an advanced age in New York. Frederick Woodbridge, father of Frederick W. , was at one time a wealthy merchant in the east, but lost his all in the panic of 1837, and in 1839 brought his family to Ohio, and died in Cleveland at the age of seventy-two years, having some years previously lost his wife, who died in Wisconsin, but whose re- mains were interred at Kent, Ohio. Frederick Wells Woodbridge, the subject proper of this memoir, received a very fair academical education in his youth, and in 1 841 began clerking for Clapp & Spellman, at Akron, Ohio, and later was employed by Zenas Kent, of Ravenna. He, with filial affection, presented to his father all his early earnings to aid in buying a farm, but was able, in 1846, to enter into business on his own account, in which he continued in Ravenna until 1853 — a part of the time with his father-in-law, Capt. Isaac Brayton, and then removed to Cleve- land, where, with others, he built the Cleve- land Powder mills, which he operated with success for several years and then re-entered mercantile life, in connection with the Cleve- land Rolling Mill company, in which he con- tinued until 1873, when he returned to Ra- venna and resumed mercantile business. The marriage of Frederick W. Woodbridge took place in Ravenna, in 1847, to Miss Mary A. Brayton, then about seventeen years of age, and a daughter of Capt. Isaac Brayton. She was a native of the island of Nantucket, and in after years became famous as a leader in the cause of the Women's Christian Tem- perance union. To the marriage of Frederick W. and Mary A. Woodbridge were born four 28 children, viz: Mary Alice, who became the wife of Dr. M. L. Brooks, physician and sur- geon of Cleveland, whose father is also a physician and is the oldest practitioner of that city; to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were born two children, Thomas H. and Martin Luther, who died in childhood. The father. Dr. Brooks, met with an untimely death by an accident in 1895. Martha Mitchell, the second child born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodbridge, was married to W. E. Way, who for twenty-seven years wa.s bookkeeper and paymaster of the Cleveland Rolling Mill company and died in 1891; to this marriage were born three children, of whom two are still living— Edith and Anna. Frederick W., the third child of subject and wife, died at the age of one year, and George Brayton Woodbridge, the youngest, married Miss May Sharp; they have one child, Fred- erick Wells, and reside in Cleveland, where his father is bookkeeper for a manufacturing company. The late lamented mother and grandmother of the above children, Mrs. Mary Ann (Bray- ton) Woodbridge, was called from her philan- throphic cares and toil of benevolence October 25, 1S94. She was born April 21, 1830, the daughter of Capt. Isaac and Love (Mitchell) Brayton, who were married, by the Quaker ceremony, July 25, 1825. Mary A. was of the sixth generation born in America, and her ancestry can be traced back in England for a period of 800 years. Her father. Isaac Bray- ton, was born in Nantucket, in 1801, and early in life became captain of a whaling vessel, and April 28, 1833, landed the largest cargo of oil (2,824 barrels) ever before brought to the island of Nantucket. He also landed probably the first missionary that ever visited the Sandwich Islands, and was alwaj's a friend of that devoted band of evangelists, mention of which fact is made in the history of the Sandwich group by Rev. Hiram Bingham, who 690 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was himself a missionary there for twenty-five years under the auspices of the American board. Even in those early days Capt. Bray- ton was a strictly temperate man, never using even tobacco, and was one of the few sea- captains who daily led the crew in religious worship. He was gifted with a high order of eloquence and a tact for the management of public affairs, was recognized by his fellow- citizens as a leader among men, and by them was sent to the Massachusetts legislature in the days when Edward Everett was governor. On coming to Ohio, he served the common- wealth as associate justice with Ben Wade, later was a member of the Ohio legislature, and was the father of the law by which the charitable institutions of this state are still governed. He lived to the great age of eighty- six years, and his memorj' is still cherished with respect in his native as well as his adopted state. His talented wife Love Mitchell, was a sister of William Mitchell, who as an astrono- mer and geographer, with his daughter Maria, won a world-wide reputation. Mrs. Wood- bridge was the mother of three children be- fore she was twenty-one years of age; the fourth was born thirteen years later. Not- withstanding her maternal cares she never lost her enthusiasm for her religious convictions and her philanthopic efforts to redeem the world from the curse of rum, nor her love for books, nor the study of botany and love of flowers,' with which her home was always decorated with the rarest growths; and so gracious was personality and her hospitality so spontaneous, that her home was constantly filled with admiring friends. The great work that Mrs. Woodbridge ac- complished as a member of the Women's Chris- tian Temperance Union must be confined to a brief excerpt from a memento written by the famous Frances E. Willard, confining it, as it was written, to the present tense: "She has risen to her present eminence by sure and reg- ular gradation, being at first president of the local union of her own hometown at Ravenna, then for years president of her state, and in 1878 she was chosen recording recretary of the National Women's Christian Temperance Union, a position which she fills with unrivaled ability, her minutes being almost never sus- ceptible of improvement by even the slightest verbal change. This is, indeed, a fact ' sig- nificant of much,' for only the quickest ear, keenest perception and readiest hand could so ' keep the run ' of proceedings to the last de- gree intricate, rapid and changeful. Upon the resignation of Mrs. J. Ellen Foster (at the St. Louis National W. C. T. U. convention, in October, 1884) Mrs. Woodbridge was unani- mously chosen national superintendent of the department of legislation and petitions. She is now in the field addressing large audiences at leading centers of influence, and is received with the consideration due to her character, talents and influence. But the crowning work of Mrs. Woodbridge thus far was her consum- mate conduct of the constitutional amendment campaign, especially when the stage of sub- mitting the prohibitory clause had been suc- cessfully passed. Her wonderful alertness of mind, facility of leadership, patience and far- reaching wisdom had here a splendid field. Political leaders in Ohio said ' they were out- worked, out-witted and out-generaled.' Al- most unaided by the partisan press, with faith- lessness in camp and field, the parties making a promise to the ear only to break it to the hope, this steadfast nature still held on its way, trusted by the people of Ohio and devoutly trusting them. But in God were the hidings of her power. Whether she edited the Amend- ment Herald, which under her leadership at- tained a weekly circulation of 100,000 copies, or directed the appointments of the temperance workers who were ' out campaigning, stirred OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 691 the zeal of her local workers by letter and tel- egram, or pleaded for the sinews of war, her faith failed not,' and words of prayer were ever on her lips, or promises of God from the Book with which she has so great familiarity. What wonder that more than 300,000 voters responded by 'Yes' ballots to such earnest workers as the White Ribbon women of Ohio, under such splendid leadership. Later on, when the amendment was counted out, Mrs. Woodbridge has taken positions so far ad- vanced as to the safe conduct of prohibition movements, that many good people have been unable 'to see light in her light," but she goes bravely forward, undaunted, undeterred, 'with firmness in the right as God gives her to see the right,' exhibiting in this the choicest quality of her noble character, viz: Fidelity to her convictions at cost of comfort and of praise." Frederick W. Woodbridge has been a last- ing honor to the generation in which he lives, and has shown in his life the characteristics of the man and the true-born gentleman. His business integrity has never been questioned, his high moral character ever precluding the shadow, even, of such a thought. His domes- tic life has been supremely blessed in all re- spects, and has been marred only by the irre- parable loss of the companion to whom he was , so deeply devoted. * m ^ ENRY BARHOLT, a respected citi- I^^^V zen of Hiram, Ohio, and a veteran of M. . r the Civil war, was born in Prussia, August 27, 1838, a son of Benjamin and Caroline Barholt, and was seven years old when his parents brought him to America, about 1845. His father settled in Cleveland, Ohio, but Mrs. Barholt, died soon after reach- ing America, and young Henry received but little education. He began to work in a tobacco factory when a small boy and some- times worked until twelve o'clock at night; he next went to Orange, Ohio, when he was six- teen years old, and worked at farm work. He enlisted at Hiram, Ohio, September 20, 1861, in Col. Garfield's regiment, Capt. A. F. Wil- liams, company A, Forty-second regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, September 30, 1864, by reason of expiration of service. He re- enlisted in Wayne township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, in company G, Sixth United States veteran volunteers, April 6, 1865, to serve one year or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C, April 5, 1866, thus serving a little over four years. He was in the battles of Middle Creek, and Pound Gap, Ky. , and in several skir- mishes at Cumberland Gap and at Big Springs. He was in the battle of Grand Gulf, Thomp- son's Hill, or Port Gibson, Raymond, Cham- pion Hill, Black River, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and in skirmishes too numerous to mention. Mr. Barholt was not a prisoner, nor was he in the hospital, but was always an active soldier and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duties. He was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches, in which his regiment was engaged, and had but one furlough home for thirty days. Mr. Barholt thinks his hardest battles to have been those of Champion Hill and Vicks- burg. His hardest march was in September, from Cumberland Gap to the Ohio river, which required nineteen days. The troops had no rations, and the weather was very hot. The corn had just glazed, and Mr. Barholt lived on this corn during the march. He had saved a little coffee, and this was of the great- est value to him. After the war Mr. Barholt returned to 692 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Ohio and engaged in farm work at Hiram. He married August 5, 1872, at Cleveland, Ohio, Mary Seebolt, who was born March 9, 1842, in Baden, Germany, in the Black Forest. Her father came with his family to America, about 1850, arriving in New York. Mr. Seebolt was a blacksmith, and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where his wife died the first year. Their chil- ren, beside Mary, were Lee, Antoinette, John (a soldier of the Civil war), Caroline, Eliza- beth and Hannah, the last-named remaining in Germany. Mr. Seebolt lived to be sixty- four years old, and died in 1871 in Cleveland. He was a hard-working and industrious man. After marriage Mr. Barholt settled in Hiram township, where he had bought a farm of fifty-si.\ and one-half acres, three-fourths of a mile west of Hiram. By his thrift and en- ergy, he has improved his place with good buildings, and has a pleasant and comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Barholt have one son, Edward P., born November 3, 1879. In poli- tics he is a republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Barholt is a mem- ber of the Lutheran church and of the G. A. R. , formerly affiliating with Bentley post at Mantua, Ohio. Benjamin Barholt and wife, the parents of our subject, came to America about 1845, sail- ing from Bremen to New York in the good ship Eagle. Mr. Barholt was a weaver by trade. He lived in Cleveland until his death at the venerable age of about eighty. He was a hard-working and honorable man. His children were Charles, Henry, Frederick and Fredrica. Three sons were in the Civil war, viz: l-^rederick was in the Thirty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, three years' service and veteranized, and in all served four years and was in many battles. He was wounded at Lookout Mountain, and is now deceased. Charles was a private of the Twenty-third regiment veteran volunteer infantry, served four years, and was in many battles. He was wounded and now resides in Cleveland. The three brothers, Henry, Frederick and Charles, were in the service altogether about twelve years. Henry Barholt has always been an indus- trious and frugal farmer, and has fully earned the reputation he enjoys as a good citizen and an upright man. >T^AMES B. BARNARD, mayor of Gar- M rettsville. Portage county, Ohio, and A 1 now serving a second term, is a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y. , was born April 29, 1838, and is a son of Benjamin and Gracie (Bucklin) Barnard, natives, respect- ively, of New Hampshire and New York states. In 1853 the Barnard family came to Ohio and first located in Trumbull county, whence they removed to a farm in Franklin township, and later went to Stowe township. Summit county, where the parents passed the re- mainder of their days. The father had been a farmer all his life, was a republican in poli- tics, and was honored with the office of jus- tice of the peace, as well as with several minor township offices. They were the parents of eleven children, who all grew to maturity, and were named as follows: Jane, who was first married to William Southwell and next to Ransford Easton, and now lives in Illinois; Emily, deceased, who was first married to Dewey Nichols, then to George Baker, and next became Mrs. Freeman, and died in Jamestown, N. Y. ; Nancy is the widow of Charles Curtis, and resides in Joliet, 111. ; Martha is the wife of S. P. Merrill, of Earl- ville. Portage county, Ohio; Sophia is married to Frank Stowe, of Lockport, 111.; James B. , subject, is next in order of birth; Elizabeth died unmarried; Julia married Seldon Barker, afterward became Mrs. Mansfield, and resides OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 693 in Jamestown, N. Y. ; Laura is the wife of William Stowe, of Lockport, 111.; Daskum F. is a farmer near Kent, Ohio; Fred is also a farmer, and lives in Stowe township. Summit county. James B. Barnard attended school until fifteen years of age and assisted on his father's farm until his enlistment, in 1861, in the Second Ohio volunteer cavalry; served in the western army nearly two years as bugler, and was mustered out under an order from the war department. He next enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio volunteer infantry, for 100 days, did guard duty at John- son's island, as second lieutenant, fought at Kellar's Bridge, Ky. , was held in service fully a year, and was mustered out with the rank of captain. After his return from the war, Capt. Bar- nard traveled for twenty years as a salesman in the eastern and middle states, mostly on his own account, but while thus employed established his home, in 187.^, in Garrettsville. In 1890 he purchased an interest in the granite business, which is still carried on under the firm name of Barnard & King, who own their business block and \ards and are very pros- perous in their trade, commanding a very ex- tensive business. Mr. Barnard was married, in i860, to Miss Philinda Lee, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of Seth Lee, a prom- inent farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Barnard has been born one son — Jay L. , who is married to Mary Levitt, and is office manager, book- keeper and statistician for the Ohio Steel com- pany at Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard have also reared an adopted daughter — Edith. In politics Mr. Barnard has always been an ardent republican, is very popular with his party, has twice been elected to the town council and has twice been elected mayor of the village of Garrettsville, and is now serving his second term. During his excellent adminis- trations Main street has been paved with brick, and the electric light system thoroughly im- proved and perfected, and many other important improvements made for the public benefit. Mr. Barnard was one of the three commission- ers appointed to build the Hiram Free turn- pike or macadamized road in 1883, of which commission he has served ever since as presi- dent of the board. In his fraternal relations, Mr. Barnard has advanced to the encampment in Odd P'el- lowship and is a past chief patriarch, and still affiliates as a member of the local lodge, and is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is entirely "self-made", and his residence on North street is one of the best in the village. BREDRICK W. BOIES, of Peninsula, Ohio, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citizen, was born in Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio, September 17, 1842, a son of Fredrick N. and Elizabeth (Lewis) Boies. The Boies family were of French and Irish ancestry and settlers, in colonial times, of Massachusetts. John Boies, grandfather of subject, was born in Boston. Mass., September 27, 1760. and married July 31, 1788, Mary Parker, born at Litchfield, N. H., daughter of John Parker and granddaughter of Rev. Thomas Parker, the first minister of Dracut, Mass. In the year 1805, they settled in Maine as pioneers of Madison and Skowhegan. Their children were Thomas, James, Bartholomew, Broadus, Fredrick, John, Mary, Nancy, Mehitable. Eliza and Fannie Neil — none of them now living. In the history of Bedford, N. H., published by the town in 1851, the name of John Boies 694 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD appears as one of the lOO men who signed "The Association Test" in April, 1776, indica- ting his loyalty to the cause of the colonies. He was a soldier of the war of the Revolution, enlisting in March, 1777, in his sixteenth year, and his service record has been fully verified from authentic sources. On July 7, 1777, he was engaged at the battle of Hubbardston, and October 7, following, at the second battle of Stillwater, where he was wounded in the arm. The following winter he was with Washing- ton's army at Valley Forge, and June 28, 1778, took part in the battle of Monmouth. In the summer and fall of 1779 he was with the ex- pedition organized under the direction of Washington, and commanded by Gen. John Sullivan, against the si.\ nations of Indians. This army did some severe fighting and march- e4 over 700 miles through an almost unbroken wilderness, in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In the fall of 17S0 he was taken prisioner, put on board a vessel and carried first to Lim- erick, Ireland, and thence to Mill prison, Plymouth, England. \\'ith a number of others he made his escape, put out to sea in an open boat, and was picked up by a French vessel and carried to within sight of New York city, where the vessel was captured by the British man-of-war and the soldiers were transferred to the ship Essex, June 16, and committed to Mill prison again June 2 I, 1781. As a punish- ment for trying to escape, Mr. Boies was com- pelled to wear sixty pounds of iron si.xty days. To vary the monotony of prison life he kept a diary and completed a book of sums. After his return to America he was offered quite a large sum of money for these books — the mem- ories of prison life — but he refused to part with them, and they were afterwards destroyed by fire in a school-house in Derryfield, now Man- chester, N. H. After the surrender of Corn- wallis in October, 1781, he was released and returned to America. A bronze tablet has been recently erected to his memory in the memorial room of the Skowhegan public li- brary as a tribute to his worth. The tablet bears the inscription: In memory of John Boies, a soldier of the Revolution, born in Boston, Mass., Sep- tember 27, 1 760, enlisted in the Sixth company, Third New Hampshire regulars, March, 1777 — serving three years; imprisoned one year at Mill prison, Eng. As a token of affection and esteem this tablet is placed here by his grand- children. Fredrick Nelson Boies, father of subject, was born at Bedford, N. H., February 14, 1800, and had the limited common-school ed- ucation of his day. He left home early, was a lumberman in Maine and Canada, and mar- ried at Portland, Conn., Elizabeth Lewis, January 6, 1831. They settled in Summit count}', Ohio, Northampton township, in 1836-7, east of the Center, and bought 150 acres in the White Oaks woods, where Mr. Boies, who had come out the spring before, had built a log cabin. He cleared up his farm from the woods, and, although a small man, weighing but 130 pounds, was very tough and hardy, and could outwork most men. He made a good pioneer, and about 1 840 he moved to the center of Stowe, and remained there till 1844, when he bought and removed to a farm in Boston township, on which he lived the remaining acti\e years of his life. He suffered from a stroke of apolexy seven years before death and was blind for seven years, and finally retired to Peninsula, where he died February 12, 1882. He and wife were mem- bers of the Episcopal church at Peninsula. In politics he was a democrat, served as justice of the peace three years and also as assessor. His children were Ann L. , Herbert W. , Helen, Mary P., Charles E. L. , Fredrick C. and Effie L. He had two sons in the Civil war, viz: OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 695 Charles E. L. , who was in company C, Twen- tieth regiment, Connecticut volunteer infantry, in the three years' service, and was color ser- geant. Of the above-named children, Ann L. is the widow of Edmund H. Cole, who was a merchant in Peninsula. They had four children — three sons and one daughter living, of whom the eldest. Dr. A. M. Cole, is a prom- inent business man and banker in the city of Akron; he was educated in the high school at Peninsula, and a business college at Cleveland, and is a graduate of a medical college at Cleve- land, and the College of Physicians & Sur- geons in New York city. He married Miss Lucy Truscott. Herbert W. is general man- ager of the Star Drill Co. and the Silver Plate Co., at Akron, Ohio. Helen is the wife of Dr. W. N. Boerstler, of Peninsula; Fredrick C. is assistant manager of the Silver Plate Co. of Akron, and Effie L. is the wife of a Mr. Worthington, of Connecticut, who is a seaman. Fredrick W. Boies, subject of this sketch, received a common-school education and en- listed August 20, 1862, at Peninsula, in com- pany C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Cleve- land, Ohio, July 5, 1865. He was appointed coporal on the organization of the company and promoted sergeant for meritorious conduct. He was first stationed at Cincinnati, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, and Murfreesboro, Tenn., on guard duty, and was detailed to the One Hund- red and Fifteenth regimental band in 1864, and served as a musician until mustered out. He was present at Dayton, Ohio, when George L. Waterman was shot by a mob. After the war, Mr. Boies returned to Peninsula and was engaged in the boat yard as boat carpenter three years; then bought a canal boat and ran it for six years and did a good business. In company with Charles E. Boies, he bought a grist mill at Peninsula in 1878 and ran it three years, and then ran a meat market several years. He is now notary public and owns valuable real estate in Peninsula. In politics he is a democrat; he has served as township trustee and mayor of Peninsula. He is a member of the Episcopal church; a member of the Knights of Maccabees, and Good Templars, and of the George L. Waterman post, No. 272, G. A. R., at Peninsula, of which he has been commander and now is quartermaster. HLEXANDER BREWSTER, one of the oldest residents of Summit coun- ty, which has been his home for over eighty-five years, may certainly claim especial mention in this volume, as being one of the very few still living who have seen the county develop from a wilderness into the blooming agricultural district it now is, and its mineral resources utilized for the benefit of his fellow-men. He was born in Augusta, Oneida county, N. Y., September 10, 1808; came with his parents to Ohio in 1812, settling in Coventry township, where he lived the life of the pioneer, assisting his father to redeem from the forest a home. His early life was a busy one, and well he remembers of the game that abounded in the forest and of the numerous days of pleasure that he experienced hunting same. His education was limited to the com- mon schools of that day. He remained under the parental roof until -he arrived at his ma- jority, having learned the carpenter trade with his father, which he followed only a short time, when he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, following this vocation through his long life. In the year 1848 coal was discovered un- derneath his land and he gave some attention to the mining of same in a limited way for a few years. In 1850 he with several others from that locality made an overland trip to 696 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD California, and for a year had the experience of a miner and was one of the few that were fortunate in accumulating wealth rapidly, and during the year 185 i he returned to his home and resumed farming; also engaged in coal mining, which he has followed up to within a few years, since which time he has been enjoying the fruits of his earlier life. Mr. Brewster has been a careful business man and has prospered year by year, which has enabled him to enjoy comforts to-day which only the frugal may enjoy. In 1865 a stock company was formed with a capital stock of $100,000, under the name of theBrewster Coal company, ofwhich Mr. Brew- ster was made president, and his two sons, Al- fred A. and Austin K., were named respect- tively general agent and secretary and treas- urer — the company mining and handling between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of coal for years. Mr. Brewster was married January 9, 1830, to Miss Margaret Ann Ivinney, who also was a native of New York, and came to Summit county, Ohio, with her parents, in 1813, being reared to womanhood in Springfield township, that county. By this marriage five children were born, four of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, viz: Alfred A. ; Austin K. ; Louisa, wife of J. F. Meacham, and Mary Melissa, wife of Russell H. Kent. Mrs. Brew- ster died in November, 1854, and Mr. Brew- ster married in December, 1857, Mrs. Minerva A. (Darrow) Brown, who is a native of Cuya- hoga county, Ohio, and died June 27, 1873. In September, 1877, Mr. Brewster married for his third wife Mrs. Lucy Jane Chamber- lain, widow of John H. Chamberlain and daughter of Col. Justus Gale, who settled in Akron, in 1831, and became one of its sub- stantial citizens. Mr. Brewster has done his full share in aid- ing to dot the county over with the hives of industry that send forth their hum of machin- ery in producing numberless articles of im- proved labor-saving implements and utensils, and in spreading the benefits of the church and the school the land over also, and now, verg- ' ing on his ninetieth year, can look back with \ complacenc}' on his long and well-spent life. >Y»OHN ALLMAN, of Streetsboro town- M ship, Portage county, Ohio, is one of A J the most respected citizens of the town- ship, for the reason that he served in the Civil war in the defense of his adopted country, he having been born in Switzerland February 28, 1838, a son of Conrad and Annie Allman, whose name was originally spelled Alleman, which is equivalent to the French word, Allemand, meaning German, Switzer- land being a country in which many of the continental languages are fluently spoken. Conrad Allman, also a native of Switzer- land, was a shoemaker by trade, and he and wife had born to them, in that little republic, eight children, who were named Conrad, Jacob, John, Ulrich, Frederick, Mary, Annie and Maria. In the spring of 1852, he, with his family, sailed from Antwerp for America, and after a voyage of seven stormy weeks landed in the city of New York in the month of June. The family all came at once to Ohio, and, passing through Cleveland, located in Stark county, where, the same year, the father, mother and two sons — Conrad and Jacob — died of cholera within two weeks. They were members of the German Reformed church, and were all noted for their probity and general excellence of character. John Allman, who was but fourteen years of age when bereft of his parents, had already learned to read and write the German language, and was bound out to Andrew Sweihart, a far- mer of Tuscarawas county, with whom he lived ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^IH ■ ^^^^^^^^^^^^K^ •*■" ~ iH ^^^^^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^^^^HRV^^Ir "^'^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^1 H^^^^H ^^^B ^^^^^^K ^B ^^^^^^^^E m ^J ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^K ^^^^H ^ ^^^^^HP^^ J^^Hk|^^|«^-''3|^:<'-' ^^^^B 1 '/^RkA^ G^l^j/aJt^', J^ a/l£^.^^a-^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 701 four years, and was further educated by attend- ing school two months each winter — doing his farm work for Mr. Sweihart the remaining part of the year. He then worked awhile for other farmers, in the same neighborhood, and in the spring of 1859 came to Portage county, work- ed here at the same class of labor until August, 1861, when, with about twenty others, he set out from Ravenna as a teamster for the vol- unteer service in West Virginia, and in this capacity served with the Seventh Ohio volun- teer regiment until March, 1862, when he re- turned to Portage county. In August, 1862, he enlisted, at Streetsboro, in the Ninth in- dependent Ohio liglit artillery, under Capt. Wetmore, a West Point graduate, and with this company he served two years and ten months, being honorably discharged at Chat- tanooga, Tenn., in June 1865, the war having been brought to a close. The service, of the Ninth was principally rendered in the pursuit of guerrillas in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, but was also in many skirmishes with the rebels, in which a large number of the members of the battery were either killed or :aptured. Mr. Allman, however, passed :hrough the war unscathed, with the exception, :hat he contracted rheumatism from exposure ivhile on duty, and still suffers from that dis- Drder. Ulrich, his brother, of the Nineteenth Dhio volunteer infantry, was badly wounded, liowever, at Shiloh. Immediately after his return from the army, Mr. Allman was married in June, 1865, in streetsboro, to Miss Mary L. Dewey, who was Dorn in Kent, Portage county, June 22, 1840, 1 daughter of Henry Dewey, a well-to-do farm- er of Franklin township, and a pioneer from Vermont, there being but three houses in Cleveland when he passed through that now magnificent city on his way to his former farm in Portage county. The children of Henry Dewey were named as follows: Jerusha, Cla- rissa, Eli, Mary Lovina, George E., Lydia, Laura L. — and Henry. Of these, George was a member of a Wisconsin regiment of volun- teers, and was killed in battle during the Civil war. Henry Dewey, the father, had removed to Sauk county. Wis., prior to the breaking out of the war, and there died at the age of eighty years. After marriage, Mr. Allman rented his present farm for five years; he then, through his industry, was able to purchase 200 acres, and soon after, through further good manage- ment, was able to add forty acres, and now owns as fine a farm of 240 acres as there is in the township. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Allman have been born five children, viz: Carrie M., Orna Ernest, Byron Frederick (who died at the age of fifteen and a half years), Charles and Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Allman have given their children good practical edu- cation, being sent to the Streetsboro high school. In politics Mr. Allman is a republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln; fraternally he is an ex-member of A. H. Day post. No. 185, Grand Army of the Republic, at Kent. He has always been a hard-working man and still is, as far as his infirmity permits, and is an honored, straightforward, steady-going and useful citizen. Mrs. Allman was educated in the common schools of Sauk county, Wis., was also a student in the Reedsburg academy, and was a successful teacher in that county, and passed her girlhood days till she was nineteen years of age in Wisconsin. Her brothers and sisters are as follows: Jerusha, widow of Frede- rick Leonard, who was a soldier in the Civil war. His trade was that of a shoemaker and later in life he became a merchant. Mrs. Leonard now resides in Virginia. Clarissa; Eli, resides in Boone county, la., is a retired farmer and also owns a blacksmith shop. Mrs. Allman is next in order of birth. Lydia is the wife of Henry Young, a farmer by occupation and a 702 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD resident of Reedsburg, Wis. Laura L. is the wife of Wilfred Mason, also of Reedsburg, Wis. Henry died in 1894, in the state of Washington. He was a farmer and his widow now resides in Reedsburg, \Ms. Mr. Allman came to America when but a lad, and was afterward bereft of his parents. He began life with not a dollar to his name, but by dint of industry, economy and enter- prise, aided by his faithful wife, he stands to- day as a living e.xample of what a man can do when he possesses that fortitude and persever- ance which makes a successful life. He and wife expect to make Streetsboro township their future home, where they have erected a beautiful and comfortable dwelling modern in style, and where they are surrounded by many warm-hearted friends. BENRY I^RIGGS is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a re- spected citizen of Mantua Station, where he was reared to manhood, having come here with his parents when about twelve years of age. He was born in Arling- ton township, Bennington county, Vt. , Feb- ruary 10, 1839, the son of Nelson and Jane (Seeley) Briggs, who were of English Puritan stock, and they became early settlers of north- eastern Ohio, where they lived to rear their families and become well known. Henry Briggs had just begun going to school when he left his native home and came to Ohio and here finished his common-school education in Mantua township during the win- ter seasons. He was reared a farmer and thus spent a very active life during the sum- mer season, assisting his father upon the farm, where he remained until arriving at early manhood. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted on September 17, 1861, at Mantua, and was mustered into the United States army at Camp Chase, September 25, 1 861, in com- pany A, Forty-second regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, with Capt. F. A. William's company under Col. James A. Garfield, and forming a part of the Thirteenth army corps, which division participated in the following battles. Their first engagement was at Middle Creek, Ky. , January 10, 1862, followed by the battle at Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Thomp- son Hill, Raymond, Champion Hill, Big Black River Bridge; siege of Vicksburg, being in the first assault on May 19th, and was there until it closed on July 4, 1863; siege of Jack- son; Opelousas, La., October 21, 1863, beside many hard skirmishes and doing guard and picket duty. He was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, September 18, 1864, at the expiration of his enlistment, having served under Copt. J. L. Ross and Col. L. A. Sheldon. Mr. Briggs considers his hardest campaign to be that of Vicksburg, and he suffered much from hardships and exposure during this time. The hardest battle that he engaged in was at Thompson Hill, where his comrade, G. G. Striker, was shot down by his side, and the hardest charge was at Vicksburg. Mr. Briggs was one of the brave and active soldiers, and during the three years' time that he served his country, he was neither taken prisoner nor wounded nor sick in hospital, and at all times answered to roll-call, unless out on detail duty. He participated in all the campaigns, marches, battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged, and during the three years' time had only a two-weeks' furlough home. He was a faithful soldier and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of all his duties as such, and is now one of the many that are dis- abled from the exposure of army life, and the same has resulted in rheumatism, which makes life almost a burden. Mr. Briggs returned to his earlier home at Mantua and the following year, on November OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 703 18, 1865, was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Roberts, who was born March 27, 1846, the daughter of Joseph P. and Lavina (Spen- cer) Roberts. The Roberts and the Spencers were of sterling Puritan New England stock and descended from old colonial families. Joseph Roberts, the father, was born at East Haddam, Conn., September 14, 1821, and when but a small boy his father died, he being thrown upon his own resources, and at the age of fourteen years came to Ohio, lo- cating at Mantua, where he learned the black- smith's trade, and here married Miss Spencer, the daughter of Hiram Spencer. The Spencers were of old Connecticut stock. Hiram Spencer, the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Briggs, was born in Suffield, Hartford county. Conn., June 13, 1805, and here married Elizabeth Grover, to whom was born one daughter, Levina. Mr. Spencer came to Ohio and settled in Mantua township as a pioneer, cleared up a farm from the woods and became a substantial farmer and good citi- zen. He died November 12, 1864, at Hiram, Ohio. Henry Briggs, after his return from the war, settled on his present farm in Mantua township, where he lived an industrious life and is known as one of the good citizens of the vicinity, where he has lived nearly half a century. He is the parent of the following children, viz: Lena and Carl. Politically he is independent, though ever since the war has usually voted with the republican party, though during the campaign of '96 was an advocate of free silver. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R. , Bentley post, Mantua Station, and holds the office of senior vice-commander. He has always been an industrious and re- spected citizen. Mrs. Jane Seeley, the mother of Mr. Briggs, was first married to a Mr. Stone, and to this marriage two children were born: Malissa and Edward, and Edward was a soldier in the late war, serving in a Vermont regiment and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. Nelson Briggs, father of our subject (Henry Briggs), was born in Vermont and was the son of Carmi Briggs. His children were Hiram, Nelson, Abel, Carmi, John, Esther, Mary and Alonzo. Carmi Briggs moved from Vermont to Michigan, where he became a pioneer in Eaton county, and cleared up a good farm from the woods and reared a large family, to whom he gave all a good start in life. His son, John, was a soldier in the Civil war, asso- ciated with a Michigan regiment. Nelson Briggs, the father, was born in Arlington, Vt. , and there married Jane Seeley, and to this marriage were born the following children: Henry, Carmi, George, Eveline, Morton and Nelson. Mr. Briggs left his native state and located in Mantua, Ohio, m 1852, where he .resided until 1866, when he removed to Eaton county, Mich., and purchased land in the for- est, and there lived until the age of eighty-four years. Politically he was a democrat and a much respected citizen. ai ARREN BOWER, one of the vet- eran soldiers of the Civil war, and a respected citizen of Hiram, Ohio, was born in Mesopotamia, Trum- bull county, Ohio, January 7, 1841, a son of Jacob and Hannah (Boyer) Bower, and is of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. Warren Bower received a good common-school educa- tion at Mesopotamia and enlisted August 20, 1 86 1, at Farmington, Trumbull county, in Capt. J. B. Burrough's Fourteenth battery, Ohio volunteer light artillery, to serve three years or during the war, but was honorably discharged before the expiration of his time, to permit of his re-enlistment as a veteran in same organization to serve a like term, and 704 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was finally discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, as a corporal, August 9, 1865, having been promoted to corporal September 17, 1864, for meritorious services. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Tenn., April (>-"]. 1862; was on garrison duty at Jackson, Tenn., from April until June 2, 1863, and took part in the raid after Forrest. He was on the great At- lanta campaign, in which the Union troops were under fire for nearly four months; was in the battles of Resaca, Ga. , Ma)' 13-15 to 20, 1864; Dallas, Ga., May 28; Big Shanty, June 12 and 20, for thirty hours; Kenesaw Moun- tains, June 21 and July 22, forty hours; Ruff's Mill, July 4; Chattahoochie river, July 7-9, eight hours; Nancy Creek and Decatur, Ga. , July 7 to 19; east of Atlanta, July 22; west of Atlanta, July 28 to August i ; west of Atlanta, August 2 to 9, twenty hours; west of Atlanta, August 10 to 16; west of Atlanta, August 17 and 25, forty hours, and was also at the battle of Jonesboro. He took part with Gen. Thomas at the battle of Nashville and the battle oi Franklin, and was in man}' skir- mishes in the chase after Hood, and in all others in which his battery took part, and was prompt and cheerful in the discharge of all his duties. During the battle on Kenesaw Mountain, he was ordered by Gen. McPherson to fire on a rebel flag-staff in the distance. Mr. Bower was sick with camp diarrhea, but was attend- ing to his duty, when the blacksmith of the company stepped up and offered to release Mr. Bower; he had previously been numbered No. I on gun No. 2, of which Mr. Bower was in charge, and understood how to manage it. He loaded, fired, and fired a second time without wetting thespongeon the rammer, and the gun became hot, and he was cautioned to wet it. He said he would do so the next time, and rammed home the charge, but the gun exploded and tore off his right hand. Mr. Bower then took his place and continued the firing. That summer this battery fired five tons, 832 pounds of ammunition. Mr. Bower thinks the battle of Shiloh to be the hardest battle in which he was engaged. His batter)' was engaged but thirty minutes, hav- ing four men killed and twenty-eight wounded, and seventy-seven horses killed. His next hardest battle was on the 22d of July before Atlanta, fighting four hours, and firing 654 rounds of ammunition. His hardest march and campaign was marching four days and nights in succession, in the campaign after Hood, and having scanty rations, one time, on this campaign, lived seven days on parched corn and coffee. He was sick ten days in hospital with measles, in Camp Dennison, Ohio, in 1S62, and was home on furlough thirty days. His hearing in the right ear was destroyed by the measles, and concussion from the discharge of the guns during the bat- tles of the Atlanta campaign, and the hearing of the left ear much impaired. After the war, Mr. Bower returned to Ohio and followed farming. He married, in Auburn, Geauga county, September 8, 1868, Sarah A. Nooney, who was born November 19, 1848, at Mantua, Portage county, a daughter of Hezekiah A. and Caroline (John- son) Nooney. Hezekiah A. Nooney was the son of Capt. Hezekiah and Sarah (Hawkins) Nooney. The captain came from Vermont, and was a pioneer of Mantua township, clear- ing up his farm of 500 acres from the woods. His children were Ruby, Henrietta, Sallie and Hezekiah. He was in religion a Method- ist and in politics a republican. He was a soldier in the war of 18 12, and died at a ven- erable age, a highly respected pioneer. Hezekiah A. Nooney, the father of Mrs. Bower, was born in Mantua township, De- cember 4, 1817. He was a farmer, and mar- ried Caroline Johnson, who was born in Tol- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 705 land, Conn. The children were Nettie R. , Henry, Eliza, Sarah A. , James, Thomas C. and Rhoda. The death of Hezekiah A. Nooney occurred August 13, 1892. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bower located near Ravenna, Ohio, and then moved to Auburn, Ohio, and rented a farm of 235 acres, on which they lived for two years; then went to Trumbull county, where Mr. Bower carried on farming and the dairy business, until the fall of 1875, when he moved to Man- tua township and lived on a farm until the fall of 1891. He then came to Hiram, in 1 89 1, and bought his present property. Mr. and Mrs. Bower have one daughter, Leila O. Bower, a gtaduate of the musical department of Hiram college. Mr. and Mrs. Bower are members of the Disciples' church, and in poli- tics Mr. Bower is a republican and as such served as marshal of Hiram three years. He is a member of the G. A. R. , Mark Horton post, at Garrettsville, was formerly a member of Bentley post, at Mantua, and held the offices of junior vice-commander and assistant adjutant. Mr. Bower has always been an honorable citizen and well known for his good character. Jacob Bower, father of Warren Bower, was born at Little York, Pa., January 2, 1808, a son of Joseph and Barbara (Smith) Bower, who descended from sturdy Dutch ancestry, and who were ^mong the early set- tlers of Pennsylvania. Jacob Bower was reared a farmer in Mesopotamia, Ohio, where he came when a boy, with his father, who took up about 500 acres, about 18 14. Jacob Bower remained on this farm all his life, and was a substantial citizen. His children by Hannah Boyer, his first wife, were Herman and Warren, both soldiers in the Civil war. Herman was in the Fifteenth Ohio battery, light artillery, and served three years. By his second wife, Nancy Huffman, Jacob Bower became the father of Reily, Dallas, Samantha, Charles, John, Morton, Jay, Bert and Jerry. Mr. Bower reached the venerable age of eighty-five years, and until eighty-three years old had never undressed and gone to bed sick. He was a substantial citizen and owned about 235 acres of land, was a township trustee, and was well known for his h(jnorable character. ^>^^ELSON S. BARTHOLOMEW, one I m °^ 'he old soldiers of the Civil war and I y a respected citizen of Mantua, Portage county, was born in Auburn, Geauga county, Ohio, November 9, 1830, a son of Jonathan and Mary (Wilson) Bartholomew. He received a common-school education and was reared to farming. He went, when young, to Vienna, Genesee county, Mich., and mar- ried Elizabeth Webster, who was born in Au- burn, Geauga county, Ohio. Mr. Bartholo- mew bought a farm in Genesee county and cleared up a part from the woods, and then traded for another farm near by, and this he also improved. Mr. Bartholomew enlisted at Maple Rapids, Mich. , and was mustered into the United States service, August 28. 1862, in company G, Fifth Michigan volunteer cavalry, Capt. William McGoffin, to serve three years or dur- ing the war, and was honorably discharged on account of the close of the war, at Detroit, Mich., in August, 1865. He was promoted for meritorious conduct to be corporal and then first sergeant, and was detailed to Harper's Ferry four months as guard for government property in the United States arsenal, in 1864. He was wounded at Smithfield, \'a., in the left leg and was four months in hospital in Alexandria, Va., and was wounded in the shoul- der at Dinwiddle Court House, April i, 1865. He was in the battle of Gettysburg three days, his regiment being dismounted and serving as 706 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD infantry. He was in Kilpatrick's raid in the rear of Vicksbiirg;, battles of the Wilderness and Gordonsville, and served against Gen. Early when he made his famous raid on Wash- ington, and served under Gen. Philip Sheri- dan and Gen. Russell A. Alger, then colonel of the' Fifth Michigan cavalry. In the Shen- andoah valley he was in the battle at Winches- ter when Sheridan made his famous ride, Gen. Carter being the division commander. He was in the battles of Smithfield, Flint Hill, Fisher's Hill, and four months was engaged in many minor skirmishes after Gen. Early, until the latter was driven out of the valley. The valley of the Shenandoah was the granery of the rebels, and the United States cavalry de- stroyed its entire production. This campaign lasted nearly one year. At the battle of Din- widdle Court House, Mr. Bartholomew was shot in the left shoulder and was in hospital at Mount Pleasant, Washington, D. C. , for two months, and still suffers from his wounds. Gen. Sheridan's forces fought between thirty to forty engagements, including the battles of Opequon, Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill, with a total loss of 1,938 killed and 1 1,893 wounded. and 3,121 missing On August 10, 1864, Sheridan marched out from Halltown, for Winchester; on the iith there was fighting at Sulphur Springs Bridge and White Post, and on the 15th, fighting at Fisher's Hill; on the 1 6th at Front Royal; on the 17th at Winches- ter; August 19, a detachment of the Fifth Michigan cavalry, was overpowered at Snick- er's Gap by Mosely'sguerrillas, who put to death the wounded and prisoners; soon after this Carter's men captured some of the guerrillas, and shot down sixteen of them in retaliation. There was fighting at Martinsburg, Berry Hill, Summit Point, Halltown, Sheppardstown and Smithfield, and here Mr. Bartholomew's horse was shot from under him and killed. On September ist the battle at Front Royal pike was fought. Mr. Bartholomew was always an active soldier and did his full duty promptly cheerfully and well, and was in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, and cam- paigns, and was in all battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment was engaged, except when he was in hospital with his wounds. He was not a prisoner, and had no furlough home, except when he was wounded in the shoulder. He was a good and faithful' soldier. At the seven days' battle of the Wilderness, he was detailed as a sergeant to company B, and carried the guidon in this batt'e; this was an honorable, but very dangerous office, as the colors were always selected to fire on. The hardest battle in which Mr. Bartholomew was engaged was that of Gettysburg. His hardest campaigns were in the Shenandoah valley and the Wilderness fight of seven days. Beside his two severe wounds, he was slightly wounded by a shell splinter in his right thigh. ' After the war, Mr. Bartholomew returned to Michigan and resumed farming. He and wife were the parents of Henry D., Emma E. and Mary E. In 1866, Mr. Bartholomew returned to Geauga county, Ohio, and bought his father's old homestead. This consisted of I 16 acres, and by his good management, coupled with his great industry, he has added to it, until he has a fine farm of 167 acres. This he has greatly improved with substantial buildings. His wife died in April, 1870, and he next married, in Auburn, Ohio, Amy War- ren, a widow, nee Brown, but there were no children by this wife, who was also called away. His third marriage took place December 9, 1 89 1, at Charlestown, Portage county, to Mary A. Phelps, widow of Isaac Phelps. This lady was born in Ontario county, N. Y. , September 9, 1832, a daughter of Lucius and Sallie (Canfield) Redfield. Lucius Redfield was born in Hopewell, N. Y. , and descended from an old OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 707 colonial Vermont family. He married, in New York state, Sallie Canfield, and their children were William, Eliza J., Henry, Mary, Julia M., Sallie A. and Helen E. Lucius Redfield was a skillful carriagemaker, moved to Auburn, Ohio, about 1832, but died in Niles, Ohio, in 1876, a member of the Disciples' church. In politics he was a democrat and an upright and respected man. Mrs. Bartholomew, the wife of subject, was well educated in a select school at Canandaigua, N. Y. She was married, the first time, to Jerome Hinckley, a merchant of Auburn, Ohio. Mr. Hinckley died in 1870, and she was next married to Isaac Phelps, a wealthy speculator of Ravenna, Ohio. Mrs. Bartholomew is a member of the Disciples' church and is a lady of fine social qualities and of much culture and refinement, and takes an active interest in horticulture and kindred sub- jects. She is a member of the Horticultural society and daughter of Rebekah, I. O. O. F. Mr. Bartholomew in politics is a republican. He has always been a farmer and owns a pleas- ant residence, and also owns eight and one- half acres at Mantua Crossing. He has been a respected man, straightforward and honest and of noted energy and ^industry. Frater- nally he is an Odd Fellow and in politics a republican. HNDREW BUEHRLA, a native-born farmer of Randolph township. Port- age county, Ohio, was born February 23, 1870, a son of Lucas and Mary Ann (Kelbly) Buehrla, natives of Baden, Ger- many. Lucas Buehrla was born October 18, 1827, and in his early days learned the mason's trade. He was married in the old country, came to the United States in 1869 and March 19 settled in Randolph township, and here followed his trade as long as his health would permit, and then bought the farm on which his son, Andrew, now resides. To his union with Miss Kelbly were born ten children, of whom eight are still living, viz: August; Paulina, married to John Heim; Albert; The- ressa, wife of Frank Kuntz; Frank, Andrew, William and Edward. The two deceased were Adolph, who died at the age of twenty years and two months, and Mary, who was married to Jacob Bettling, and died June 20, 1890, at the age of twenty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Buehrla, the parents of this family, were both devoted members of the Catholic church, and in this faith the mother called to rest July 21, 1891, at the age of fifty- eight years, and the father May 2, 1897, when si.xty-nine years, si.x months and fourteen days old — both greatly respected by their many friends for their sterling merits and steady- going habits of life. Andrew Buehrla, the subject of this biog- raphy, was educated in the district school of his neighborhood, and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. On reaching his major- ity he went to Cleveland, where he found em- ployment as a conductor with the Electric Street Railroad company, with which he re- mained about si.x years. During the year 1895 he made a trip to the west, paying a visit to his brother in Montana, and traveling through other states, being gone, in all, about eight months. The marriage of Mr. Buehrla took place in Cleveland, December 31, 1895, to Miss Maggie C. Weber, daughter of Frederick and Julia Weber, and this union has been blessed with one child — John A. In 1897, Mr. Buehrla settled on the old homestead in Randolph township, and is now prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits. Frederick Weber, father of Mrs. Buehrla, is a native of Prussia, as is also his wife, who has borne him five children, viz: Regina, wife of Williard Scott; 708 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Gottleib; Maggie C, now Mrs. Buehrla; Lizzie and Henrietta. By trade Mr. Weber is a molder, and this calling he followed until 1897, when he bought land and engaged in farming. Andrew Buehrla and his wife are devout mem- bers of St. Joseph's Catholic congregation, and are very liberal in their contributions to its support and active in the good gook of the church. EARVEY BALDWIN, one of the pio- neers of the Western Reserve and a substantial farmer of Aurora town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, and a re- spected citizen, is a son of Harvey, who was a son of Samuel Baldwin, who came to Cleveland in 1806, and was a member of the famous Baldwin family of Connecticut, who were among the early founders of that state. Sam- uel, the original pioneer of the family of Aurora township, was a farmer, and married, in Con- necticut, Hannah Camp, who was born in the same state. The children born to his mar- riage were Smith, who was one of the first sheriffs of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and under his administration the first hanging — that of an Indian — in Cuyahoga county, took place; Caleb, James, Elicam, Harry, Harvey and Alanson, and also four daughters. Samuel Baldwin made the journey to Ohio with horses, part of the way on the ice on the borders of lake Erie, and at one point he broke through. He settled, in 1808, in Aurora township. Port- age county, having lived in Newburg, Cuy- ahoga county, about two years previously. He bought about 400 acres of land just east of Aurora Center, all woods, and he cleared it up and made a good farm, most of which he di- vided with his sons, although a part of the land was laid off into town lots in Aurora. Samuel Baldwin was an honored pioneer citizen and a member of the Baptist church. He died, aged about eighty-one years, on his farm, February 30, 1829. Harvey Baldwin, son of Samuel and father of Harvey, was born in Connecticut, at Dan- bury, December 31, 1796, and was a boy of about twelve years when the family came to Ohio. He received a common-school educa- tion and was always a farmer and cheese mer- chant, and the pioneer of the cheese manu- facture in Portage county, selling the first large lot of cheese ever shipped from the county, about 1820, the shipment consisting of five casks of cheese and two barrels of cranberries. He hauled them through to the Ohio river, bought a skiff and took them to Louisville and sold them. He had previously been to New Orleans, when a young man, and saw cheese sold at $1 per lb. At New Orleans he found his brother James, and they both went to New York and James died on Staten Island and Mr. Baldwin returned home and continued in the cheese trade for thirty years. Ir; early times he would buy the cheese and wagon it across the state and then ship by way of barges or keelboats to New Orleans. He had associated with him different parties — Samuel, Granger, Alanson Baldwin and a Mr. Kent, but he did the traveling and selling. He first settled in Bainbridge township, and later moved to Au- rora and Streetsboro. Mr. Baldwin first married, in Bainbridge township, Lora Kent, born March 23, 1797, daughter of Gamaliel and Deborah (Hunting- ton) Kent. The Huntingtons were a prom- inent Connecticut family, and Gov. Hunting- ton, of Ohio, owned 500 acres of land where Henry Baldwin, now lives, and from whose heirs Harvey Baldwin, bought his farm. Har- vey Baldwin's second marriage was to Lucinda Brown, of Louisville, Ky. , in 1832. He was laid up there with his boat during a great flood, during which Mr. Brown's house was rendered untenable; he took the family on board and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 713 finally married the daughter. The first wife's children were Laura A., Henry, Philander and Oscar O. The serord wife's chiidren Ellen, Belle, Esther A. and Lester. Mr. Baldwin was a Methodist and class leader and a prom- inent man ir his church; he was one of the founders of the Methodist church in Streetsboro and the principal builder, paying $400 towards its erection. He was a man of integrity of character, much respected, and died on his farm in Streetsboro township at the age of eighty-five years. Harvey Baldwin was born April 14, 1823, in Bainbridge township, received the common education of his day and has always been a farmer. He married, December 23, 1847, in Aurora township. Portage county, Emily Car- ver, who was born November 8, 1823, in Au- rora township, a daughter of Chester and Anna (Eldridge) Carver. Chester Carver, a pioneer of Solon, Ohio, was a descendant of the New England family of that name — the founder of the family in America, having come over in the May Flower to Plymouth in 1620. Chester Carver was born about 1800, came to Ohio with his parents when a boy, and was a carpenter by trade. He married Anna El- dridge, who was born, about 1 800, in New York state, a daughter of Sylvanus and Alice (Fisk) Eldridge. Sylvanus Eldridge's family were pioneers of Aurora township, the father dying on the way about 18 16. His children were Betsy, Daniel, John I., i\nna and Caroline. Chester Carver and wife, parents of Mrs. Bald- win, settled on 100 acres of land in the south- east part of Aurora township and partly cleared up their farm, and he died three years later, about 1827. His children were Chester and Emily. Mr. Carver was a young man when he died of malarial fever, and Mrs. Baldwin, although then a child of four years, remembers the sad event. Her mother lived to be an old lady of eighty-eight years and died January 7, 29 1 89 1. She was married, the second time, to Oliver Spencer, and they were the parents of Sally, who died young, Melinda, Matilda, and Russell O. Harvey Baldwin settled on a farm in Streetsboro township after marriage, and ran a dairy of sixty cows for I. C. Dow, in the good old way, making the cheese and butter by hand, and selling the cheese for four cents per pound and butter from nine to twelve cents. Two years later Mr. Baldwin went overland to California, starting March 14, 1850, with a company of men from northeastern Ohio, shipping by steamer their wagons and effects to St. Joseph, Mo., where they bought horses and crossed the plains, being eighty-one days from St. Joseph, Mo., to Eldorado county, Cal., where Mr. Baldwin engaged in gold mining and remained three years, did fairly well and brought his gold home with him. While still a resident of California, he volunteered in the state militia and served against the Digger In- dians. He returned via the isthmus of Panama in 1853, and bought a farm in southeast Au- rora township, adjoining his present farm, con- sisting of 130 acres. He resided there but two years, then bought his present place of 142 acres, which he has greatly improved, and has a pleasant home. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have been born the following children: Ella F., wife of Er- skine R. Merrill, resident of Aurora township; he is engaged in the roofing business, and has been an active business man all his life. They have three sons, Ernest B. , Richard K. and Gilbert H. Mrs. Merrill was educated at the ladies' seminary of Painesville, Ohio, and highly trained in music. Alice M. is the wife of T. A. Gould, who is also engaged in the roofing business. They have two children: Lee H. and Carrie E. Carrie E. died at the age of fifteen years; Hattie E. is the wife of W. M. Heinly, who is the manager of Mr. Baldwin's estate. Anna L. resides mostly with her 714 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD parents. Minnie C. was the wife of T. H. Warren, who is a member of the Burton Stock Co. of Boston, Mass. She died March i, 1891, and her remains are interred in Aurora ceme- tery, where the beautiful family monument of Quincy granite marks the last resting place. December 23, 1897, marked an event in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin which will ever be cherished by them and their children. It was the celebration of their "golden wed- ding. " They sent out numerous invitations to their many friends, with the injunction "No presents," but this injunction was not heeded. In their comfortable and pleasant home is found a beautiful and elegantly engraved gold- headed cane, a beautiful ebony and gold-plated cathedral gong clock, also a superb delph parlor lamp, an exquisite hanging lamp, and gold coin and other beautiful souvenirs. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are members of the Congre- gational church of Aurora, and in politics Mr. Baldwin is a democrat and cast his first pres- idential vote for James K. Polk. Mr. Baldwin is an honored citizen, has been elected town- ship trustee three terms. He is a man of un- doubted integrity of character and has always been industrious and energetic. ^V^ AVID D. CARSON, the popular drug- I I gist of Deeriield, Portage county, /^^^ Ohio, and a justice of the peace and notary public, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, July 23, 1843, and is a son of George and Catherine (Gross) Carson, of whom further mention will be made at the close of this biographical notice. David D. Carson received a sound educa- tion in the common or district schools of his neighborhood and at Hiram institute, and was reared on his father's farm until twenty-one yoars old, when he enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served about five months, hold- ing the rank of sergeant, and being slightly wounded. After being honorably discharged, he returned to his home at Berlin, Mahoning county, where he remained until April, 1866, when he went to Missouri and located near Union, in Franklin county, where he lived seventeen years, teaching school, serving as justice of the peace, and filling other positions of trust. The first marriage of Mr. Carson took place at Berlin, Ohio, in 1864, to Miss Sarah Achsah Buck, but this lady died, on his farm in Missouri, in September, 1880, at the age of thirty-five years. Two sons were born to this union, both of whom died in infancy. After this sad event, Mr. Carson again taught school in the district where he had previously taught in Missouri, and then started on his return to Ohio, but stopped at St. Louis, having been offered a position by an iron firm in Tennes- see he had already worked for in Missouri. In 1 88 1 he reached his old home in Berlin, Ohio, taught school one year near Warren, Ohio, and in 1882 married Mrs. Sarah A. Diver, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cline) Gross. In the spring of the same year Mr. Carson came to Deerfield and engaged in the hotel business for one year, and in the spring of 1883 formed a partnership with E. J. Shively in the mercantile business at Palmyra. In December of the same year Mr. Shively retired and Mr. Carson carried on the business alone until May, 1884, when G. R. Diver be- came his partner, and for three years they continued together, carrying a stock of drugs, dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hardware, etc., valued at $12,000. In 1887, F. P. Schultz was admitted to the firm, and until 1 89 1 a flourishing business was carried on under the style of Carson, Diver & Schultz. On the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Carson again came to Deerfield and entered into the ^ /^^tA^A^^-^^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 717 drug trade on his own account, and in the spring of 1897 added a large line of miscel- laneous merchandise. In politics Mr. Carson is a republican, and cast his first vote at the second nomination of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency of the United States. He has served as township assessor one term, and has been a justice of the peace since 1892. Fraternally he is a member of lodge No. 530, F. & A. M., of Pal- myra; of lodge No. 136, K. of P., of the same city, and has been an Odd Fellow since 1868. He is also a member of the Maccabees and of the G. A. R. George Carson, father of David D., was born in Dauphin county. Pa., August 19, 181 2, a son of John and Catherine (Wentz) Carson, who came to Ohio in 1832, and located in Trumbull county, in that part now known as Mahoning county. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom five are still living, viz: George, Jacob, Samuel, Robert, and Susan. The deceased were named John, Sarah, Sophia, Harriet, William, and David. David D. Carson has had a rich and varied experience in life and has always been a prominent figure wherever he has resided and is a man of quiet but effective influence; he stands to-day an honored citizen of Deerfield township, and holds a business reputation that has never yet been tarnished. ■^T* AMES CASSIDY, an enterprising farmer fl and an old soldier of the Civil war, is /I 1 a son of James and Margaret (Glancey) Cassidy, and was born January 27, 1837, in Boston township. Summit county, Ohio, where he still resides. He was reared a farmer, and enlisted, in August, 1862, at Bos- ton, in company C. One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, Capt. John A. Means, to serve three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged July 5, 1865. at Cleveland, Ohio. His services were in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. He was taken prisoner by John Morgan's cavalry at LaVergne (Tenn.) block house, December 5, 1864, and held for nine days. He and two comrades — S. W. Berry and D. J. Thomas, both of Summit county and of the same com- pany — made a daring escape at night from the court house at Columbia, Tenn., and after many adventures arrived several days later within the Union lines. They were aided by a negro they found chopping in the woods, who brought them a haversack of cornbread and pork, and assisted them to cross the Duck river by getting his master's horses after dark, on which they swam across. They traveled by night and slept in the woods during the day. They were hotly pursued in the night several times and narrowly escaped capture. The comrades who did not escape were taken to Andersonville and many died ; some of them, on the return homeward, were blown up on the ill-fated Sultana on the Mississippi river after being exchanged. With the exception of four weeks' confinement in Woodraft's hospital in Cincinnati, and the brief period of his impris- onment, Mr. Cassidy was always at his post of duty, and this duty he performed bravely and cheerfully. After the war Mr. Cassidy returned to Bos- ton township, and married. May 2, 1871, Miss Elizabeth Hynton, of Independence, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where she was born February 7, 1853, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Hynton, who were of Irish nativity. John Hynton came to America at least sixty years ago, directly after marriage, and settled in Independence, where he became a prosperous farmer, owning over 300 acres of land. He lived to be about fifty-five years old and died a devout Catholic. His children were Mary, Catherine, John and Elizabeth. Mary is the 718 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD wife of Henry Doubler, a merchant of Cleve- land; Catherine is married to Terrence Walsh, also of Cleveland; John is a farmer and stock raiser at Independence, Ohio, and is married to Ann Cassidy; Elizabeth (Mrs. J. Cassidy) is the youngest. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy set- tled on their present farm, which they have greatly improved, clearing a good share of it from the forest, and now have a fine property of 2IO acres of fertile land, and are in pros- perous circumstances. Their children are Gilbert, James, Mildred, Hugh, Merwin and Marvin (twins), and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy are both members of the Catholic church at Peninsula, in which he has been councilman for many years. In politics Mr. Cassidy is a democrat and has served as town- ship trustee seventeen years. He cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. James Cassidy, Sr., father of subject, came from county Donegal, Ireland, when a young married man, having married, in Ireland, Mar- garet Glancey. They first went to Canada and lived one year, and in 1835, came to Summit county, Ohio, and settled in Boston township, where he and his brother Patrick bought a farm of 160 acres. James was the father of John, Mary, James and William. He was killed while felling a tree in 1841, and later Mrs. Cassidy married Patrick Cassidy, brother of James, and their children were Andrew, Hugh, Catherine and Anna. (D ATTHEW D. CLARK, one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and one who lost his left leg at the battle of Dinwiddie Court House, was born in Ireland at Stammullin, county Meath, August 15, 1844, son of Michael and Jane (Sands) Clark. His father was a shoemaker and came to America in 1857, and sent for his family, who came in 1864 and settled in Farm- "^ ington, Trumbull county, Ohio. The children * were Patrick, Matthew, John, Mary, Kate and I Ann. Michael Clark was born Septem- t ber 20, 1 8 19, and his wife was born in 1822. Mr. Clark enlisted in Trumbull county, Ohio, early in the war of 1861, company D, Sixth Ohio cavalry, to serve three years, and after serving two years he was honorably dis- charged on account of disability. He was in several battles, among them the first two bat- tles of Bull Run, and was an active soldier with his regiment and proved to be faithful in the discharge of his duties. Matthew D. Clark, our subject, began when young in Ireland to learn the trade of a barber, and when he came to America he en- listed in the same company and regiment in which his father had served. He enlisted at Warren, Ohio, P^ebruary 4, 1864, as a private of company D, Sixth Ohio cavalry, Capt. Fenton, to serve three years or during the war. At the battle of Dinwiddie Court House, Va. , March 31, 1865, he was shot while mounted on his horse and in a charge, the ball striking his thigh bone lengthways and lodging in the knee-cap. He was taken from the field, and rode in an ambulance one day and night, and at Mead's Station was put on a railroad train and taken to Washington, where his leg was amputated April 6, 1865, in Army Square hospital, by the celebrated Dr. D. W. Bliss, surgeon in charge, afterwards the physician who waited upon Gen. Garfield during his last sickness. Before this, Mr. Clark had been in the battle of Hatchie's Run, Mead's Station,and Yellow House, Va., andhadbeenin many cavalry skirmishes. After the amputation of his limb, he remained in hospital at Washing- ton about three months and was honorably discharged July 15, 1865, and returned to Farmington, Ohio. He then attended school for one and a half years, and acquired a com- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 719 mon education, and then went to Newton Falls, Ohio, and followed his trade as barber until June 14, 1867, when he came to to Garrettsville, Ohio, and here he has since lived and followed his trade until four years since. He married in Garrettsville, Ohio, October 18, 1866, Elvira E. Johnson, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, at Copley, March 14, 1850, daughter of D. L. and Elizabeth (Robertson) Johnson. The Johnsons and Robertsons were of old Connecticut stock. The Robertsons had Holland-Dutch blood in their veins. Mr. Johnson was a cooper by trade.' He was born in Connecticut and came when a young man to Summit county, Ohio, with his parents, William and Susan (Taylor) Johnson. The Taylors were of French ancestry. Mr. Johnson and wife were the parents of Ira D., Elvira E., Perry, Flora A. and Celia E. Mr. Johnson died, aged fifty-one j'ears, in Gar- rettsville, Ohio, where he moved in i860. He was a respected and industrious citizen, and a democrat in politics. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clark settled in Garrettsville, and here have since lived. To them have been born one daughter, Maud J., born April 14, 1873, and educated in Gar- rettsville public schools. She is now the wife of Dr. B. S. Higley, of Washington, D. C, United States army surgeon, ranking as first lieutenant. Mr. Clark is a member of I. O. O. F., Garrettsville, Ohio, and has passed all the chairs, including that of noble grand, and is also a member of the Modern Foresters, of which he is past chief ranger. Mrs. Clark is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, I. O. O. F. and Mr. Clark is an honored member of the G. A. R. , Mark Horton post, and has held all the offices except commander. Mr. Clark is a man of independent views, is a strong republican, and has always been an industrious and honored citizen. He lost his leg doing battle for his country and is a sturdy patriot. He had two uncles by marriage in the Civil war, Patrick and Thomas Floody. Mr. Clark was always an active soldier and not a prisoner and not in hospital except with his wound. He was always on duty and prompt and cheer- ful. He was in all the battles, skirmishes campaigns and marches of his regiment while he was with it. and was a good soldier. *-|-» EONARD S. CORBETT, one of the I r oldest and most respected citizens of ^I^Ji Palmyra township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in Worcester, Mass. , March 6, 18 19, a son of Chiron and Sarah (Bosworth) Corbett, who came to Ohio in 1822 and settled about three-quarters of a mile west of the now present center of Pal- myra township, then a dense wilderness. After clearing up his farm, Chiron Corbett engaged in the hotel business at Palmyra for ten years, and also conducted a general store. To his marriage with Miss Bosworth were born twelve children, of whom ten reached the age of maturity, but of these three only now survive, viz: Charles, Leonard S. and Abijah". Of the other nine, two died in infancy, and the deceased seven who attained maturity were named, in order of birth, Alonzo; Julia, the wife of C. P. Gilbert; Jane, wife of John Lewis; Waldo; Artemon; Olive, wife of Stephen Trowbridge, and Ora. The father of this family died in 1842 and the mother in 1845, both in the faith of the Methodist church. Nathaniel Corbett, father of Chiron, also a native of Massachusetts, was one the earliest settlers of Portage county, and was a manu- facturer of cotton goods, owned a large fac- tory, and was also a manufacturer of shoes. To his marriage with Miss Huldah Holbrook were born eight children, named Chiron, Na- thaniel, Moses, Stephen, Lucy (who was mar- 720 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ried to John Rider), Julia (wife of Naham Smith), Ruth (wife of Nelson Westover) and Nancy, wife of Joseph Shirtliff. Nathaniel Corbett and wife were most highly respected residents of the township and both died in >834- Leonard S. Corbett received as good an education as the pioneer schools of his youth- ful days afforded. In his early 'teens he as- sisted in the cultivation of the home farm, but, at the same time, was noted for his skill as a hunter, and it is reported of him that he has killed more deer, foxes and wild turkeys than any youth whoever lived in Portage county, and it is further stated that he killed, after he reached his majority, the last wild deer, wild fox and wild turkey known to exist in Palmyra township. At the age of twenty-one years, Leonard S. Corbett started farming life on his personal account, and in November, 1844, married Miss Louisa Lewis, daughter of John and Polly (Bacon) Lewis, which marriage was blessed with six children, one of whom died in infancy; of the survivors, E. B. Corbett married Maria Jewell; Ellen is the wife of John Robinson; Waldo married Mertie Clark, and Charles and Artimon are still under the parental roof. In 1852, Mr. Corbett settled on his present farm, which is now one of the best in Palmyra town- ship. Here Mr. Corbet had the misfortune to lose his wife, June 4, 1870, her age being forty-nine years. The parents of this lady were natives of Connecticut, and in his early life the father was a school teacher, but on coming to Portage county, Ohio, became a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Polly Bacon, daughter of William and Polly (Thur- ber) Bacon, were born Mrs. Corbett; Mary, wife of Johnson Bigelow; Emeline, wife of Thomas Jones; Edward and Frances, all now deceased, as are also the parents, who passed their declining days in Indiana. Mr. Corbett has passed nearly all his life in farming, but has also been largely engaged in the live stock trade, and for fifteen years in the butchering business. He has always been an honored citizen and has served as constable and township trustee, and in his ripe years has not a peer in the esteem of his fellow- townsmen. HE CRANE FAMILY is of Welsh ex- traction and has been identified with America since the early settlement of the New England colonies, whence sprang the entire Crane family, members of which are now found in all parts of the United States. Ezra Crane was born in Saybrook, Conn., where his wife was passed. He reared a family of eleven children, of whom three sons, Simeon, Beldon and Calvin, came to Ohio in 1801 and first located at Canfield, Trumbull county. The journey from Connec- ticut to Ohio was made with an ox-team and occupied forty days, they bringing a horse and a cow with them. In 1808 they came to Portage county, purchased land in Shalersville township, and built two log houses; then re- turned to Canfield, and in the spring of 1809 removed to their home in their permanent home in Portage county. Simeon Crane was born in Saybrook, Con., February 14, 1773, and then married Feb. 8, 1796, Rachael Catlin, born, August 30, 1774; she was also a native of Saybrook. They had three children born unto them be- fore migrating to Ohio. Siemon Crane died in Shalesville September 14, 1846, and here, also, Mrs. Crane died in April, 1848. They were the parents of five children, of whom four attained their majority, viz: Harmon, born in 1797, married and was a farmer in Shalersville until 1867, when he removed to Paw Paw, Mich., where his death occurred; OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. m James, born in August, 1798, was a farmer in Shalersville until advanced in life, when he removed to Painesville, Ohio, and there died in 1 871; Anganette, born in February, 1800, was twice maried — first to Erastus Chapman, and second, to Sheldon Farnham, and died in Warren, Ohio; Edward Manley Crane was born June 14, 18 10, being the first white male child born in Shalersville township; Simeon Crane, while in his native state, was superin- tendent of The Connecticut iron works at Saybrook, but after settling in Ohio gave his attention to agriculture pursuits. Edward Manley Crane was reared on the farm and received such school advantages as were afforded the children of early pioneers. He was of a studious turn of mind and intend- ed to go to college, but his father's health be- coming impaired he was obliged to abandon the idea and assist in the support of his par- ents. When twenty-five years of age he was united in marriage with Lucinda Streetor, daughter of Charles Streetor. She died Jan- uary I, 1842, leaving him three sons, viz: Frank C, born June 18, 1836, was a teacher for some time, then married Ellen M. Burnett and settled in Cleveland, being employed in the general office of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. He died in Cleveland in March, 1890. Charles Simeon, born April 20, 1828, is a tinner, and is married to Laura Sanford, and resides at Mantua. Seneca L. , born in July, 1840, married Addie M. McGowan and resides in Kansas City, where for many years he has been weighmaster at the stock yards. December 8, 1842, Edward M. Crane married a second time — Sylvina Streator becoming his wife. She was born in Portage county, October 21, 1820, a daughter of Jason Streator, who was born in Rutland county, Vt., in 1799, and Nancy (Perkins) Streator, born in the same county in 1795. Mr. and Mrs. Streator were married in Rutland county, Vt., in 18 19, and within a few days after marriage loaded their household goods into a wagon, and with a team of horses moved to Ohio, making their settlement in Windham township, Portage county. Mr. Streator being a carpenter, he built a frame house for their own occupancy and then pursued his trade and hired help to clear his farm, as he was unfamilair with farm work. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and served as member of the legis- lature in 1 840- 1 84 1, and as justice of the peace in his township. In politics he was a stanch supporter of the whig party, and during the campaign of 1840 wrote a number of popu- lar campaign songs. He resided in Windham township until about 1850, when he removed to Cleveland, where, associated with his son, he was engaged in the grocery trade. He died in 1857, and afterward his widow re- turned to Portage county and passed her re- maining years in Shalersville. Mr. and Mrs. Streator reared nine children, of whom Syl- vina is the eldest: Lydia married Dr. Osmon Ferris, and, dying left one son — O. S. Ferris, of Garrettsville, Ohio; John Wesley, also resides in Garrettsville; Earl Perkins resides at North Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio; Mar- cus H. is a retired merchant in Denver, Colo. ; Jason resides in Hiram, Ohio; Harriet Lu- cinda married twice — first, Peter Dutter. and, second, a Mr. Caldwell; she died in Michigan; Clarissa married Samuel Price, and died in Shalersville, Ohio. ; Julia N. married N. H. Smith, and resides in Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Crane prospered in farming, and, being an enterprising citizen, endowed with excel- lent judgment, was counted one of the lead- ing men of his township. He was a whig in politics until the formation of the republican party, when he became one of the stanch supporters of the latter. He was three times elected justice of the peace, also held other local offices; was a trustee in the first bank 722 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD established at Garrettsville, and, at the sug- gestion of James A. Garfield, influenced the organization of the First National bank. His death occurred January 19, 1890, and he is remembered as an upright man, whose judg- ment and opinion were received with respect. His widow is now making her home with her son, Cassius M. Mr. and Mrs. Crane reared six children, viz: Cassius M., born September 29, 1844, married Marcella Bennett; Arthur Edward, born April 24, 1846, married Ella M. Beardsley; Frederic J., born April 13, 1848, married Ella J. Pratt; Aganette married Col. C. O. Risdon, and is now a widow, resid- ing at Ravenna; Clarice, born August 13, 1 85 I, married J. S. Tilden, cashier of the First National bank of Garrettsville, and Elton P. was born June 26, 1854. .-VIl the family reside in Garrettsville, except Mrs. Risdon, and are recognized as among the most respectable peo- ple of Portage county. aLARKE E. BARNES, a native of Tallmadge, Ohio, born August 12, 1842, was one of the soldiers of the Civil war and is still much disabled through his services. Phineas Barnes, the grandfather of Clarke E., was from Tolland, Mass., where he was born October 8, 1770. He was descended from an old colonial Massachusetts family, the founder of which came from England during the early history of the colony. Phineas Barnes was a farmer, and married Abigail Smith, who was born June 10, 1780, a daugh- ter of Ebenezer and Abigail Rose (Warner) Smith. Phineas Barnes first settled in Trum- bull county, Ohio, about 181 5, cleared up a farm from the woods, and became a substan- tial pioneer farmer. His children were born in the following order: Dennison, Salmon, Sylvester, Isaac N., Abigail, John, Lorenzo D., Emeline, Phineas, Lovewell, Ebenezer and Corrintha. Salmon died at Fort Gibson, Ark., aged twenty-two years, in 1824. He was a soldier in the regular United States army. Lorenzo Dow embraced Mormonism and be- came a noted missionary to England, where he was an active worker until his death. Phineas Barnes was a member of the Methodist church, was a whig in politics, lived to the age of eighty-six years, and died in Norton town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, March 2, 1855. Sylvester Barnes, father of Clarke E., was born in Tolland, Mass., and came with his parents to Ohio in 181 5. He received a com- mon-school education and was brought up in a very careful manner to habits of strict econ- omy and industry. He learned the carpenter's trade when young and also the cabinetmakers' trade. He married in Tallmadge, Ohio, Oc- tober 27, 1 83 1, Esther Treat, daughter of Maj. John and Esther (Clark) Treat. Maj. John Treat, her father, was of the old Treat family of colonial times and a descendant of Gov. Robert Treat, for many years governor of the Connecticut colony. John Treat died a farmer December 3, 1807, in Connecticut. His children were John, Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Andrew, Richard B. and Esther, the mother of our subject. Sylvester Barnes was a very hard-working and energetic man, entirely self-made. His children were Sidney O., Sylvester E., Leroy A. (died aged fourteen years), Francis N., Clarke E., and Esther T., who died aged seven years. Mr. Barnes was a member of the Meth- odist church, and for many years a class lead- er and recording steward. He was very prom- inent in his church, assisted it liberally with his means and was really the main stay of his church in Tallmadge throughout his life. Mrs. Barnes was a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Barnes was a man of great force of character, and excellent merits, and lived ^X^ S. t^^'^^- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 725 the life of a good Christian. He was well known for his honored worth, and died August 28, 1888, being killed while crossing the rail- road track at Tallmadge. He was an honored citizen of Tallmadge, and township trustee for several years, having been in politics first a whig and later a republican. Mr. Barnes was a very frugal and careful man, and brought up his children to strict morality, and assisted them all to a start in life. Mrs. Barnes died March 10, 1889. Clarke E. Barnes attended the excellent academy at Tallmadge for four years, so that he received a good education, and he further broadened his mind by widely reading solid standard literature and freely subscribing to the daily press. He was reared to farming, and when he was about twentj'-one years old enlisted in the Ohio national guards in 1863 for five years, under Capt. Norman Keller, and was mustered into the service of the United States by Gov. Brough, enlisting May 2, 1864, at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, for 100 days, served out his time, and was honorably discharged at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, August 27, 1864. His services were at Arlington Heights, Va., on guard duty. He was present when Gen. Early made his raid on Washington, and in full view of the engagement. He was sick with measles in hospital at Fort Strong, Va., ten days, and also contracted typhoid fever at Camp Cleveland, and was prostrated with this fever on reaching his home in Tallmadge town- ship. He was dangerously sick for some weeks, and for some time unconcious, and never recovered from the effects, as it resulted in partial paralysis, and finally in the complete loss of the use of the lower limbs. He has not been able to walk for twenty years and propels himself by means of a wheeled chair. Mr. Barnes is a gentleman of marked in- telligence, is a good business man, and spends much of his time in reading. He was engaged in horticultural pursuits for several years, and is still interested in horticulture, in which he is very skillful. Mr. Barnes was married, March 14, 1889, in Tallmadge, Ohio, to Ottellia J. Lippholdt, who was born September 3, 1867, in Akron, Ohio, a daughter of Henry and Magdalene Lippholdt. Henry Lippholdt, her father, was born July 9, 1842, in Germany, and came to America in 1865. He was a silk weaver in Germany, and married Magdalene (Batchelett) Winkleman, widow of John Winkleman, a soldier of the Civil war, who died at Chatta^ nooga. Mr. Lippholdt was a machinist at Akron. He moved to Missouri, in 1889, and settled on a farm where he is now living. The children are Ottelha J., Charles F. , Bertha E. Amelia M. , Louis and Louise (twins), and Al- fred, Mr. Lippholdt is a substantial farmer, is a republican, and he and wife are members of the Reformed church. Mrs. Lippholdt's children by her former husband, Mr. Winkle- man, are Emma E., and William. She was born in Switzerland, December 20, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have a very pleasant and attractive home, which they keep in the best condition, and they are both respected by all who know them. Mr. Barnes in his affliction has the sincere sympathy of all who know him. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have adopted a little daughter — Alta C. Barnes. '^rj'OHN C. CONGER, an ex-soldier of the m Civil war, and a highly respected citi- A J zen of Peninsula, Boston township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in this town December 29, 1835, a son of John and Hanna (Beals) Conger, and a grandson of Job Conger, who was born in the state of New York, but in his later years became a resident of St. Albans, Vt. Job married Ruby Potter, and to their union were born eleven children, 726 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD t of whom the names of four only can now be recalled, viz: John, Nelson, Rufus and Lura. The father of this family was a farmer and a manufacturer of brick, and he and all his fam- ily died in the faith of the Methodist church. John Conger, father of John C, was born in September, 1805, at St. Albans, Vt., and learned to work on the farm and the trade of making brick. He married Hannah Beals, who was a daughter of Enoch and Hannah (Hurlburt) Beals, and was born in Massachu- setts in 1805, on a farm, but was reared one and a half miles from St. Albans, Vt. , whither her parents had removed and there lived and died. John Conger and wife lived in St. Al- bans five years, where he was employed on the farm and in brickmaking. In 1833 he came to Ohio and clerked in Cleveland for Ira Jewell, where he was joined by his family, which then consisted of his wife and two chil- dren — Sidney P. and George S. — the latter an infant, who died at three years of age. In 1834 he moved to Boston, Ohio, and went into partnership with Silas Eaton, and estab- lished a yard for the manufacturing of brick. In 1844, and for several years thereafter, he was also in company with Erastus Jackson in the manufacture of brick, in the same town. Mr. and Mrs. Conger were the parents of Sid- ney P., Sandford L., George S., John C, Arthur L. , and Lucy. Mr. Conger was post- master of Boston under Polk and Pierce; also was constable and trustee. He was frequently administrator of estates, and called upon to arbitrate differences between disagreeing neighbors. He had been a captain of artil- lery in Vermont, was much interested in the military service in Ohio, and was one time captain of a company in this state. Politic- ally he was a man of marked influence, was a well known pioneer, and much respected for his sterling integrity. He died, aged forty- eight years, in 1853. John C. Conger, our subject, received a good common education in the district school of Boston, Ohio, and learned brickmaking and farming. He enlisted, aged twenty-five years, at Peninsula, Boston township, August 10, 1861, in Capt. George A. Purrington's company A, Second Ohio cavalry, for three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, April 8, 1863, for disability and injury to his eyesight. His service was in southern Kansas, and in the Indian territory, and on scouting duty in Ar- kansas, Kansas, and southwestern Missouri^ he raided all through western Missouri, and in every border county in Missouri and Kansas, alter the guerrilla, Quantrell, and Gen. Price, and in fights at Newtonia, Neosho, Sarcoxie, Lone Jack, and in many skirmishes with the guerrillas — all very dangerous service. The first fight Mr. Conger was in, was at Independence, Mo., with Quantrell's men, among whom were the notorious James broth- ers. Mr. Conger was taken sick in the Indian territory while on the Indian expedition to re-instate the Union Cherokees. He was on this expedition four months and was in sev- eral fights. His eyes began to trouble him, inflammation set in, and he was nearly blind for five months, but remained on duty, and finally, after reaching Ohio, was in hospital two months, but his sight not returning, he was discharged, and it was nearly two years before he recovered. In the meantime, he had been promoted, on the organization of his company, to be quartermaster-sergeant, and served in this capacity until discharged. He was always an active soldier until disabled, and was in all the campaigns, marches, battles and skirmishes in which his company was en- gaged. This service was very severe and wearisome, it being a new country, very sparsely settled, covered with heavy oak thickets in Missouri, and in Kansas bad water OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 727 and hard winds prevailing. Mr. Conger was always prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duty and was never wounded nor a prisoner. After the war, he returned to Ohio and engaged in farming, and September 17, 1867, he married, in Boston township, on the farm where he now lives, Eunice M. Stillman, born in Potter Hill, R. I., January 23, 1844, daughter of Ephraim and Pamela (Potter) Stillman. Ephraim Stillman was born January 6, 1806, in Washington county, R. I., on a farm, and his children were Horace, Herbert L. , William, Fannie E., Mary G., Phebe A., and Jennie L. Mr. Stillman was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church, was a democrat, and was well known and respected as a citi- zen. Horace, the eldest son, served under Burnside in a Rhode Island regiment during the Civil war, and took part in several battles. Mr. Stillman lived to be eighty-two years old and his wife eighty-three, and both died in 1888. David Stillman, father of Ephraim, who descended from George Stillman, came from England with a brother; they were Episcopalians, and early settled at Westerly, R. I. George was a wealthy merchant. Mrs. Conger received a good education in New York state, at Alfred university, Alfred Center, Allegany county, N. Y. , graduating in 1864, and came to Ohio as a music teacher in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Conger settled on their present farm of 135 acres, and have erected a tasteful residence and other buildings. The children are Fannie S. , Luen J., Elmer B., Pamela P. , Mary G. , John C. , Jr. , and Emily. All the children are well educated and are highly respected. Elmer and Pamela are graduates of the Peninsula high school, Elmer of the class of 1894 and Pamela of the class of 1896, and Miss Mary will finish in the class of 1899; also John C, Jr., will graduate in same class. In politics Mr. Conger is a republican, cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln, and has served as township trustee and township clerk, has been a member of the school board ten years in succession, and a member of the council at Peninsula ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Conger are Seventh Day Ad- ventists, and members of the city of Akron church. Fraternally he is a royal arch Mason of Richfield, Ohio, and of Hudson; also of George L. Waterman post, G. A. R., 272, of which he was a charter member, first com- mander and adjutant many years. Mr. Con- ger is a man of strict integrity of character and stands high as a citizen, and belongs to one of the best families of the county. BREDERIC J. CRANE, senior member of the firm of Crane Brothers of Garrettsville, was born in Shalersville township on April 13, 1848, being the son of Edward Manley Crane. He remained with his parents on the home farm until he attained his majority, performing such work as usually falls to the lot of farmers' boys. He received his education in the district schools, and the academy, finishing with a two years' course at Hiram college. Thus equipped with a good business edu- cation, at the age of twenty-one he went to Illinois, where for some months he engaged in teaching school in the town of Hamilton, Hancock county. Returning to Ohio, he ac- cepted a position as clerk in the store of his elder brothers, with whom he remained eight years, performing all the duties of his position to the entire satisfaction of his employers. After quitting the service of his brothers he became traveling salesman for the Wight & Daniels Engraving Co., of Garrettsville. He remained with this company two years, during which time he met with such marked success. 728 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and practiced such economy, that he was en- abled to purchase the interest of his brother, A. E. Crane, in the firm of Crane Brothers, by which purchase he became its junior member. Mr. Crane has been twice married. His first marriage was in May, 1 880, to Ella Joseph- ine Pratt, daughter of Henry and Abigail Pratt. She was born in Trumbull county, but grew to womanhood in Ashtabula county. She died in 1890, leaving one daughter, Georgie. His second marriage occurred in Pueblo, Colo., in June, 1895, when Charlotte A., daughter of C. E. Olin, became his wife. She was born in Pueblo, where her father is a prominent business man. C. E. Olin is a native of the state of New York. Mr. Crane has given his attention to the interests of the firm of which he is a member, and its success proves him to be an able business man. He is a man of character and is one of the most popular citi- zens of Garrettsville. In politics he is a stanch republican. He has held several municipal offices. Elton P. Crane, junior member of the firm of Crane Brothers of Garrettsville, was born in Shalersville township on June 26, 1854. He lived on the home place, aiding in the general work of the farm, enjoying all the advantages and enduring all the disadvantages of country life, here laying the foundation of a character which was to be appreciated in after years. His education was obtained mainly in the common schools of the neighborhood. He also for a time attended Hiram college. At the age of eighteen he left home and became a clerk in the store of his brothers. After some time spent as clerk he succeeded his brother, C. M. Crane, thus becoming a member of the firm. As much of the success of the firm is due to his integrity of character as to his business qualifications. On the 30th of April, 1890, Mr. Crane was united in mar- riage with Alma Baldwin, daughter of Henry Baldwin. Mrs. Crane was born in Coopers- town, Pa., and at the time of her marriage was a resident of Cleveland. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Crane have been born two children: Marguerite, who died in infancy, and Helen A. In politics Mr. Crane is a republican, being a firm believer in the principles advocated by his party and a stalwart supporter of its policies, and is a member of the council of Garrettsville. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being an active worker, and holds membership in Garrettsville lodge. No. 246, F. & A. M.; Silver Creek chapter. No. 144, R. A. M. ; Warren commandery. No. 29, Knigts Templar, and he and his wife are members of Crescent chapter. No. 7, O. E. S. Mr. Crane is also a member of I. O. O. F. and of I. O. F. Notwithstanding the business opportunities he enjoyed while clerking. in the store of his brothers, he may be said to have succeeded in making his own way in life. He lives on Maple avenue, where he enjoys all the com- forts of a pleasant home. aHARLES CRAWFORD, of Mantua Center, was born in Shalersville township. Portage county, January I, 1845, the son of James and Ruth (Williams) Crawford, who were of Scotch- Irish ancestry. The father was born at Hart- ford, Washington county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood and in early life learned the shoemaker's trade. It was while living there that he married Ruth Williams, and to this union were born Amos, Robert, Moses, Sarah, Levi, Sophronia, Cornelia, Benjamin, Charles, William H. and Mary J. Mr. Crawford moved to Ohio and settled first at Cleveland and later at Shalersville, Ohio, and subsequently became a citizen of Mantua Center, where he died at the vener- able age of eighty-four years. He was a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 729 member of the Methodist church, and during Hfe was a stanch republican, raising a large family of patriotic sons, five of whom served in the late war. Robert was a private in com- pany A, One-Hundred and Third regiment, Ohio volunteers, enlisting in the three years' service; Moses was a private in a Michigan battery, while Levi also served in a Michigan regiment for three years, and his brother William H. was in the same company and regiment. Charles Crawford, the subject of this mem- oir, received a common-school education and in early life learned the shoemaker's trade, and when but eighteen years of age enlisted, De- cember 15, 1862, at Cleveland, Ohio, in com- pany I, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, but was soon transferred to company A, of the same regi- ment, under Capt. Hayes, his first captain being Capt. McDonnell. He served until he was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, several months after the close of the war, on December 13, 1865, hav- ing been in active service from the time he was mustered in until he was mustered out. His services were largely rendered in guarding prisoners at Johnson's Island, throughout his entire enlistment. During the eighteen months that he served in guarding the prison- ers he can safely vouch for the truth that the Confederate prisoners received just as good treatment as did the guards. They were fur- nished fresh beef, vegetables, clothing, fuel and comfortable barracks. The prisoners were mostly rebel officers, and many of their wives came to Sandusky and were permitted to visit their husbands in the presence of a guard, also many things of comfort were furnished the prisoners by their southern friends, and all reached each party to whom addressed safely. Mr. Crawford describes the winter of 1863- 64 as a very cold one, which caused much suffering of the guards, who were exposed to inclement weather, and early in the spring fol- lowing he was taken with typhoid fever, and just as he was recovering from same, he was detailed for service at Lima, Ohio, with nine- ty-nine others, and they were sent immediately to that city for the purpose of keeping the rebel sympathizers of that district from resist- ing the draft. On his return from this detailed service, he was sick in the hospital at John- son's Island some three weeks, when he was granted a seven-day furlough, which was re- newed for three months, during which time he regained his health and reported back to his regiment ready for service. He was a large, robust man, weighing 180 pounds, at the time of taking sick, and upon partial recovery only weighed ninety pounds, and for years follow- ing was of slender build, and has never re- gained his former weight, his average weight being now 140 pounds. Mr. Crawford, like many other men that went into the service with the bloom of health upon their cheeks, came home an invalid, and has ever since experienced poor health. For a time his eyesight was bad and now, for many years,- he has been almost blind, and it is more than likely that he will lose his sight entirely. Mr. Crawford, soon after returning from the war, removed to Bronson, Branch county, Mich., where he remained sometime, and being of an industrious turn, worked at anything he could find to do, and after a short sojourn here he returned to Mantau Center and married Miss Jennie Graham, of Tiffin, Ohio. Immedi- ately after marriage Mr. Crawford became a permanent resident at Mantau, where he began working at the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed steadily until his failing eyesight com- pelled him to change his occupation. He and the parents wife are of one son, Arthur Gra- ham Crawford, a musician and resident of 730 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Mantau Center. Politically Mr. Crawford is independent and is an honored member of the G. A. R., Bentley post, Mantua Center, having held all t he offices of this lodge, and is now serv- ing as guard. He is also a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and his wife is a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Crawford is a true helpmate and a lady of many virtues. Mr. Crawford has always been industrious and straightforward, and after his failing eyesight caused him to quit his trade he sold pianos and organs for several years, but he is now totally disabled from following any vocation. Mrs. Crawford, subject's first wife, died April 27, 1889, and he married for his second wife Miss Alice Carieton, daughter of Gilbert and Huldah (Parker) Carieton. Arthur Graham Crawford, the only son of our subject, was educated in the schools of Mantau is a young man of excellent habits and in early life was married to Miss Alice Clark, and to them were born two children. aOMFORT W. A. CUMMINGS, M. D., of Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of Newstead town- ship, Erie county, N. Y., was born July 23, 1864, and is a son of Morris Burt and Deboiah Rose (Brace) Cummings, the former of whom was born in Erie county, N. Y., February 17, 1835, and the latter in Montjjomcry, Kane county, 111., February, 9, 1835- Morris Burt Cumtnings was educated in the Parker union school of his native town of Newstead. N. Y., and lived thereafter on his father's farm until his marriage, in 1858, to Miss Brace, a daughter of Edmund and Sarah (Bennett) Brace, natives of York state, when he purchased a farm of sixty acres ad- joining his father's, which also comprised sixty acres, and coiitiiuied to operate both farms in conjunction. Mrs. Deborah Rose Cummings was a highly educated lady and for several years taught in the common schools, as well as the high schools of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were born eight children, viz: George Edmund, now aged thirty-eight years; Alsa Millie, thirty-six; Morris Milton, thirty- four; Comfort W. A., thirty-two; Mary Vir- ginia (Mrs. John Edgar), thirty; Josiah New- ton, twenty -six; Everett Darius, twenty-two, and Helen May (Mrs. O. Owens), twenty. The mother of these children was called away April 7, 1896, a member of the Baptist church, in which she reared her family, who have never ceased to mourn her loss. Dr. Comfort William Allen Cummings, our subject, received his earlier education in the Parker union school of his native village, later took a short-hand course in Clark & John- son's business college at Erie, N. Y. , and a course in Bryant & Stratton's college. He next worked on his parents' farm for about five years, reading medicine, meanwhile, with Dr. J. D. McPherson, of Akron, N. Y. Leav- ing the farm, he was employed a year in the freight-house of the Erie Railroad company at Corning, N. Y. , whence he came to Cleve- land, Ohio, and entered the Cleveland Medi- cal college, studying at the same time under Dr. G. J. Jones in private, and at the close of three years was graduated in the spring of 1895. After leaving college, he returned home for a short time, and then came back to Ohio and settled in Atwater, where he eretted an office building and is now enjoying a remuner- ative practice. The first marriage of the doc- took place in June, 1894, to Miss Maggie Terriff, of Canada, who was early called from his side. April 21, 1896, he married, in At- water, Miss Jettie Goodman, daughter of E. S. and Emma Goodman, both natives of the Buckeye state. Mrs. Jettie Cummings was born in Atwater May 24, 1873, and was edu- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 731 cated in the village schools, then at the Ra- venna high school, and finished her studies at the Western Reserve college for ladies at Cleve- land, as is thus, as will be seen, a highly ac- complished lady. The doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Atwater, and examining physician of Atwater Tent, Ladies of Maccabees. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church of his former home; his wife is a member of the Con- gregational church. The doctor is well ap- preciated in Atwater as a physician, and in social circles he and wife enjoy the highest position possible. aASSIUS MANLEY CRANE, of Gar- rettsville, was born in Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio, September 29, 1844; lived on his home farm until fifteen years of age, attending meanwhile the district school and local academy, and one term at Hiram college. As he was then of rather frail physique, it was thought it were better for him not to undertake the hardships of farm life, and in consequence of this deci- sion he entered the store of his uncle, H. M. Streator, at Drakesburg, in 1861, and clerked seven years, and then clerked for a few months in Cleveland. His next step was to embark in business in partnership with his brother, Arthur E., and together they pur- chased the general store of Beecher & King, in Garrettsvilie, and at that time the firm of Crane Bros, sprang into existence. The old frame building in which the business had here- tofore been conducted was demolished, and the present brick structure erected, and here a flourishing trade was done by the two found- ers of the firm until the withdrawal of Arthur E. Crane and the entrance of a younger brother, Fred C. Crane, when the business was continued, the firm-style remaining intact. In 1885, subject also withdrew, selling his in- terest to Elton P. Crane, so that the firm name has not yet been changed. Since with- drawing from trade, our subject has not entered into any other active business pursuit, but, nevertheless, has found ample desultory employment to keep his mind actively at work. December 29, 1870, Cassius M. Crane married Marcella S. Bennett, daughter of Dr. P. C. Bennett, of Freedom. Of the three children that are living of the four that have blessed this marriage (one having died in in- fancy), Evalyn is under the parental roof, Lucy B. is the wife of C. W. S. Wilgus, and Ralph C. is still with his parents. In his societary relations Mr. Crane has reached the exalted degree of Thirty-two in Masonry, and for two terms has presided as worshipful master of lodge No. 246, F. & A. M., of Garrettsvilie. In politics, Mr. Crane is active as a local republican, guarding with jealous care the interests of his party. For fifteen years he has been a member of the school board, has also done excellent work as a councilman, and has represented his party in several conventions. He is a gentleman of courteous manners and affability, and is a worthy representative of his ancestors, of whom a history will be found on another page, under the head of the Crane Family. aHARLES DUNCAN, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, and now a respected citizen of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Red Creek, Wayne county, N. Y. , August 31, 1844, a son of James and Mahala Duncan. James Duncan, father of Charles, was born in Scotland in 1799, was taught blacksmithing under the good old thorough Scotch methods, and at the age of twenty-seven years came to 732 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the United States, located in Troy, N. Y. , where he worked at his trade for many years in the Troy Mills, his specialty being ax-mak- ing, and later moved to Red Creek. He mar- ried a widow, Miss Mahala Withington, who bore the maiden name of Williams, and who was of Puritan stock, and whose father was a soldier in the war of 1812. The children born to this marriage were named Mahala, James, Phebe, Charles, Francis, Maryette and Henry. The father of this family was called to rest in Red Creek, at about the age of sev- enty-seven years, dying in the faith of the Presbjterian church. Charles Duncan was taught blacksmithing by his father and worked at his trade until August 12, 1862, when he enlisted, at Red Creek, in company G, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth New York volunteer infantry, but was soon afterward transferred to the Ninth New York heavy artillery, Sixth army corps. Third division, and Third brigade, under Col. William A. Seward, in which he served until honorably discharged in July, 1865, at Syracuse, N. Y. , having been mus- tered out of the United States service at Washington, D. C. At the battle of Cedar Creek his battery served as infantry, and also in the same capacit}' as reserves, on the field at Cold Harbor; also as reserves in front of Petersburg and at Appomattox. He took part in many hard marches, especially in the valley of the Shenandoah, under Gen. Phil. Sheridan. For two months he was confined in camp hospital, for two months in Douglas hospital at Washington, D. C, and for three months on David island, in the East river, N. Y. , being ill from typhoid fever, but otherwise he was always to be found at his post, doing his duty cheerfully and faithfully. He was in the grand review at Washington, D. C. , and after the war returned to Red Creek and re- sumed his trade. September 12, 1876, Mr. Duncan married, at Sterling, N. Y., Miss Isabella Van Patten, I daughter of Christian C. Van Patten, and in 1 1877 came to Ohio and settled at Mantua • Station, Portage county, where he has ever since successfully followed his trade. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan has been born one child. Ward C, now a youth of great promise. Mr. Duncan is a member of Bent- ley post. No. 294, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, at Mantua Station, in which he has held the offices of quartermaster and senior vice- commander. He is a straightforward, indus- trious, honest man. ^ i* OHN DELL, a thriving farmer of Twins- M burg township. Summit count}', Ohio, A 1 and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in England January 3, 1840, probably in Lincolnshire, and was left an orphan at the early age of two years, his father and mother both dying soon after their arrival in America, and leaving the following children: Betsy, Grace, Samuel and John. John was reared until nine j'ears old by his sister, Betsy, who married William Penhale and who settled in Newburg, Ohio. At the age mentioned John went to live with Gilbert Roach, a farmer, of Twinsburg township, where John lived until he enlisted. He was reared to farming and gained a limited com- mon-school education. He enlisted at Twinsburg, Ohio, at the age of twenty-one years, in August, 1861, in com- pany K, Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three )'ears or during the war, and re- enlisted as a veteran in the same organization at Strawberry Plains, Tenn., in January, 1864, served until the close of the war and was hon- orably discharged in 1865, having served faithfully four 3'ears and two months. His service was in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 735 Georgia, Texas and Mississippi. He was in the siege of Corinth, in 1862; at Perryville, October 8. 1862; Chickamauga, Tenn., No- vember 23, 1862; Missionary Ridge, Novem- ber 25, 1863; Pickett's Mills, May 27, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June 22, 1864; Pine Top, in June, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, July 19, 1864; Atlanta, July 22, 1864; Jonesborough, September 4, 1864; Lovejoy Station, Ga. , and Columbia, September 2, 1864; Franklin, Tenn., and Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864, and man}' skirmishes too numerous to mention. Mr. Dell was in the famous Atlanta campaign, in which the Union troops were under fire more than four months. He was sick in hospital but about three weeks, but was sick in camp with chronic diarrhea for several months, yet kept with the company. He was always an active soldier and in all the battles, campaigns, marches and skirmishes in which his regiment engaged, except a few, which occurred while he was sick. He was neither a prisoner nor wounded, and was a good soldier, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to be sergeant of compan\- K. After the war, Mr. Dell returned to Twins- burg and married, February 4. 1866, Theresa Dolaishe, who was born in Bohemia, Decem- ber 24, 1844, a daughter of Joseph and Ann Dolaishe. Joseph Dolaishe and wife started for America about 1852, and died on the pas- sage, leaving five children — Barbara, Anna, Joseph, Francis and Theresa. The children came to Cleveland, and Theresa was reared by Nathaniel Reed and wife, of Twinsburg, re- ceived a common education and married Mr. Dell at the age of twenty-one years. Francis is a fruit grower, near Sandusky, Ohio, is married and has two children. .After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dell settled in Twinsburg township, and in 1877 bought a farm of 10=; acres, which he greatly improved and on which he erected good buildings. The 30 children born to this marriage are Alice, Etta, Lillie, John, Pearl, Roy and Mabel. Mr. Dell is a free-silver democrat in politics, cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and is a member of the G. A. R. post. Royal Dunham, No. 177, of Bedford, Ohio. Of the children named above, Etta married Ransom Tyson — a farmer of Twinsburg township, and has two children; Alice, married Nelson Waite, a farmer of Twinsburg township, and has three children; Lillie, married Siegle Schock. a car- penter, of Bedford, and John married Fannie H. Manning, resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and is employed bj' a large firm as bookkeeper. BL.WIUS JOSEPHUS DANIELS, a prominent business man of Garretts- ville, and one of the principal stock- holders of the First National bank, is a native of Freedon township. Portage county. Ohio, was born April 14, 1835, and is of Scotch descent, the name having been origin- ally spelled Mac Daniels. The first members of the Daniels family to come to America settled in the New England colonies, and Reuben Daniels, great-grand- father of subject, was a patriot of the Revolu- tionary war. Reuben Daniels, grandfather of subject, was born in Massachusetts, but early came to Ohio, and after passing a short time in Cleveland, settled in the forests of Freedom township. Portage county, where he farmed until well advanced in life, when he retired to Garrettsville, where, at the age of eighty-five years, he met an accidental death on a railroad. He had been made a Freemason in Massachu- setts, and when Garrettsville lodge. No. 246, F. & A. M., was chartered, he was chosen its first worshipful master. He was an earnest Christian and devoted to the Congregational church. In his early days, also, he had been 736 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD captain of a company of militia and was usu- ally addressed as Capt. Daniels. He reared a family of seven sons and two daughters, of whom Franklin S. , father of Flavius J., the subject, was the eldest. Franklin S. Daniels was born in Massachu- setts. He was an adept in carpentry, joining and millwrighting, which trades he followed through life. He married Miss Ann Robinson, a native of Saratoga, N. Y. , and in 1846 re- moved from his home place in Freedom township to Garrettsville, and here met his untimely end b^' a fall from a building on which he was working. There were five chil- dren born to his marriage, of whom four lived to maturity, viz: Flavius J. and Henry F. , of Garrettsville, and Reuben O. and Birdsy G., of Bledsoe count}', Tenn. Mr. Daniels was a whig in politics and was very active in local affairs; was progressive and enterprising, and accumulated a competency, and his tragic end was a source of deep regret to the commu- nity, in which he was held in high respect. Flavius J. Daniels, it will have been seen, was eleven years of age when his parents set- tled in Garrettsville. Here he attended school and also learned the blacksmith's trade, and on the day he attained his majority left home with a party bound for California, driving a team in compensation for his expenses, as he had no money. At Council Bluffs, Iowa, however, he came to a halt, while the party proceeded on its way. Shortly afterward he crossed the country to Omaha, Neb. , where he erected the fifth building in the place and engaged at his trade, but soon sold out and joined a party headed by Gov. Cummings, and platted a town thirty miles north of Omaha, which town was christened Cummings City, but it never flourished, although Mr. Daniels acted an entire season as an immigration agent. He was next employed by Gov. Cummings, in company with others, to ex- plore the upper Missouri river for about 500 miles, and to prospect for coal, etc., and, at the farthest point attained, platted another town. On their way back the whole party came near freezing to death, and suf- fered intensely from hunger, the provisions they had "cached " on the way up having been untraceable in the deep snow. At an abandoned Indian village, they were com- pelled to eat the raw-hides used in the con- struction of tepees, otherwise starvation would have been their fate; and the weather was so bitterly cold that it was necessary to use switches on the legs of some of the party to prevent their lying down and freezing to death. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Daniels started from Omaha with a party for Pike's Peak, but at Fort Laramie returning prospectors dis- couraged further advance, and the party started for the Pacific coast. On reaching Sublitt's cut-off, about September i, some of the men were inclined to go to Oregon and some to California, and Mr. Daniels decided his destination by tossing up a copper, the re- sult favoring California. He walked the entire distance, with the exception of one day's ride, as far as Honey Lake valle}', where he worked two months at anything he could find to do, and then found employment with a quartz mining company, and worked in a tunnel, 600 feet under ground, at $40 per month, for a considerable time, but was later promoted to to be foreman of the quartz mill, at $125 per month. He remained in this position until 1862, and then went to San Francisco, where there had just been erected some sugar refin- eries, and there engaged with a Capt. Johnson to go to Honolulu to purchase a cargo of sugar. But the vessel chartered was an old hulk, be- came water-logged, and was towed into port and there condemned. Mr. Daniels remained on the island until another vessel was dis- patched for him, and on his return to San OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 737 Francisco vowed never to make another ocean voyage. Mr. Daniels now again went to the mount- ains to engage in mining, and was at Sacra- mento when the first ground was broken for the Central Pacific railroad. He had pre- viously made the acquaintance of Leland Standford and Charles Crocker, who now urged him to join them in this great enter- prise, but he lacked the nerve to invest; in fact, only five men could be induced to take stock, but they all became millionaires. Mr. Daniels, however, agreed to meet his friends in Nevada, when the road should reach that state, and accordingly went to what was called Humboldt City, which had a population of about 500, but the inhabitants soon after nearly all left. Mr. Daniels, however, de- cided to remain and await the coming of the railroad, which was now practically assured, being backed by the United States govern- ment. He was commissioned postmaster, and also kept a trading post; he likewise made claim of a fine water privilege, which he thought would be of value to the railroad company. Finally the road reached this point, and Messrs. Standford and Crocker called on Mr. Daniels, and authorized him to buy all the hay he could find in the vicinity, for which they allowed him a profit of $10 per ton. Stages were now coming into the city from various directions, bringing in large quantities of mail matter, of which Mr. Dan- iels took charge under his commission as post- master, but for handling these mails he never received any compensation from the govern- ment. Large sums of money were deposited with Mr. Daniels for safe keeping, and as there were no vaults, nor safes in the country, he cut a hole in the floor of his dwelling and se- creted the gold, which frequently amounted to $10,000 at a single deposit. As the railroad company employed 2,500 hands, and travelers became numerous, the company induced Mr. Daniels to erect an eating-house, and this he conducted seven years, realizing a competency. In February, 1870, Mr. Daniels returned to Garrettsville and was united in marriage with Miss Frankie Patterson, daughter of R. E. Patterson, whom he took to his western home. But the health of this lady was frail, and after three years' residence with .her in the west, Mr. Daniels returned to Garrettsville, and this has since been his home. He had the misfortune of losing his wife in 1885; she left three children, viz: Maud, wife of P. C. Davis; Zella, a school-teacher, and Gail, a school-teacher. The second marriage of Mr. Daniels took place, in 1887, to Mrs. Carrie E. Ranney, daughter of John T. Hunt. Mr. Daniels is one of the most substantial men of Portage county, and, as a director of the First National bank, is a member of the discount committee. In politics he is a stanch republican, and was very active in advancing the interests of his party while in the west, and has also filled a number of local offices in Garrettsville, Ohio. Fraternally, he is a Knight Templar. He owns one of the most pleasant residences in Garrettsville, where he extends a most gracious hospitality to his large circle of social acquaintances. eRWIN S. DAVIS, one of the old sol- diers of the Civil war and a respected citizen of Northfield township, Sum- mit county, Ohio, was born February 26, 1845, in Steuben county, N. Y., at Great Bend, a son of Stephen A. and Amanda (Kel- logg) Davis. Erwin S. received a common education and enlisted, at the early age of nineteen years. He ran away from home at Andover, N. Y., with his cousin, Albert Davis, having enlisted in the Sixteenth heavy ar- tillery for three years, or during the war, but 738 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was transferred, at City Point, Va. , to the New York mounted rifles. His uncle, Hale Davis, followed them to City Point, but was unable to secure their release. Mr. Davis was then enrolled in company K, Capt. D. C. Ellis, provisional New York cavalry. First regiment dragoons, and was honorably discharged November 29, 1865, at City Point, Va. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, ten days' fight, battles in front of Petersburg, and was in the raid on the Weldon R. R. He was shot in the left arm and in the upper part of the right arm at the battle of the Wilderness, and the bullet is still imbeded in the flesh. He also received a slight flesh wound in the face, but was not in hospital, except for a few hours, after receiving this wound. Mr. Davis was in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment took part and was always active and cheerful in the discharge of his duties. After the war Mr. Davis returned to New York, but came to Summit county, Ohio, in 1 868, and married, at Boston, July 5, 1870, Miss Elizabeth J. Odekirk, who was born in Boston, Ohio, May 17, 1854, a daughter of Daniel and Jane Odekirk. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Davis settled at Macedonia, Ohio, where he still resides. Mr. Davis learned, when young, the blacksmith's trade, but since he came to Ohio has been engaged in farming; for the past seventeen years has been handling farm machinery, and has traveled extensively in this business. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of two children, Lailah B. , and Montville C. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Congregational church, and in politics Mr. Davis is a republican, and has been constable for several years as well as a notary public. He is a member of Royal Dunham post. No. 177, G. A. R., at Bedford, Ohio, and is a straightforward and respected business man. Ebenezer Davis, grandfather of subject, was a farmer of Vermont, and his son, Stephen A., father of subject, was born in that state. ♦ The latter enlisted, in 1863, aged fifty-five years, in a New York regiment, for the three year's service. He was in several battles, and at a battle in Chickahominy Swamp he carried his wounded comrade, Matt Colmer, from the field, and injured himself so much that he died from the effects eleven weeks after, in 1864. He was a strong, rugged man, and owned a good farm. His children were Erwin S., Lemuel, Sophronia, Clarissa, Martha and Ida. Lemuel was also a soldier in the Civil war, going out on the last call. Daniel Odekirk was born August 3, 1832, in Rensselaer county, N. Y., was a boat buil- der, was married in Syracuse, N. Y. , July 2, 1845, to Jane Kellogg, daughter of George Kellogg, and on coming west first settled at Boston, Ohio, where he lived many years. His children were Adelbert, Clara, Alveretta and Elizabeth. Mr. Odekirk died in March, 1896, in Michigan, whither he had removed and settled on. a farm of eighty acres. He was a well-to-do man, respected by all; a member of the Methodist church, and of the I. O. O. F. In politics he was a republican. George Kellogg was a pioneer farmer of Boston town- ship and had three sons in the Civil war — Josiah, William (killed in battle) and Fred. BRANK J. DAVIS, the leading mer- chant of Diamond, Palmyra town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, and post- master, was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, July 12, 1857, a son of James and Susan (Jones) Davis, both natives of Wales. James Davis came to America in 1832 and located in Palmyra township, then almost a wilderness, where he lived about twenty 3'ears, when he removed to Mahoning county, and there resided until 1868, purchasing a farm of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 739 ninety-six acres, thence removed to Palmyra township, Portage county, where he bought 200 acres, known as the John D. Jones farm, where he passed the remainder of his Hfe. To his marriage to Susan Jones, daughter of the owner of this farm — John I). Jones — were born nine children, the surviving five of whom are John, who resides in Deerfield, Ohio; Mar- garet, wife of Samuel Jones, of Palmyra; Rachael, unmarried; Susan, wife of James Medley, of Mahoning county, and Frank J., the subject of this biographical notice. The deceased four were Elizabeth, wife of John G. Carson; Mary, wife of John D. Jones, and two who died in infancy. The parents of this family were sincere members of the Baptist church, in which the father held all the lay offices and in the faith of which he died July 23, 1876, at the age of seventy-six years, the mother passing away January i, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven. Frank J. Davis was well educated in the common schools of Palmyra, was passed to the high school, and finished his education at the latter in 1875. His manual training was on the home farm, of which he became super- intendent at the death of his father, and then for a year worked in a saw-mill. He was mar- ried, September 27, 1878, to Miss Hattie Hiser, daughter of John and Sarah A. (Glass) Hiser, and this union has been blessed with two sons — Harry J. and Frank Alton. After his marriage Mr. Davis lived on the old home- stead until January, 1881, when he settled in Palmyra, and for a year was engaged in the livery and general delivery business, and then became an auctioneer and also entered into general merchandizing two j'ears later, in both of which he was profitably engaged eight years, having gained his experience in the lat- ter branch as a clerk in the store of O. B. Mason, under whom he had been employed two years, from 1882 to 1884, when he en- tered upon the mercantile trade. At the end of his six years' business experience, Mr. Davis sold out to A. Crookes, and attended to his mother's farm interests until her death, after which he engaged in farming on his own account for three years on the home farm, but holding his residence at Diamond, Ohio. In politics Mr. Davis is a republican, and is extremely popular with his party. In 1895 he was the unanimous choice of his friends in Palmyra township as its candidate for sheriff of Portage county, but withdrew from the race, resigning in favor of the prior incumbent, Mr. Long. In the spring of 1897, Mr. Davis resumed his mercantile trade in Diamond, and the same year was appointed postmaster un- der President McKinley. He and family are members of the Disciples' church in Diamond, in which he is a deacon, as well as assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mrs. Hattie (Hiser) Davis, wife of Frank J., the subject, was born in Milton township, Mahoning county, Ohio, July 28, 1858, her parents being natives of Pennsylvania. OLIVER A. DAVIS, a respected agri- culturist of Boston township. Summit county, Ohio, and ex -prisoner of the Civil war, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, February 20, 1828, a son of Alvin and Levina (Seeley) Davis, who de- scended from old colonial ancestry of New York state. He was reared to farming, and was a canal boat builder when a young man. He enlisted August 21, 1862, at Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, in the One Hundred and Eight- eenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 9, 1865. He was in the battles of Mossy Creek, Tenn., and on the famous Atlanta campaign, where his regiment was under fire 740 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD two months and five days. He was in the battles of Resaca/Dalton, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the battle of Atlanta, as well as in many hard fought skirmishes, too numerous to mention. After the Atlanta campaign his regiment followed Hood, and he was captured, in the fall of 1864, near Cedar Bluff, while foraging, and taken to Cahaba, Ala., and kept in prison four months and twenty days. This prison was an old cotton warehouse, and open in the top. The rations were one pint of corn meal, ground cob and all, and a very small piece of very poor beef, and under these con- ditions the prisoners were reduced to almost skeletons, and many died. Mr. Davis had no blanket or overcoat for some time, but finally blankets were sent from the Union lines. He was exchanged, near the close of the war, at Vicksburg, sent to Columbus, Ohio, and thence home, much disabled and in a bad condition generally. Oliver A. Davis, married, the first time. Miss Melvina Van Orman, a daughter of Orrin and Mary Van Orman, natives of New York state, and who bore him two children, Orrin and Alfred. Orrin Van Orman, was a pioneer of Summit county, Ohio, and reared a family of six children — Melvina, William, Isno, Francis, George and Lyndia Anna. Of this family, all the sons served in the Union army during the Civil war, George dying in Ken- tucky while in the service. Orrin Van Orman died at the age of sixty-three years in Everett, Boston township, a greatly respected citizen, of high religious attributes. Mrs. Davis died in 1863, during the Civil war, and Mr. Davis married, February 26, 1868, Miss Phylossa Jane Van Orman, a sister of his first wife; she was born September 5, 1841, in Michigan, and this union has been blessed with one daughter, Melvina. Oliver A. Davis is a free silver democrat in politics and is a member of George L. Waterman post, G. A. R., Penin- sula, Ohio, of which he is sergeant. He was a faithful soldier, and although weakened by his prison life is an industrious and hard-work- ing man, and is highly esteemed for his up- right character and usefulness as a citizen. Alvin Davis, the father of Oliver A., was born in Broome county, N. Y. , where he grew to manhood, and while yet in early life came west and settled in Bedford township, Cuyahoga county, where he lived a pioneer life. He, like many other pioneers, came with limited means, and thus experiencing all the privations of life in a new country. He soon provided himself with a good farm, which he partly cleared from the forest, being an industrious working man of that day. He was married to Miss Lavina Seeley, who bore him four sons and two daughters, viz: Ephraim, Alvin, Oliver A., William, Lucretia, and Julia. Mr. Davis was quite a political worker, and in the fall of 1836, while celebrating an election in Bedford, Ohio, was killed by a premature discharge of a cannon. He was a greatly re- spected citizen throughout the township and county. Three of his sons, Alvin, Oliver A. and William, did service in the late war — Al- vin in the three years' service; Oliver A., who is spoken of in the first paragrah, and William, who was in an Ohio regiment in the 100 days' service. After the death of Mr. Davis, Mrs. Davis was married to William Loffin, and to them were born two children, Earlyhigh and Willis C, who both served in an Ohio regi- ment for three years, showing the patriotic spirit of the family. ^^V'AMUEL D. DETWEILER, of West •^^^^ Richfield, Ohio, one of the soldiers ^^ J of the Civil war and a respected citi- zen, was born December 4, 1834, in Bucks county, Pa., Hilltown township, a son of John and Anna (Detweiler) Detweiler, who OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 741 descended from an old colonial Pennsylvania family of German origin. Samuel D. Detweiler received a common- school education, was reared to farming and milling, and came to Ohio about 1857, and worked in Coshocton and Holmes counties sev- eral years. He enlisted from Holmes county in the summer of 1 861, in company B, Six- teenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was mus- tered in at Camp Dennison, Ohio, for three years, or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase October 31, 1864, a period of over three years and three months. January 19, 1862, the regi- ment reached Mill Springs just at the close of the battle. On March 12 a slight skirmish took place at Cumberland Gap. About March 22, the regiment was merged with the Forty-second Ohio and the Twenty-second Kentucky, forming the Twenty-sixth brigade of the Seventh division of the army of the Ohio, under the command of Brigadier-Gen. George W. Morgan. On April 28 another reconnoissance was made to the top of Cum- berland Mountain in the vicinity of Cumber- land Gap — arriving at the top at 8 A. M. in a heavy fog, when a brisk fight occurred. Dur- ing the month of May the rebels abandoned their position at Cumberland Gap, and the Sixteenth regiment was the first Union regi- ment to enter the stronghold. From this time until August 3, the troops were engaged in strengthening their position, drilling, fight- ing and frequently skirmishing. August 6, at a battle at Tazewell, Tenn., the entire division was obliged to retreat, and was much ha- rassed with frequent skirmishes on the way to Manchester, Ky., and suffered greatly for rest and food — having nothing to eat except ears of corn gathered from the fields, and pump- kins which they roasted and ate without salt. They had no water except that from stagnant pools, and they lived by foraging. On Oc- tober 3, they arrived at Greensburg, Ky. . worn out, ragged and shoeless, having been sixteen days on this march of more than 250 miles. December 20, the regiment united with Sherman's command and went on trans- ports to the siege of Vicksburg, Miss., and on the 26th was in the assault on Chickasaw Bayou, where the regiment lost 31 1 men and many officers killed, wounded and missing. At Thompson Hill, over 400 of the Union forces were taken prisoners, with Mr. Detweiler among them. He was taken to Vicksburg prison, confined during the winter, and suf- fered greatly for food, the rations being but a little mule meal, and corn, ground cob and all, which was dumped on a few rails in the prison pen, and the prison was very foul. From here Mr. Detweiler was taken to Pearl River, Jackson, Miss., and confined in a cov- ered bridge during the siege of that city, where they nearly starved until the last of May, and then were paroled and sent to New Orleans by water, being obliged to row their own boats. In the spring of 1863, Mr. Detweiler was started for St. Louis, Mo., with the oth- ers, but they all left the trains in Ohio and went home, remained until August, 1863, and then rejoined the regiment in Louisiana. He was in the Red River expedition under Banks, was in several skirmishes near Alexandria, assisted to build the dam across Red River at that place, and then went to the mouth of the river, where the regiment stacked arms, hav- ing been in many hard-fought battles and skir- mishes. Mr. Detweiler was always an active soldier, was not sick in hospital, and was in all the battles, campaigns, marches and skir- mishes in which his regiment took part, except while a prisoner, and he did his full duty promptly and cheerfully and endured the hard- ships of a soldier's life with fortitude. After the war, Mr. Detweiler returned to Holmes county, Ohio, and went thence to 742 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Alma, Mich., in 1868, and ran a flour-mill for twelve years, and while there married, Janu- ary 28, 1877, Miss Laura Gargett, who was born on her parents' farm in Medina county, a daughter of John and Mary (Detweiler) Gar- gett. In 1 88 1 Mr. Detweiler came to his present place, and engaged in farming and milling. The children are Leila, John and Leah. In politics Mr. Detweiler is a re- publican, and is also a member of Goldwood post, G. A. R., at West Richfield, Ohio. Mr. Detweiler is well known for his integrity of character and stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. m 'AYLAND S. HOUGH, M. D., is one of the oldest and most promi- nent phj'sicians of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He springs from an old colonial American family, and was born April 3, 1844, at Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, a son of Joel I. and Mary (Linn) Hough. Joel I. Hough, also a native of Atwater, Portage county, was born in 1821, a son of Beziael Hough, one of the earliest pioneers of Portage county. Joel I. Hough was a merchant and passed all his days in Portage county, where his death occurred at the age of fifty-four years. His children were Dr. Wayland S. , Lodema, William, John and Mary. Dr. Wayland S. Hough attended the acad- emy at Atwater, Ohio, received a sound edu- cation and enlisted in the Civil war when about seventeen years old, in battery D, First Ohio light artillery,' September 10, 1861, and was honorably discharged October 17, 1864. He was promoted for meritorious conduct to be corporal, and was on detached service for a year and a half as acting hospital steward, at Camp Nelson, Ky. He was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, and was taken prisoner at Mumfordville, Ky., by Gen. Bragg in 1862, but was paroled after two days. After his time had expired Mr. Hough re- turned home, and immediately began the study of medicine at the Charity Hospital Medical college, Cleveland, from which he graduated in the spring of 1866. He began the practice of medicine at Mogadore, Ohio, where he practiced succesefully ten years, and in 1876 came to Cuyahoga Falls, where he has built up a large and lucrative practice, being widely known throughout the surrounding country. He was appointed trustee of the Cleveland State hospital during McKinley's administra- tion, and is a member of the Ohio State Med- ical association and the National Medical society. He is a patron of the leading medi- cal periodicals of the day, and has accumulated an excellent professional as well as literary library. He is a constant student, keeps well posted and full}' abreast of the modern advances made in the science of medicine, is also a constant reader of the better class of literature of all ages, and has a clear comprehension of the currentevents of his own time, as re- fiected through the daily press. The doctor was married, in 1867, at Cleve- land, Ohio, to Miss Annie E. Golb)', and this union has been blessed with one child, W. C. Fraternally, the doctor is a Mason, and is a member of Starr lodge. No. 187, Cuyahoga Falls, and is a past master; he is also a mem- ber of Howard lodge, I. O. O. F., at Cuyahoga Falls, and has passed all the chairs, including that of noble grand. The doctor is likewise an honored member of the G. A. R., National Union, and the Royal Arcanum, which he has represented in the grand council for eighteen consecutive years. Dr. Hough is a very un- assuming man, but wields a strong influence for good. He was an active soldier, having enlisted for purely patriotic motives, and was in some of the hardest-fought battles for the .^nm^m WAYLAND S. HOUGH, M. D. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 745 preservation of the Union, and did his full duty promptly and cheerfully. As a citizen he has always been noted for his sturdy adherence to the cause of the right, and for his public spiritedness. He is a firm friend of the cause of education, and his associates are numbered among the best citizens of Cuyahoga Falls and Summit county. In politics he is a repub- lican. BRANK DICKERSON, an enterprising young fanner of Northampton town- ship. Summit county: Ohio, was born here April i6, i860, and is a son of Willington and Sarah (Faylor) Dickerson, who were the parents of two children — Frank, the subject, and Clara, who was born August 22, 1865, and is now the wife of Frank Horner. Willington Dickerson was born in Lewis county, N. Y. , September 9, 1832, and was a babe when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was reared a farmer in Northampton town- ship, and January 21, 1859, married Miss Sarah Faylor, who was born March 16, 1840. Rile\' Dickerson, father of Willington, was born April 24, 1801, and Mary, his wife, No- vember 25, 181 1. In 1830 they departed from Lewis county, N. Y.. for Ohio, going by way of the Erie canal from Rome, Oneida county, to Buffalo, in Erie county, and thence starting by lake for Cleveland, Ohio. But the weather was so stormy and the water so rough that the little family were obliged to land at Ashtabula harbor with their goods, which latter were forwarded to Cleveland by water, while the family took the land route. From Cleveland they came to Summit county by ox-team, and settled in the woods of North- hampton township, where the father erected a log dwelling and barn, and eventually cleared up a good farm. Here Willington was reared among the pioneers from babyhood to man- hood, and here he died in 1883; his widow is now living with her son Frank, the subject, on the original homestead. Frank Dickerson has lived on this, his birthplace, all his life, with the exception of one year, passed in work in Cleveland. He received a good common- school education in Northampton township, has been industrious and thrifty through life, and has proven himself a worthy descendant of one of the oldest families of the township, and as such is greatly respected by the citi- zens, as well as for his personal merits. In politics he is a strong republican, but has never sought public office. He is unmarried, although very popular. (D RS. ALAMANDA DOOLITTLE, of Streetsboro, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of the county and was born in Shalersville township June 23, 1819, a daughter of Simon and Lucy (Green) Burroughs, and still, notwithstanding her venerable years, has a most vivid recollec- tion of the events which occurred in the pio- neer days of the county. Simon Burroughs was a native of the town of Alstead, Cheshire county, N. H., a son of Joel Burroughs, who was of Irish descent, and the father of nine children, viz: Richard, Joel, David, Simon, Cyrus, Phebe, Hannah, Grace and Anna. The progenitors of the family were among the earliest settlers of Alstead, and over 300 persons who bore the name of Burroughs lie interred in cemetery of the town mentioned. The old family homestead is still standing in Alstead, although nearly all the children born to Joel have become residents of Ohio. Simon Burroughs was reared a farmer and carpenter, and made three trips or more from New Hampshire to Ohio. His first trip was made when a young man, when he moved his brother David to Cleveland with an 746 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ox-team; he next came as driver of an ox-team for his uncle Daniel, who settled in Shalers- ville; he started, the third time, and the last, on horseback, but his horse sickened and died in the state of New York, and he made the remainder of his way on foot to Shalersville, where he passed one year. Returning east, Simon was united in marriage, in Vermont, with Miss Lucy Green, who was born in Bethel, Windham county, Vt., a daughter of Amassa and Lucy (Dudley) Green, and then returned, in 1818, to Shalersville, with his bride, accompanied by Joel Thompson, this trip being made with ox-teams. The first year after settling in Portage county, Simon Burroughs lived at Mason's Mills, pending the erection of a frame dwelling on his farm, of which he cleared up 100 acres; he subsequently sold forty acres of his tract and moved to Streetsboro township, about 1830, and settled on the land now occupied by his son, Horace Doolittle. This tract he con- verted into a fine farm and erected upon it sub- stantial buildings, which are still standing. His habit was to go to the forest in winter, cut the timber for his buildings, hew the frames, and shave the broad chestnut shingles, and by the time his hay was cut in June, his barns would be ready to receive it. He also built many substantial dwellings and barns for other settlers throughout the county, and became a man of much prominence, and was frequently employed by newcomers to point out suitable places for settlement. He was a steady man of good habits, kind and helpful in cases of sickness, and was greatly appreciated as being one of the most useful dwellers in the commu- nity. In politics Mr. Burroughs was a demo- crat, and in religion both he and wife were pious Methodists. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Simon Burroughs were Alamanda, whose name opens this biography; Annis, who was first married to Eli Musser, and, after his death, to Horace Peck; Dudley, who was an invalid, and for more than a quarter of a century was kindly cared for by his sister, Mrs. Alamanda Doo- little, and died in January, 1897; Howard and George and Henry (twins). Both Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs lived to reach the ripe age of seventy-five years, and died deeply lamented by every member of the community in which they had passed so many years of their useful lives. The family name was held in universal respect, as four of its immediate members — Joel, Richard, Daniel and Elijah — had served all through the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Alamanda Doolittle received an ex- cellent education in her early days, and at the age of seventeen years, December 23, 1836, was united in marriage with Albert Doolittle,. who was born October/, 1806, in New Milford, Pa., a son of Benjamin Doolittle, a native of Cheshire, Conn., born February 10, 1771. Benjamin married Fannie Ward, who was born in Connecticut April 12, 1871, a daughter of Isabel Ward. Benjamin and his wife were the pioneer settlers of New Milford, Susque- hanna county, Pa., and after a residence of twenty-one years in that town were induced by Titus Street to come to Streetsboro, Ohio, where Mr. Doolittle bought a tract of 200 acres of land, deep in the woods, from which not a stick had been cut, except, perhaps, by hunters. Mr. Doolittle converted this land, in due course of time, into a profitable farm and comfortable home, and here Mrs. Alaman- da now resides. Benjamin Doolittle later be- came land agent for Titus Street, who owned the township, and also became a man of marked influence in the community. To his marriage with Miss Ward were born nine children, viz: Rev. Nelson, born March 17, 1805, a Universalist minister, who settled in Akron, where he preached many sermons; Albert, born October 7, 1806; George, Novem- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 74r ber 22, 1809; Henry, November 14, 181 1; LydiaA.,July 10, 1815; William, July 18. 1817; Jane, April i, 1819; Benjamin, April 20, 1821, and Eloisai, February 15, J 823. These last-named eight all settled in Streets- boro township. Benjamin Doolittle was a man of eruditon, was a deacon in the Disciples, church, and when no minister of that faith was available, was fully competent to lead the services. Three of his sons — Nelson, Albert and Henry — were Universalists; George was a Baptist, and William was a Methodist, and each was capa- ble of showing or proving his faith from the Scriptures. Mr. Doolittle was in politics a a whig, and for many years served as a justice of the peace. He lived to be over seventj'-six years of age, having been born February 10, 1771, and dying September 18, 1849. His son Henry was extensively engaged in railroad contracting, and was also one of the builders of the Wabash & Erie canal. He lived two years in Erie, Pa., engaged in the railroad business, but died in San Antonio, Tex., in 1861, his brothers, William and Albert, having been associated with him in business. Albert Doolittle, after marriage, settled on a part of his father's farm, which part he pur- chased, and became a prosperous, substantial and prominent farmer and a man of great in- fluence. He was well educated and of more than ordinary intelligence, and increased his estate to 230 acres. Contracting really, how- ever, occupied as much of his time as farming, and he was in fact the originator of this line of business in the family. He and his brother Henry held contracts on the canal, as well as on the Atlantic & Great Western railroad, and after the death of Henry he was for more than ten years occupied in settling up the estate. He was a very active and energetic man, and was strictly honest, his business reputation standing until the end without a blemish. In religion he was a Universalist, and in politics was a whig until the formation of the republic- an party, when he joined the ranks of the latter. He was an honored citizen, and for a number of years filled the office of justice of the peace with great ability. His marriage was blessed with four children, viz: Charles R., Augusta, Horace A. and Lucy, the last named of whom died a married woman. The death of Albert Doolittle took place on the old homestead, January 15, 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years, and no man ever left a more honored name behind him. Horace A. Doolittle, son of Albert and Alamanda Doolittle, has been twice married, his first union having been with Miss Mary E. Seymour, daughter of Nathaniel and E. (Calkins) Seymour, and to this marriage were born Nathaniel S. and Horace A. The second marriage of Mr. Doolittle was to Miss Effie E. Peck, daughter of Henry and Emeline (Jen- kins) Peck, and this union has been blessed with one daughter — Cora Lucille. In politics. Mr. Doolittle is a republican and has served his fellow-citizens as township trustee. He is a substanial farmer, owning 130 acres of arable land, and he and family are among the most respected residents of the township. Mrs. Doolittle is a member of the Baptist church at Streetsboro, and is a lady of many estimable qualities. at ILLIAM FERGUSON, a prominent farmer of Streetsboro township, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of this county, is a son of Robert and Mary (Lloyd) Ferguson, and was born in Deerfield township June 28, 1846. Robert Ferguson was born in the north of Ireland, and came to America when about fifteen years old. He was married in Penn- sylvania to Miss Mary Lloyd, of Scotch de- 748 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD scent, and after marriage came to Portage county and purchased a farm in Deerfield township. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson the eldest, Matilda, died a married woman; Robert, died at the age of five; the remaining four are still living, and are named Isabel, William (subject). Nelson and Julia. The mother of this family has been called from earth, dying in the faith of the Lutheran church; the father, now a venerable gentleman of eighty-three years, makes his home with his son William, who cares for his every want with filial affection. W'illiam Ferguson, in whose interest this sketch is chiefly written, received a good com- mon-school education, and was reared on his father's farm until nineteen years old, at which early age he enlisted, March 7, 1865, at Alli- ance, Ohio, in company A, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years, unless sooner discharged by reason of the close of the then pending war, which event happened, and he was honorably discharged at Baltimore, Md., in July, 1865, after serving principally on guard duty, in Washington, D. C, Alexandria, Va., Dover, Del., and Baltimore, Md. He then returned to Deerfield township, and thence, in 1866, went to Martinsville, Ind. , where he lived two years, and then returned to Ohio, and was married, at Streetsboro, to Miss Frankie A. Clark, who was born on the farm Mr. Fer- guson now occupies, a daughter of Robert and Jeannette (Wilcox) Clark, who were the par- ent of two children only — Arvilla, who died a married woman, and Frankie, now Mrs. Fer- guson. Mr. Clark died in middle life, and his widow was later married to A. Plum; to this union two sons were born — one living. Willard C; John B. died, aged eight years. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson lived in Ravenna two years, he being there employed in a saw-mill, and then settled in Streetsboro township. Here Mr. Ferguson purchased a farm, on which he lived nine years, and then moved to another, which he cultivated for thirteen years, and then, in 1 89 1, purchased his present farm, consisting of fifty-five acres. This was the original homestead of the Clark family, Robert Clark, the grandfather of Mrs. Ferguson and a pio- neer of Streetsboro township, having cleared it up from the primeval forest. Mr. Ferguson has greatly improved the place, has thoroughly repaired the buildings, and has made a com- fortable home for himself and wife and four children, who are named Prentiss, Harry C, Bessie and Ardell. In fact, he has made it the neatest place in the township, and for its dimensions one of the most profitable. Mr. Ferguson is an ex-member of A. H. Day post. No. 185, Grand Army of the Re- public at Kent, and in politics is perfectly in- dependent, voting for such as are, in his judg- ment, best fitted to fill the offices for which they are nominated. The family is greatly respected throughout the county, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson being descendants of pioneers, and Mr. Ferguson having served as a member of the school board and as constable. ^'^ EORGE W. FLEMINGS, one of the ■ ^\ old soldiers of the Civil war, and a ^k_^ respected citizen, springs from sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry, who were ear- ly settlers of Vermont in colonial times and of old Revolutionary stock. He was born at Freedom, Portage county, Ohio, July 4, 1843, a son of Richard and Mary (Puffer) Flemings. He received a common education in the dis- trict schools at Hampden, Geauga county, Ohio, where he went with his mother and family aft- er the death of his father, which occurred when he was about five years old, and had his trade thoroughly learned when the Civil war OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 749 broke out. He enlisted as a private at Paines- ville, Ohio, December 9, 1863. in the First Ohio light artillery, battery C, Capt. M. B. Gerry, for three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged, on account of the closing of the war, at Cleveland, Ohio, with his battery, June 15, 1865. His battery served in Gen. Butterfield's division. Twentieth army corps. He was on the famous Atlanta cam- paign, during which the Union troops were un- der fire more than 100 days and nights. He was in the battles of Resaca, Ga. , May 13-16, 1864; Cassville, May 18-22; Dallas, May 25, to June 4; New Hope church; Kenesaw Moun- tain; Peach Tree Creek, July 25; siege of At- lanta, July 28 to September 2; siege of Sa- vannah, December 10 to 21. This was on Sherman's celebrated march to the sea; and at Averysboro, N. C, March 16, 1865; Ben- tonville, N. C, March 19-22, 1865. He was in hospital No. 19, at Nashville, Tenn. , for a few days. Mr. Flemings was always an active soldier, and on duty with his battery every day, and was in all the campaigns, marches, battles and skirmishes in which his battery took part. He was not wounded nor a prisoner, and served the country faithfully and well until the war closed. His hardest march was from Savan- nah, Ga., through the Carolinas. He was on the return march to Washington and was pres- ent at the grand review. His hardest battles were on the great Atlanta campaign. Mr. Flemings suffered greatly from exposure dur- ing the Atlanta campaign; for nearly three weeks it rained almost all the time and he con- tracted rheumatism, from which he is now a constant sufferer. After his services to his country as a soldier, he returned to Ohio, and worked at his trade of a painter. He married, in Smithtown, Mahoning county, Ohio, Janu- ary I, 1874, Elizabeth A. Cline, who was born April 6, 1840, in Berlin township, Mahoning county, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Clarissa (Leonard) Cline, her parents being of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. Jacob Cline, her father, was born in Berlin township, and he was the son of John and Susan Cline, pioneers of Mahoning county and substantial farmers, who cleared up a good farm from the woods. Jac(jb Cline was also a good farmer. His children were Elizabeth, Will- iam, Anthony, Henry, John (died aged ten years), Maria, Mary, Harriet and Lorinda. Jacob Cline was a republican in politics and had one son, William, in the Civil war as private of the One Hundred and Fourth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, three years' service, and was in many battles. (See sketch of his comrade, Jerome B. Hinman). Jacob Cline lived to be forty-two years old. He was a member of the United Brethren church and a respected and upright man, who reared an excellent family. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Flemings moved to Freedom township, where they lived for some years and then moved to Mantua Corners, about 1880, where they now live. Politically he is a stanch republican. He has always been a respected citizen, very industri- ous, and upright in his dealings and of excel- lent character. Richard Flemings, his father, was born in Vermont and came with his par- ents to Ohio and settled in Parkman town- ship, Geauga county, Ohio, where the family were pioneers and cleared up lands from the woods. He married Mary Puffer, who was of Vermont ancestry, and who came with her parents to Ohio, and were pioneers of Portage county. They were of Revolutionary stock. Richard Flemings and wife were the par- ents of the following children, viz: James. Ann, Cornelia, George W., Andrew and Joseph. Mr. Flemings had three sons in the Civil war — Joseph, George W. and James. Joseph and George W. were in the same bat- 750 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tery, company C, First Ohio light artillery. Joseph was poisoned by eating pie which he bought of a rebel pie-peddler, and died from this cause at Nashville, Tenn., aged only seventeen years. He was a good soldier. James was in the Twenty-ninth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and served four years and was in many battles, and was wounded, cap- tured and imprisoned. Richard Flemings, father of subject, died aged about forty years. He was an upright and respected man and reared an excellent family. He was a cooper by trade and a very skillful mechanic. George W. Flemings, subject of this sketch, was one of the charter members of Bentley post, G. A. R., Mantua Station, Ohio. * y ^ ENRY A. FRITZ, manager of the 1^^^ American Straw Board company's jL.r mill at Barberton, Summit county, Ohio, was born in Wayne county July 2 1,1 863, and is a son of John and Emma (Clark) Fritz, who were the parents of five children, viz: William H., deceased; Frank O., of Nebraska; Henry A., the subject of this biography; Charles M., and John C. , the last named also deceased. Martin Fritz, great-grandfather of Henry A. and the progenitor of the American family of that name, came to this country from Ger- many, after his marriage, and fought under Washington for American independence, serv- ing in the army of his adopted country eight years. After the war, he came from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio, and with his land warrant, granted him for his services in the war of the Revolution, entered 160 acres of forest land in Milton township, Wayne county, and was absolutely the first white settler there among Ihe red men and wild animals of the primeval woods, and died a member of the United Brethren church, and in politics a democrat. Philip Fritz, grandfather of Henry A., was a boy when he came to Ohio with his father. He received his education in the pioneer schools and ably aided his father in clearing up the wildvvood farm, and married, at matur- ity, Ann Long, of Wayne county. He was a Jackson democrat in politics, a charter mem- ber of the United Brethren church of Shiners- ville, Wayne county, Ohio, attained promi- nence in his community, and died full of hon- ors at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife following to the everlasting home at the age of eighty-three. John Fritz, the father of subject, was born on the old Fritz homestead in Wayne county and was reared to farming, and received his education under more favorable circumstances that those which had been granted to his father, and, although an industrious man. lived, comparatively, in greater ease. His wife, Emma Clark, was born near London, England, in 1843, and was a daughter of John A. and Martha Clark. This lady was bereft of her husband about the year 1873, by the explosion of a boiler in a saw-mill, thus leav- ing her, with her five children, whose names have already been given, and the eldest of ,whom was then but fourteen years of age and the subject but nine, not only to mourn his untimely death, but to wend their way through the weary world alone and unpro- tected. But the widow was equal to the task, and by some self-denial so reared them that they never failed to honor her. After accom- plishing this worthy duty, she become the wife of W. F. Long, to whom she has borne one son, George M., and now has her pleasant home in Barberton. Henry A. Fritz, prior to the death of his father, had started out in life for himself at the age of twelve years, and was in the em- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 751 ploj' of one farmer until he reached the age ■of nineteen years, and during this interval of time he not only clothed and educated him- self, but devoted considerable of his earnings to the support of his father and mother, and more particularly to that of the latter. At the age last mentioned he entered the tele- graph office of the railroad company at New Portage (now Barberton) and a year later was made "supply" operator, which position he filled two years, after which he filled the posi- tion of station agent four years, ending with 1888. He then entered into the employ of the American Straw Board company of New Portage as shipping clerk, and was promoted to be bookkeeper a year later; the nex year he was made manager of the plant, which is the largest and best equipped of its kind in the world, and this position Mr. Fritz has held with credit to himself and to the entire satis- faction of his principals until the present hour. The felicitous union of Henry A. Fritz and Alice L. Davis took place September 21, 1886. The lady was born in 1861, on a farm adjoining Lake Annie, near the center of what is now Barberton, a daughter of Frederick M. and Louisa (Richards) Davis, the former of whom died in the faith of the United Brethren church in February, 1893. To the union of Henry A. Fritz and wife have been born three children, who were named, in order of birth, Claude C. , Howard E. and Roy D. In his politics, Mr. Fritz has from earliest manhood been a democrat, and as such was a member ■of the school board when the $12,000 school- house was erected in Barberton. He is at the present time a member of the town council, and has ever been active in the promotion of the interests of the community in which he now has his home. Fraternally, he is a member of lodge No. 568, F. & A. M., of which he is secretary, and in his society relations holds a most enviable standing. HERON GILBERT, one of the old- est and most respected farmers of Deertield township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in Palmyra town- ship. November 25, 1823, a son of Charles and Amelia (Batterson) Gilbert, natives of Litchfield, Conn., where their marriage was solemnized. Truman Gilbert, paternal grandfather of Theron, a native, also, of Connecticut, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and in 1806 came to Ohio by means of ox-teams, settling in Palmyra township, Portage county, where he engaged in farming until called away by death. He reared a family of nine children, of whom the names of eight can be recalled to memory, viz: Charles, Truman, Lyman, Marvin, Walter, Champion, Ezra and Re- becca. The maternal grandparents of Theron Gilbert were of German descent, and the grandfather, on this side of the house, was a skilled blacksmith. Charles and Amelia Gilbert, parents of Theron, came from Connecticut to Palmyra township. Portage county, Ohio, in 1806, and the father followed the vocation of farmer the remainder of his days. To their union were born nine children, of whom only one survives — Theron, whose name opens this biography. The deceased eight were named Reilly, Noble, George, Champion, Theodore, Martin, War- ner and Laura, the last named of whom was first married to Ebenezer Olmstead, and then to David Waller. The parents both died in the faith of the Disciples' church, and were highly honored as pioneers of the township and as most respectable citizens. Theron Gilbert was reared on his father's farm, in the meantime receiving as good an education as the district school of his early days afforded, and also learned biacksmithing. He remained on the home farm until twenty- one years of age, although, previous to reach- 752 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ing his majority, he had married, August 31, 1843, Miss Elizabeth Kibler, daughter of Henry and Barbara (Frank) Kibler, which union has been blessed with five children, viz: Julian, who is married to Sarah Folk, and re- sides in Palmyra township; Caroline, wife of James Derwechter; Laura, now Mrs. John H. Grate; Harriet, married to James Shilliday, and Amy, wife of Thomas G. Ewing. Theron Gilbert is an expert mechanic, and in addition to his knowledge of the black- smith's strade, is well posted as a gunsmith and in bicycle repairing. While still a young man, he went to Meadville, Pa., where he was employed by the then Atlantic Railroad com- pany as a blacksmith and assisted in the con- struction of the company's bridge across French creek, and on his return to Deerfield was employed by the county for six months in constructing a bridge on the public road. In 1844, Mr. Gilbert purchased a tract of land in the woods of Deerfield township, cleared away the timber, and began its cultivation, and in 1847, settled down to housekeeping in a log cabin, which, in 1861, he replaced with a com- modius frame dwelling, also building a sub- stantial barn, and this farm is now known to be one of the most productive in the township. His attention has been devoted almost entirely to general agriculture and blacksmithing since residing here, although for some years he was engaged in raising live stock, owning, at one time, some of the best horses in the township. He has served his fellow-townsmen as school director and is one of the most highly es- teemed residents of Deerfield township. Henry Kibler, father of Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert, was born in Virginia of German de- scent, was a miller by trade, and was married in his native county of Shenandoah, and there were born to him three children, viz: Eliza- beth (Mrs. Gilbert), August 31, 1824; Andrew, who resides in Edinburg, Ohio, and Alexan- der, of Palmyra township. Portage county. ' In 1828 Mr. Kibler brought his family to Pal- myra township, purchased a farm on which i stood an old grist and saw-mill, which he ran , a short time, when the plant was destroyed by I fire; but he at once erected a larger and more substantial structure and followed his occupa- tion until his death at the age of eighty-four years, a member of the Methodist church, his wife having died at the age of seventy-six, in the same faith. Thereon Gilbert has always been a most industrious farmer and mechanic, and in con- sequence has met with a success that has won him deserved esteem throughout the township and county. His name is the synonym of honesty and respectability, and his wife and children enjoy with him the good opinion and respect of the community in which they live. J OSEPH B. CARTER, one of the most respected agriculturists of Northfield township. Summit county, Ohio, as well as an ex-soldier of the Civil war, descends from sterling English stock of col- onial Connecticut ancestry and was born Feb- ruary 28, 1839, in Twinsburg township, a son of Thaddeus A. and Esther (Marshall) Carter. He was reared a farmer, received the usual common-school education, and enlisted in Twinsburg township August 24, 1861. He was mustered into the United States service at Camp Ford, Alliance, Ohio, for three years, or during the war, and was assigned to company K, Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Paul Kirby, and served until honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Ind., in October, 1864. He was in the siege of Corinth, battles of Perryville, Wild Cat Gap, luka, Shiloh and Stone River, and in skirmishes too numerous to mention. On the last day of the battle of Stone River, a minie ball struck the clasp of ^/^^^ (^ "^OJzl^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 755 his army belt, and although this is very heavy metal, it passed entirely through and hung just at the end of the belt. This ball struck the U. S. on the belt exactly in the center. Mr. Carter had pulled the belt around to the left side, to more conveniently get hold of his cartridges, and he was further pro- tected from the ball, which had spent its force on the belt clasp, by his heavy clothing and the give of his body. The shock rendered him breathless, and, immediately after, he was shot in his left leg, close to the knee-joint, and the ball is still imbeded in the bone. The stock of his rifle was also shot. He remained on the field until night, and was taken to field hospital and thence to Nashville, where he lay in hospital eight weeks, and was then in hospital at Louisville, Ky. , four weeks, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, one week, and at Cleve- land about six months. Not fully recovering, he was sent to the invalid corps, in which he remained until the close of the war. He has, however, always since been troubled by his wound. Mr. Carter was in all the marches, campaigns, battles and skirmishes in which his regiment took part until disabled by his wound January 2, 1863. After the war, Mr. Carter returned to Ohio, and married, at Cuy- ahoga Falls, Ohio, Miss. Amarilla Spafford, of Northfield township, where she was born Au- gust 4, 1852, a daughter of Jason and Philena (Cranson) Spafford. Jason Spafford was born in Solon township, Cuyahoga county, to which his father, Nathan Spafford, came from one of the eastern states as a pioneer. The latter was a soldier in the war of 1812, married Mary Morrison, and their children were Al- nion, Lydia, Amarilla, Zeloma, Seth, Mary and Jason. Nathan Spafford passed all his remaining days in Ohio, but moved at any early day to Northfield township. Summit county, and died at the age of sixty-six years. Jason Spafford was a farmer, owning a large 31 farm, and was prosperous. He died, at the age of forty-five years, a respected citizen and a member of the Baptist church. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Carter settled in Twinsburg township, where Mr. Carter bought the Carter homestead, consist- ing of 1 17 acres, and then the Jason Spafford homestead, consisting of 275 acres, a part of it being inherited by his wife. In 1889 Mr. Carter moved to his present homestead in Northfield township, consisting of 274 acres, and is a prosperous farmer. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Carter are Lena May and Thad B. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the Methodist church at Twins- burg, in which he is steward and trustee. As a republican he held the offices of township trustee and assessor and is a member of the school board. Thaddeus A. Carter was born in Connecti- cut, came in 1826 to Ohio, and returned in 1828 to Connecticut and married Esther Mar- shall. He then settled in Twinsburg town- ship, on 160 acres of land, and made a good home. His children were Nora A., Samuel N., Rollin B., Mary E., Esther A.. Joseph B., Hiram W. and John E. Of these, John E. and Joseph B. were soldiers in the Civil war. John E. was in the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiment Ohio volunteer in- fantry in the three years' service, was in sev- eral skirmishes, and died in hospital in North Carolina. The military record of Joseph B. has already been given. Thaddeus A. Carter was a member of the Methodist church and in .politics was first a whig and later a republi- can. He lived to be sixty-nine years old and died on his farm, a much respected citizen. Joseph B. Carter is one of the substantial farmers and respected citizens of Northfield township and has reared an excellent family. His daughter. Miss Lena May, is a student ;it Mount Union college, at Alliance, Ohio, is a 756 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD member of the class of 1899, and has been a student here for two years. His son, Thad B. , is a student at the Northfield high school. >Y'AMES smith fry, a representative M farmer of Suffieid township, Portage A J county, Ohio, was born on the old Fry homestead February 14, 1854, a son of Wyerman and Martha (Brown) Fry, both na- tives of the Buckeye state. His paternal grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania. The grandfather served in the war of 1812, in the army of the Center, afterward became an early settler of Stark county, Ohio, where he was a shoemaker; from there he moved to Suffield township. Portage county, located on a farm of 100 acres, on which he spent about a year and a half, and died of a fever in 1828. Then his wife and part of his family moved to Knox, Ind., where she died in the year 1874. They were both members of the Presbyterian church. Wyerman, the father of James S., remained on the old homestead, where he passed nearly all his life, and which is now occupied by his son, James S. He had born to him six chil- dren, of whom but two survive — Margaret Jane and James S. He was a republican in poli- tics, and honored by his fellow-citizens by elec- tion to various offices of trust in his township; he died at the early age of forty-five years, a member of the Reformed church, in which he had filled all the offices. His widow, now about seventy-five years of age, is still in good health, and resides with her son, James S., who is affectionately caring for her in her de- clining days. The paternal great-grandpar- ents of James S. Fry were natives of Germany. James S. Fry has passed all his life on the farm on which he was born, with the excep- tion of four months spent at school in Deer- field, for which he had been prepared by an attendance at the district school in his native township. February 20, 1879, he was married to Miss Ellen Myers, daughter of Simon and Catherine (Crist) Myers. The fruit of this union is five children, of whom three still sur- vive: Elson M., born January 9, 1880; J. Cleve, born June 13, 1882, and Lester R., born January 11, 1892. The deceased were H. Floyd, who died May 13, 1887, aged six months, and Lillian Grace, who died March 30, 1 890, aged one year and twenty days. Mrs. Fry, who was born September 12, 1856, and died February i, 1887, a devout Methodist for nearly twenty-three years. Her father, Simon Myers, is a farmer of Summit county, Ohio, and to his marriage, in 1854, to Catherine Crist, were born five children, and of the survivors Hattie is the wife of Allen Cook; Delilah is the wife of Charles Adams; Wilson is married to Ella Gates, Florain to Lulu Wise. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Fry were natives of Mahoning county, where the grandfather was for a time a mer- chant, but later became a miller, and then a farmer, and was the owner of a large estate at the time of his death. He was the father of three children, of whom Catherine (Mrs. Myers) and Harrison are still living. The grandfather of Mrs. Fry died April 11 1891, and the grandmother January 14, 1892, in the faith of the Evangelical church. James Smith Fry is a stanch republican in politics, and was a warm advocate for the election of William McKinley. (D RS. SYLVESTER GAYLORD, of Munroe Falls, Ohio, widow of Syl- vester Gaylord, was born May 2, 18 1 7, at Middletown, Conn., a daughter of Selah and Anna (Newell) North. Sylvester Gaylord was born in Middletown, Conn., November i, 1808, and was a son of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 757 Jonathan and Martha (Thomas) Gaylord. Jonathan was the son of Jonathan and Eliza- beth (Goodhain) Gaylord. The Gaylord family descended from the English Puritans who were the founders of Connecticut. Jonathan Gaylord, father of Sylvester, was born in Connecticut, at Upper Middletown, and his wife was born at Had- dam, Conn., and by calling he was a farmer and ship carpenter. His children, born in Connecticut, were Isaac, Eliza, Mary A., Joshua and Sylvester; Eli and Martha were born in Ohio. Jonathan Gaylord moved with his family to the Western Reserve, Ohio, in 1809, starting June i, and made the trip with oxen, and Capt Stowe (father of Albert Stowe) and family came at the same time. Mr. Gay- lord brought his father and mother with him, and some of his brothers and sisters came at the same time. These were Thomas, William, Betsy, Abiah, and Margaret. They were forty-one days on the way and walked the greater part of it; in fact, Jonathan Gaylord walked almost all the way. The roads were very bad and they were obliged to cut through the woods most of the way, and slept in the wagons. They arrived about the middle of July and settled in the southern part of Stowe township, a part of the homestead being still occupied by our subject. The farm contained about 200 acres, covered with timber, but Jonathan cleared it, assisted by his sons. He built a log cabin, in which he lived some years, but finally built a frame house. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. He was accustomed to work in the ship yards at Cleveland, and on his way home from that city was stricken down in middle age, prob- ably with heart disease. Sylvester Gaylord had the usual common- school education of his day and was an infant of nine months when he was brought by his parents to the Western Reserve. He learned. in Cleveland, the carpenter and builder's trade of Mr. Hill, and began work for himself when but twenty years of age. He married, when about twenty-two years of age, Ruth Nicker- son, who was born in Massachusetts, near Cape Cod, of English descent, but whose pa- rents were pioneers of Stowe township, where her father kept a hotel at Stowe Corners. The children by this marriage were Helen and Sylvester. This wife died, and Mr. Gaylord ne.xt married, April 29, 1839, in Stowe town- ship, Julia A. North, born May 2, 18 17, at Middletown, Conn., a daughter of Selah and Anna (Newell) North. Mr. Gaylord was a farmer as well as a carpenter and settled on a farm in Stowe township, but sold it and bought the present farm — part of his father's original homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord were born Lucy, William, Julia, Charlotte, and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord were members of the Disciples' church, of which he was trus- tee for years. In politics he was a republican and served as township trustee several years. He was a much respected citizen, well known for his sterling worth. He died at the vener- able age of eighty years, June 17, 1889. Mrs. Gaylord, who still survives him, is possessed of an active mind and excellent memory, and is a woman of high character. Charles Gaylord, son of above, was born March 14, 1852, on the present homestead. He received a common-school education and attended the academy at Tallmadge, and was reared to farming and paper finishing, working at Munroe Falls about fifteen years. He iiiar- ried June 3, 1874, in Stowe township, Lucy Sothmayd, born May 13, 1855, in Stowe town- ship, daughter of William and Martha (Will- son) Sothmayd, the former of whom was born in May, 1830, the third son of Erastus and Clarissa (Rice) Sothmayd. Clarissa Rice was a daughter of Capt. Rice, and was the first white child born in 758 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Stowe township, in which township Albert Stowe, still living, was the second child and the first male child born. Erastus Sothmayd was born in Middletown, Conn., and came to the Western Reserve a single man. He was a farmer, and married, in Stowe township, Annie Wetmore; his children were Charles, Lucy and Leonard. Mrs. Sothmayd died, and he married Clarissa Rice, and their children were Walter, William, and the twins, Horace and Henry. Mr. Sothmayd had a good farm one-half mile north of Stowe Centre, which he cleared up from the woods. He also kept a hotel at Stowe 's Corners for some years. He and his wife were members of the Disci- ples' church, and in politics he was a republi- can. Mr. Sothmayd lived to be seventy-nine years old and died on his farm. William Sothmayd was a farmer and school-teacher, educated in the public and high school, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He taught school in Summit county ten years and settled on the home farm, but later in life moved to Cuyahoga Falls, where he died, aged fifty-seven years, December 8, in 1S87. He was one of the Summit county infirmary directors for many years, was a republican in politics, and served as clerk of Stowe town- ship, and also treasurer for many years. He and wife were members of the Disciples' church, in which he was an elder. He was a highly respected citizen and a well-read man. He married, November 4, 1859, in Medina county, at Brunswick, Martha Wilson, who was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y. , December 27, 1831, a daughter of Darius and Temperance (Chase) Wilson. Darius Wilson was born of Connecticut of English Puritan stock, and one of his remote ancestors was a signer of the declaration of independence. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were the parents of Homer E., Martha, Milton and Tames D. Darius \\'ilson moved to the Western Reserve, Ohio, in 1835, and settled at Brunswick. He was a farmer and carpen- ter and died aged seventy-four years, on his farm, a much respected citizen and a republi- can in politics. Charles Gaylord and wife settled on the Gaylord homestead and still re- side there. The children are Howard and Stanley. In politics he is a republican. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, being a member of the lodge at Cuyahoga Falls, of which he is past chancellor, and is a K. A. E. O., of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He is an hon- ored citizen and township trustee, and was for several years a justice of the peace. He and wife are members of the Disciples' church, of which he has been deacon twenty-one years. Two of his brothers were soldiers in the Civil war, and Sylvester was in the United States navy, in the three years' service, and was at the bombardment of Charleston and New Orleans. He married Maria Hahn, and his children are Eugene, Edith, Ruth and Sadie. William was a private of battery D, Fourth Ohio artillery, and served four years; he was a veteran, and in 106 engagements — among them Stone River. *Tr-» AVORUS GRATE, a prominent resi- I J dent and prosperous farmer of Pal- 1 JK myra township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in Deerfield township, in the same county, July 30, 1839, a son of Lewis and Catharine (Kibler) Grate. George Grate, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this memoir, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about the year 1 820, settling in Palmyra township, Port- age county, where he passed the remainder of his days in farming. To his marriage with Susan Fatcher were born eight children, who were named, in order of birth, Jeremiah, El- len, Betsy, John, George, Lewis, Benjamin OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 759 and Isaac. His death took place at the age of eighty-two years, but his wife had been called away some few years previous to his own de- parture. Henry Kibler, maternal grandfather of subject, was a native of Virginia, a miller by calling, and was twice married in his native state, prior to coming to Ohio. To his first marriage were born si.x children, of whom three are still living, viz: Martin, Catherine Henry; the deceased were named Annie, George and Amelia. To the second marriage of Henry Kibler, which was with Barbara Frank, three children were born, viz: An- drew, Elizabeth (wife of Theron Gilbert, of whom further information will be found on another page of this volume) and Ale.xander. Lavorus Grate remained on the home farm until twenty-five years of age, acquiring in the meanwhile a sound district-school education, and assisting his father in the cultivation of the farm. September 28, 1865, he married Miss Jane Arbuckle, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Caruthers) Arbuckle, and the same year settled in Palmyra township, where he has since been continuously engaged in agricultural pursuits. Lewis Grate, father of subject, was born in Palestine, Pa., July 16, 1808, and his wife, Catherine Kibler, a native of Virginia, was born in 18 14. Both were quite young when they came to Ohio, and located in Palmyra township. Portage county, whence they re- moved to Deerfield township and passed the remainder of their days. To their union were born six children, who are all still living, viz.: Emeline, wife of H. S. Randall, of whom more may be read on another page; Drusilla, un- married; Mariette. wife of Daniel Kimmel; Angeline, widow of John Forder; Sarah, wife of Wallace T. Gilbert, and Lavorus. The father of this family was a highly respected farmer, was for many years township trustee. school director and supervisor, and died June 7, 1893, at the age of eighty-five years; his widow is now eighty-four years old and is in excellent healt,h. Thomas Arbuckle, father of Mrs. Jane Grate, was a native of Philadelphia, farmed for some years in Washington county, came to Ohio when in middle age, and engaged in farming in Mahoning county. He first mar- ried, in Pennsylvania, Nancy Watson, who bore him one daughter. After the death of his first wife Mr. Arbuckle married Miss Ca- ruthers, and to this union were born eleven children, of whom Mrs. Jane Grate, who was born in Washington county, Pa., January 8, 1838, is the only survivor. The deceased ten were named Sarah, Ellen, Margaret, Francis, Thomas, John, George, James, William and David. Mr. Arbuckle passed away in 1861, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife in May, 1864, at the age of sixty-two, both mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Grate has always been an industrious and skillful farmer, and no family in Palmyra township is held in higher respect than his. 5>^ANIEL H. HAKTZELL, of Deer- I I field township, Portage county, Ohio, /"^^^^ and for years recognized as one of the township's best educators, was born here June 27, 1853, a son of Solomon and Clorinda (Loomis) Hartzell. He re- ceived his early education in his district school, and this was supplemented by an at- tendance at Mount Union college and Canfield Business college, and also by a course through the business college at Cleveland, from which he gaduated in 1878. Thus much for the ed- ucational career of Mr. Hartzell, but it is necessary to explain that he assisted on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, and at the age of twenty years began his career as 760 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD a teacher, which profession he followed for eighteen consecutive terms, one of which, or, perhaps, two, he passed as tutor in the busi- ness college where he had received a portion of his instruction — that of Canfield — a posi- tion seldom accorded a graduate, but always one that fully recognizes the competency and ability of the pupil who has successfully passed through its curriculum. August 28, 18S4. Mr. Hartzell was united in marriage with Miss Lois Shinn, a daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Woodruff) Shinn, the union being blessed with two children — Ger- trude H. and Russell S. He had some exper- ience in the drug trade for a year in partner- ship with P. D. Stratton, at Cortland, Ohio, and in general merchandizing at Damascus for three years, and in 1887 came to Deerfield township and bought the farm formerly owned by T. R. Mowen, and here he has since been most successfull}' engaged in farming. To revert to the progenitors of Daniel H. Hartzell, it is necessary to state that his father, Solomon Hartzell, was born in Deer- field township, August 13, 18 13, was reared a farmer, but in earl}* manhood became a clerk in Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, in which capacity he was engaged several jears. In 1840 he engaged in mercantile trade in com- pany with a Mr. Bricker, whom he later bought out and united with Dr. Leonard Hanna, of Cleveland, under the firm name of Hanna & Hartzell, and for several years car- ried on the business on his sole account, then sold a half-interest to C. K. Greiner, of Salem, and under the style of Hartzell & Greiner did a flourishing trade several years longer. Mr. Hartzell eventually sold his interest in this concern to \V. H. Reed, cashier of the First National bank, of Alliance, and thereafter de- voted his attention to real estate and stocks and bonds. He was eminently a man of busi- ness ability, was one of the organizers and a stockholder in and director of the First Nat- ional bank of Alliance, and gave success to every undertaking in which he participated. Solomon Hartzell was united in marriage, November 6, 1844, with Miss Clorinda A. Loomis, a daughter of Chester and Elizabeth (Matoom) Loomis, the union resulting in the birth of five children, viz: Chester W., Strat- ton, Daniel H., Sophia (Mrs. James R. Dick- son 1, and Emma, the wife of J. E. Detchen, of North Benton. October 20, 1855, Mr. Hartzell was ordained and installed an elder of the Presbyterian church of Deerfield, now Benton, Mahoning county, to the membership of which he had been admitted June 28, 1843, and the duties pertaining to this sacred charge he performed with faithfulness and zeal until death closed his earthly career, November 2, 1S97, at the ripe age of eighty-four years, two months and nineteen days. Daniel H. Hartzell, as a farmer, has met with abundant success, and as a citizen has won the esteem of the entire community in which he lives, having been selected by his fellow-citizens to serve them in various town- ship offices. He is an honored member of Alliance lodge. No. 266, I. O. O. F. , and in all the various stations in life which he has been called upon to fill he has performed his dutv faithfullv and well. aALVERT HARDEN, the well-known miller of Twinsburg, Summit county, Ohio, and one of the ex-soldiers of the Civil war, was born at Indian- apolis, Ind., January i, 1846, a son of John and Lucinda (Beatty) Harden. John Harden was born in county Down, Ireland, in 1803, and when a boy came to America with his father, who settled in Bal- timore, Md. He received a common education and married, in Millersburg, Ohio, Lucinda OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 761 Beatty, who was also born in county Down, Ireland, and came to America with her parents when thirteen years old. Mr. Harden moved to Boone county, Ind., where he was a mer- chant about fourteen years at Zionsville and Lebanon. His wife died at Lebanon, in 1863, and he then moved to Mount Gilead, Ohio. His second marriage took place in Mount Vernon, Ohio, to Amanda Merriman, who bore him no children. Mr. Harden died in 1878, in Mount Gilead, aged about seventy-five years, in the faith of the Christian church, of which he had been a member for more than sixty years. In politics he was a republican and held the office of justice of peace. His children were named William, Marilda, George, Sam- uel, Beatty, Martha, Mary, John, Addison, Mil- ton, Calvert and Harriet. Of these, Marilda married a soldier — Luther M. Oliphant — and six sons served in the Civil war, viz: George, Samuel, John, Addison, Milton and Calvert. George was in an Indiana regiment in the three months' service, and in the battle of Richmond, Ky. Samuel was in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Indiana volunteer infantry, three years' service, was in several battles and was wounded at the battle of Richmond, Ky. ; was seven times shot and taken prisoner, but escaped before the battle was over. His wounds were all flesh wounds. John was ad- jutant of the One Hundred and Tenth Indiana volunteer infantry in the three years' service, and in many battles, including Shiloh and Mill Springs, Ky. Addison was in the three months' service in the Tenth Indiana volunteer infantry, and in the battle of Rich Mountain. Milton was sergeant in company Eleven, In- diana volunteer cavalry, three years' service, and among his battles was that at Nashville. Calvert Harden received a common edu- cation atLebanon, Ind. , and enlisted in August, 1862, at the age of between sixteen and seven- teen years, in company G, One Hundred and and Sixteenth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, at Lebanon, Ind., Capt. Robert Harrison, for six months, and was honorably discharged at LaFayette, Ind., in March, 1863. He was in the battles of Walker's Ford, Tazewell, Evans' Ford, and Greenville, Tenn., and Bull's Gap and Blue Springs, Ky. He then returned to Boone county, and re-enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Thirtj'-F"ifth ' regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, Capt. R. W. Williamson, and served until honorably discharged at Indianapolis in 1864. Mr. Harden was never sick in hospital, wounded, nor taken prisoner, and performed all his duties promptly and cheerfully. After the war he returned to Lebanon, Ind., and finished his trade of miller; then came to Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and married there, January 28, 1867, Miss Sarah A. Donaldson, who was born April II, 1 85 1, a daughter of Rev. and Elizabeth (Merriman) Donaldson. Rev. Donaldson was twice married, and by his first wife had two sons — Wesley and Alonzo — both soldiers in the Civil war, in an Ohio regiment and Rev. Donaldson was also a soldier in an Ohio Regi- ment. There were two children by his second wife^Sarah A. and Ella. Rev. Donaldson died at the close of the war at Cardington, Ohio. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harden settled at Ottawa, Kans., where he worked in a mill eight years; after his return to Ohio he located at Brecksville and ran a flour and feed-mill. In 1893 he built a similar mill at Macedonia. He came to Twinsburg in 1895 and built his present flour and feed-mill, and equipped it with first class machinery and is doing a very prosperous business. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harden are named John F. and Pearl A. Mr. Harden is a member of the Con- gregationalist church and of Logan post. No. 282, G. A. R. , at Brecksville, Ohio, and has held the office of commander and other posi- 762 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tions. In politics he is a republican, is a strong temperancs man, and a member of the Good Templars, Twinsburg lodge. He has always been an industrious, hard-working man, and stands high for his integrity of character. HARON MORRISS, deceased, was one of the honored old settlers of Tall- madge township. Summit count)', Ohio, and a prominent and respected citizen, and was born at Winstead, Conn., Oc- tober 8, 1797, of remote Scotch descent. He received an academic education, and possess- ing naturally an active mind he became a wide reader, having access to one of the finest libraries in Georgia, and, together with his var- ied experience in life, acquired an excellent education. He learned the carpenters' and joiners' trade, in the thoroughgoing old-fash- ioned way, at Milford Center, Conn., under Chauncey Isbell, and when twenty-one years old visited the state of Georgia and soon be- came a contractor and builder, employing sometimes as many as thirty men. He erected buildings at Millersville, Augusta, Sparta and the Savannah Mills on the Ogeechee river. He i built Dr. \Vm. Torrell's palatial residence, a beautiful and typical southern structure of the olden days befors the war — this firm structure requiring three years to erect; he also built many churches, including a beautiful Congre- gational church, costing $80,000. He passed thirteen years of a very active life in Georgia and other southern states, and became widely known as an architect and builder. Mr. Morriss returned to Connecticut, and married, at Milford, in March, 1834, Sarah ! Isbell, a daughter of Israel and Sarah (Par- die) Isbell. Sarah Pardie was the daughter of Rebecca Beecher, a sister of the famous di- vine. Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher, father of Henrj' Ward Beecher. After marriage and during the next October Mr. Morriss moved to Ohio i in 1834, having been out the previous year j and viewed the countr}-, and settled on the , present homestead, consisting of 155.42 acres. ' Mr. Morriss gradually improved this home- stead, making additions and alterations, and attached a fine southern colonnade, very roomy, commodious and elegant. It is co- lonial in style, and is as well preserved as when first built. The finely carved and fluted col- umns are of solid black walnut, and give an air of strength to the structure. Mr. Morriss, while not reared a farmer, possessed a practi- cal business turn of mind, and when he first gave his attention to farming soon became an accomplished agriculturist — succeeded in his farming operations, and developed a really model home and farm. He made his success in life while he was yet a young man, and while in the south laid the foundation of his success. Mr. Morriss was a fine tenor singer, and sang in the church choir in New Haven, Conn. In Connecticut he was also a member of a military company. Mrs. Morriss was of a fine family — the Isbells of Connecticut, who for generations was well known in that state. She brought with her to Tallmadge some fine specimens of colonial furniture, among them a rare mahogany sideboard; also some fine matched tables, and the fine old homestead is filled with rare and valued family relics. Mr. and Mrs. Morriss were the parents of two daughters, America and Corene, born in Tall- madge, Ohio. Mrs. Morriss had been pre- viously married to Capt. F. Coggeshall, and they were the parents of George, now deceased, and one child who died in infanc}'. The sisters, America and Corene, were both well educated at Ravenna and at the Hudson Young Ladies' seminary and finished their education at the Ontario Female seminary, Canandaigua, N. Y. Their education in- AARON MORRISS, DECEASED. t- V SARAH MORRISS. DECEASED. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 767 eluded a thorough course in music, in which they both became proficient. Miss Corene is now deceased; Miss America manages the home farm, and her other interests, having a goodly property, beside the fine old home- stead, with a substantial sum on interest. She is an excellent woman, of good judgment and shrewd financial ability. Mr. Morriss was of the highest character and very greatly re- spected and one of the best citizens in Summit county, being of a nature to command the love and esteem of all who know him. He was an honored citizen ofTallmadge township and held the office of township trustee. Lewis and Robert Morriss, who signed the declara- tion of independence, were relatives of sub- ject's family. (D ORRIS E. HASKINS, a well known business man of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex- soldier of the Civil war, is a son of Alman M. and Lucy (Scott) Haskins, and was born in Friendship, Allegany county, N. Y., November 8, 1845. Alman M. Haskins, also a native of the Empire state, was born in Louisville, St. Law- rence county, and was by trade a hatter. To his marriage with Lucy Scott, daughter of Justus and Annie (White) Scott, were born four children — George A., Mary L., Morris E. and Arthur, but they were not all born in the same part of the state, as Mr. Haskins worked at his trade, after marriage, in Franklinville, Cat- taraugus county. Friendship, Allegany county, and died in Wirt, Allegany county, at the age of eighty-seven years, doubtless having pur- sued his trade at other places than those men- tioned, during his long life. In politics he was an ardent republican, and was a strong Union man, giving to his country two of his sons — George A. and Morris E. — to save it from destruction during the war of the Rebellion. George A. served as a private for three years in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York volunteer infantry, and although he was in many battles, escaped unwounded, but suf- fers still as the result of exposure while in the service. The military record of Morris E. is given in the following paragraph: Morris E. Haskins, after receiving a good common-school education in Friendship, en- listed in company A, Fifth New York heavy artillery, and served until disabled at Pied- mont, Va.. June 5, 1864, where a ball passed through his right arm, entered his body just below the heart, and through the lower lobe of the left lung, which is still in bad order. He fell on the field near the breastworks, was picked up and taken to the field hospital, where the Union troops left a small guard and pressed on to Lynchburg. The following day, June 6, Mosely's guerrillas came along, cap- tured the hospital, and carried off the wounded soldiers to Lynchburg, and, a few days later, to Richmond, where he was kept a short time in Libby prison, but, as he was desperately wounded and death imminent, he was trans- ferred to another old tobacco warehouse, where he lay, in durance and distress, fully five months, living on the meanest and scanti- est rations possible, washing and dressing his wounds with his own hands, and being fur- nished with clean bandages by the Sisters of Charity, who paid much more attention than the Confederate surgeons. All this time he was without even a blanket, having been robbed by the rebels, when taken prisoner, of his arms, clothing, and nearly $50 in green- backs. He was finally exchanged, and hon- orably discharged at Annapolis, Md. , May 15, 1865, his emaciated anatomy turning the scale at ninety-two and one-half pounds, although he had weighed 167.J pounds when he en- listed. 768 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD After the war, Mr. Haskins returned to New York, and after a short stay at Friendship went to Wirt, Allegany county, where he was engaged, for three years, in mercantile trade in partnership with his brother-in-law, Albert S. Brainard, who had married Mary L. Has- kins, sister of Morris E. While at Wirt, Mr. Haskins married, January I, 1866, Miss Sallie M. Hunt, who was born in that town June 8, 1850, a daughter of Christopher A. and Roxana (Harris) Hunt. Christopher A. Hunt, father of Mrs. Sallie M. Haskins, was born in the state of New York, July 12, 18 18. His wife, Roxana, was born July 7, 1820, and bore her husband six children, viz: Austin A., James L. , Sallie M., Susie J., Asia M. and Ai A. For more than thirty years the father, who was a de- scendent of a Mayflower pilgrim, kept a hotel in Champion, Jefferson county, N. Y. , but is now living at Mantua Station, Ohio, at the age of seventy-eight, his widow being seventy- seven, and both respected members of the Methodist church. Morris E. Haskins, just after marriage, located at Ceres, Pa., where he was engaged in the lumber business for two years, next passed a year or so in Warsaw, Pa., and in 1869 came to Mantua Station, Ohio, thence moved to Auburn, Ohio, where he remained for six years, then returned to Mantua, and here engaged in mercantile trade, but, on ac- count of suffering from his unhealed lung, has been little able to attend to or push his busi- ness for some years past, as otherwise he would have done, being naturally a bright and keen trader. His marriage has been blessed with two children, Mary L. and Nellie M.,. who still remain under the parental roof. In politics Mr. Haskins is a stanch repub- lican and has held the office of constable of Mantua township seven years. He is a mem- ber of Bentley post. No. 294, G. A. R., of Mantua Station, having been one its charter members, and in this post he has filled all the minor offices, advancing to those of adjutant, junior and senior vice-commander. He stands high in the esteem of the community as a brave defender of his country's flag and as a straightforward business man and incorruptible citizen. '^Y'OHN HAAS, a well-to-do farmer of m Shalersville township, as well as a /• 1 prominent and successful merchant of Mantua Station, was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, November 15, 1839, the son of Adam and Catherine (Filins) Haas. John Haas was reared to manhood in the city of Cleveland, and was educated in the public schools of that city, and in early life learned the trade of saddlery and harness- making with his father. He became quite proficient as a workman, and soon was an able assistant in the shop to his father. He early became a member of the Cleveland Light Guards, then an independent military company, with which he was identified from the age of twenty until twenty-two years, dur- ing which time he became quite proficient in the drill and the duties of the company. Mr. Haas, being of a patriotic spirit, became im- bued with a spirit of protecting his nation and flag, and early in 1861 enlisted in the Twenty- third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, in his native city. This was the same regiment in which President William McKinley served about eighteen months' time as a private soldier. During the first year of Mr. Haas' enlistment he was elected second lieutenant of company A, but was never mustered, as he was afflicted with chronic diarrhea, and compelled to resign and return to his native home. Mr. Haas soon recuperated and engaged in business with his father, at which he con- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 769 tinued steadily until May i, 1864, when he enlisted the second time in defense of his nation's flag. His second enlistment was for three months, and he was appointed orderly ser- geant of Capt. John Nevin's company G, One- Hundred and Fiftieth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry. He served out his enlistment and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio. August 15, 1864. His services were near the city of Washington, D. C, at Fort Lincoln and Fort Slocum, and he was in the engagement at Fort Slocum when Gen. Jubal Early made his famous advance on Washing- ton, and attacked both Forts Lincoln and Slocum, and during this short engagement the Union troops lost 350 men in twenty minutes. Mr. Haas was always an active and willing soldier, and cheerfully obeyed every command from his superior officers. He enlisted from purely patriotic motives, and would have been in the early part of the war had his health not prevented him from doing so; however, hav- ing a knowledge of military drill, he taught many of the officers and soldiers of Cleveland while at home. Mr. Hdas continued in the harness busi- ness with his father for four months after his return from the war, when he was taken with malarial fever, with which he was afflicted for several months, but finally recovered from same, and, soon after, was married to Miss Sophia Brodbeck, of Cleveland, Ohio, but a native of Medina county. By this marriage they became the parents of four children, John A., Hattie, William and Lottie. In the spring of 1865, Mr. Haas left the city of his birth and located in Shalesrville township, Portage county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Haas being a practi- cal business man, has applied his early edu- cation to his agricultural life, and has been very successful, owning at the present time a farm of 300 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. He is also proprietor of a hardware store at Mantua Station; also is en- gaged in the manufacture of wire nails, which he has followed for two years, and the pro- ducts of his factory are giving good satisfac- tion, both as to the quality of his goods and the revenues derived therefrom. Mr. Haas has prospered year by year and had early learned the secret of gaining wealth, which was, from a practical standpoint, that it was what a man saved from his earnings instead of what he made, that aided him to accumu- late property. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R. , Bentley post, and is the present commander, having held this office three terms, and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mantua lodge. Adam Haas, his father, was born in Ger- many, near Frankfort, and at the age of twenty years came to America and settled in the Mohawk valley, in New York state, where he followed his trade as a harnessmaker for several years, then came west and located in Cleveland, where he continued his trade and reared his family, and became a well-to-do citizen. He died at the age of seventy-four years at the home of his son John, in Shalers- ville township. He was a substantial and suc- cessful man in his day, practically self-made. *w - ^ ENRY HENTZ, a respected farmer I'^^V of Streetsboro township. Portage M. ^ r county, Ohio, and for over three years a gallant soldier of the Civil war, was born in Massena, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., May 16, 1845, a son of Peter and Mary Hentz, the former of whom was of German descent and the latter of French descent. Peter Hentz, whose birth occurred May 770 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 12, 1793, was a son of Henry Hentz, who came from Germany and was one of the first settlers of St. Lawrence county, N. Y. Peter was the first white child born in the county, and was taken forty miles through the forest to be christened, his parents being rigid Cath- olics. Peter was twice married, but had no children born to his first union. His second marriage, late in life, was to Mary Buissever, the name being ordinarily pronounced Bouvia, and signifying, in English, Greenbush. Two children, Henry and Sarah, were born to this second union. Peter Hentz served against the Indians in one of their insurrections, and in later life became a lumberman and rafts- man. Ten years prior to his death, Henry, the son, went from Ohio to New York and brought the old gentleman hither, and here he died, at his son's home, at the age of ninety- three years. Henry Hentz attended school in the Em- pire state until eleven years of age, when he came to Ohio, in 1856, with his mother and sister, who located in Ashtabula county, but he found for himself a home on a farm in Summit county, on which he worked four years, attending school the meanwhile, and continued farming as a laborer for different parties until he became a soldier. Mr. Hentz enlisted, when but sixteen years old, at Ravenna, October 7, 1861, in Capt. H. H. Wiliard's company, Fortj'-second regi- ment Ohio volunteer infantry, of which James A. Garfield, afterward president of the United States, was then lieutenant-colonel. Mr. Hentz served in this regiment three years, one month and twelve days, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, at Camp Tod, November 19, 1864. He fought at Middle Creek, Ky., when he was seized with typhoid fever, and was confined in hospital at Ashland for about six weeks. His next battle was at Tazewell, Tenn., and on the fatiguing retreat from the rebel raider, John Morgan, marched 240 miles continuously through the mountains of eastern Kentucky, day and night. He was in the Chickasaw raid in Mississippi, at the capture of Arkansas Post, Ark. , and back to Mississippi again, taking part in the battles of Thompson's Hill and Champion's Hill, his eighteenth birthday occurring on the day the last-named battle was fought. He was also at the battle of Black River, and later, in a charge on the rebel works at Vicksburg., March 19, 1863, had the end of his left fore- finger cut off, but he remained with his com- pany throughout the charge. Later, he fought at Jackson, Miss., was in a raid at French Bayou, and another up the Black River, and was always a cheerful and willing man to per- form his duty as a soldier. On returning to Ohio, Mr. Hentz resumed farm work, and was married at Shalersville, July 5, 1868, to Miss Cornelia E. Kimes, who was born in that town October 9, 1849, a daughter of John and Mary (Doughty) Kimes. John Kimes was a native of Butler county. Pa. , and was of German descent. He came with his father to Portage county, Ohio, in 1837, and here married Miss Doughty, of New Jersey colonial ancestry, who bore him five children, viz: Cornelia E. , Alma, Amos, Lucy, and Mary. Mr. Kimes was a democrat in politics, was a prosperous farmer, and died at about sixty years of age, leaving 280 acres of good farm land. After marriage, Mr. Hentz located in Shalersville township, on his father-in-law's farm and cultivated it several years; he then worked in the Cleveland Wire mills at New- burg as a wire-drawer tor a few years, and then settled on his present place of 100 acres, on which he has erected a comfortable resi- dence and which he has converted into a profitable farm and a pleasant home. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hentz has OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 771 been blessed with three children, named, in order of birth, John, Birdie, and Emerson K. In politics, Mr. Hentz is a republican, and as a citizen is regarded as one of the most useful in his township, and as a man is respected for his integrity and straightforward course of life. SOSWELL B. CUTTS, of Garretts- ville, Ohio, was one of the old sol- diers of the Civil war and is a highly respected citizen. He was born in Paris township. Portage county, Ohio, Octo- ber 3, 1840, a son of Daniel B. and Lucy R. (Smith) Cutts, received a common education and attended several terms at Hiram Eclectic institute. He enlisted at the age of about twenty-one years, October 8, 1861, at Paris, Ohio, and was mustered in, same day, at Ra- venna, in Capt. H. H. Willard's company F, Forty-second regiment, Ohio volunteer infan- try. Col. James A. Garfield, to serve three years or during the war, but served three years and nearly two months, owing to an error in date of muster, and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, November 19, 1864. He was in the battles of Middle Creek, Ky., Cumberland Gap, Taze- well, Tenn., Kanawha valley campaign, Vicks- burg campaign for about three months, Chick- asaw Bluff, Miss., Fort Hindman, Ark., Port Gibson, and Raymond, Miss. He was sick in hospital at Raymond, Miss., with chronic diarrhea, and was captured by the Confed- erates while he lay in hospital, and sent to Jackson, Miss., thence to Mobile, Ala., thence to Augusta, Ga. , and thence to Richmond, Va. , where he was confined in the infamous Libby prison. He was a prisoner four and a half months — the latter part of this time being spent in Libby prison. He was exchanged in October, 1863, and sent to Camp Chase, and rejoined his regiment at New Orleans, and was then on the Red River campaign, and in the battles of Atchafalaya Bayou, under Gen. Banks; then to Morganza Bend, La. Then they were ordered to the mouth of White River, thence to St. Charles, Ark., to fortify that place, and then went with his regiment to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., to build fortifications there, where he remained until sent home for muster out. At the battle of Chickasaw Bayou he was struck on the left shin by a spent ball. He was on the Cumberland Gap campaign three months and marched about 400 miles. The troops were short of rations, the supplies being cut off by the rebels, and they lived on green corn for about twenty days. They were in skirmishes every day and drove the rebels every morning from their breakfasts for some time, driving them from two to twenty miles daily, and removing the blockade of trees filled by the rebels to impede their progress in their march. The Union soldiers suffered greatly from hunger on the march, and sub- sisted on roasted and grated corn from the fields on the greater part of this march to the Ohio river, where they received supplies, and were on one-fourth rations before leaving Cumberland Gap. During the war his regi- ment traveled about 3,700 miles; of this, 1,500 miles were by steamboat, 1,000 miles by rail and 1,700 in marching order. This was ex- clusive of drills and picket duty. They par- ticipated in ten general engagements, sieges and in many skirmishes. Mr. Cutts considered his hardest battle to have been at Port Gib- son, when the regiment lost seventy-five killed, and many wounded, in a few hours. Mr. Cutts was sick with diphtheria during the first part of his enlistment at Camp Chase, Ohio, fol- lowed by chronic diarrhea through his whole service, and did not recover for twenty years after the war, and still has some trouble. He was always an active soldier, served through- 772 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD out as a private and was in all the campaigns, marches, battles, and skirmishes in which his regiment took part, except while a prisoner. He considers his worst experience as a prisoner just after his capture. From this time until the arrival at Mobile, four and a half days later, the captives had nothing to eat what- ever, and drank water from the swamps pumped into tanks for use of engines. He and his comrades were robbed of everything of value — their good clothing being stripped off of them, and filthy, ragged, rebel clothing given in exchange. At Mobile they received rations of a small piece of bacon and some hard tack, and had to drink swamp water. They were taken to Libby prison by boat and rail, and there they were searched, and those that had money were robbed of it. Wirtz was the ex- amining officer. He was afterward the brute who persecuted the prisoners to death at An- dersonville, and was after the war hanged, at Washington, D. C, for his crimes. Mr. Cutts had $45 in new greenbacks concealed in the bottom of his pants, which were too poor to be taken, and he rolled these up at the bottom. His pocketbook was taken, and in this he had $28 in Confederate money and a comrade's note for $18. This was thrown on the table, and Mr. Cutts protested to Wirtz that the note could do them no good, and if he lived to get out would be of value to him, and that they could have the Confederate money in welcome. Wirtz said. "How do you know you will ever live to get out.' Here, take your d — d pocket- book; we don't want it." Mr. Cutts had just bought the Confederate money for $5 from a Richmond business man. The rebels had no confidence in their own money. In Libby prison Mr. Cutts received as ra- tion a pint of cow-pea soup and a small piece of bacon, twice each day; it was horrible stuff and could hardly be eaten. He was sergeant of the mess, and, being too liberal in portioning it out, had none for himself. He was sick all the time he was in prison with chronic diarrhea, and the miserable food kept him so. Mr. Cutts was very independent and out- spoken, but learned to win the respect of the rebel officers and the doctors in charge. Every morning at roll call an offer was made that any one of the prisoners who would take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate govern- ment and again not to take up arms against it, would be allowed to go free and be given plenty of food. Although starving slowly and in a vile prison, not a man was ever known to step from the ranks and accept this offer. The experience in this prison was too brutal to describe. Mr. Cutts saw Wirtz kick a sol- dier in the mouth and break his teeth because he was too weak to stand up at roll call. Mr. Cutts and another comrade assisted this poor fellow to stand during roll call, with his face covered with blood from the kick of the inhu- man Wirtz. Mr. Cutts was finally taken to Annapolis, Md., with other prisoners, and there paroled in the camp. The prisoners pre- sented a most pitiable sight. They were cov- ered with vermin, and many of them had hard- ly a spot on their person not bitten or sore. They were stripped of their ragged and filthy clothing, given soap, and allowed to take a bath in the waters of the Chesapeake bay. The old clothing was burned and they were furnished with a suit of Uncle Sam's blue. It is right to state here that the physician in charge at the hospital at Libby prison was a kind-hearted man, and did the best he could with the resources and medicine at his com- mand. After the war Mr. Cutts settled in Portage county. He married, the first time, in Wind- ham township, December 16, 1864, Celia Yale, who was born in Windham, Ohio, a daughter of Edmund and Nancy (Russell) Yale. Mrs. Cutts died four years after mar- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 773 riage, leaving no children. She was a mem- ber of the Congregational church and a woman of many virtues. Mr. Cutts' second marriage took place January 4, 1871, in Hiram town- ship, to Ellen S. Leach, who was born Octo- ber 28, in Champion township, Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Mary A. (Shiveley) Leach. Mr. Cutts has since the war been a farm- er. He first settled in Windham township on a farm, but after his second marriage set- tled at Sturgeon Bay, Wis. , and was there en- gaged for a time in the nursery business. He then returned to Ohio and settled, in 1873, on the present homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Cutts have been blessed with two children — Lucy L. and Willis R. Mr. Cutts is a member of Mark Horton post, G. A. R. , at Garrettsville, Ohio, and has held the office of adjutant for many years. Politically he is a stanch re- publican. Mr. and Mrs. Cutts and their daughter, Lucy L., are members of the Con- gregational church, at Garrettsville, Ohio, in which Mr. Cutts was a deacon four years. Mr. Cutts is a public-spirited man and takes an active interest in public improvements. He was among the most active promoters of the pike between Hiram and Garrettsville, and held the office of pike superintendent during the grading and building, and is now holding the office for the third time. He was the first master of Garrettsville grange. No. 1436, and is at present chaplain. He is well known for his straightforward character and is a respected citizen. Daniel B. Cutts, father of Roswell B. Cutts, was born at Orwell, Addison county, Vt., and a son of Thomas Cutts. Daniel B. married, in Vermont, Miss Lucy R. Smith, a descendant of an old colonial Vermont family of English descent. The Cuttses were also of English stock and soldiers in the war of the Revolution. Two brothers of the name settled in Vermont, and one of these finally settled in Virginia. Daniel B. Cutts was a shoemaker and tanner and currier. He came to Ohio in 1829 and located in Windham township, Port- age county, but a few years later removed to Paris, Ohio, where he followed his trades of tanning and shoemaking. He sold out in 1864 and removed to Minnesota; subsequent- ly, however, he returned to Garrettsville, where he died in 1873. His children by his first wife were Mary, Ira, Sarah A., Henry D., Roswell B., Emily J. and Fanny M. Mrs. Cutts died in 1864, while he was in the army, a member of the Methodist church, and Mr. Cutts next married in Garrettsville, Ohio, in 1 87 1, Mrs. Eliza A. Frisby, who is still living. Mr. Cutts was also a member of the Method- ist church and in politics was first a whig and then a republican, and was an honorable and upright man. He died in February, 1873. HRVIN O. HAYMAKER, one of the prominent farmers of Franklin town- ship, Portage county, son of James D. and Mary R. (Olin) Haymaker, was born April 5, 1844, on the old homestead of his father, and received a common-school education, afterward attending a term at Mount Union. He was early taught to work on the farm, his father being a thrifty farmer and a very industrious man. He married, April 5, 1866, in Brimfield, Portage county, Ohio, Miss Harriet E. Norton, who was born September 3, 1846, in Edinburg township, same county, a daughter of Joseph and Jeannette (Graham) Norton — Joseph Norton being of New Eng- land ancestry, born in 1813, in Litchfield county, Conn., and a pioneer of Portage county. He lived to be an aged man, and died in 1895, a member of the Methodist church. In politics he was a democrat and an honored citizen. His children were William, 774 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD who died young; McKendree D., deceased; Charles, Angie, Hattie E. and Maxwell S. Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker settled on their pres- ent farm of 134 acres, and by his thrift and industry improved it. His first wife died April 7, 1869. The children were Charles Anson and Hattie Eliza. Mr. Haymaker married the second time in Columbiana county, Ohio, May 26, 1870, Harriet Powell, daughter of William and Catherine (Burger) Powell. William Powell was a native of Maryland, born in 1803, of English ancestry, a son of Thomas Powell, who was a well-to-do farmer. His children were Samuel, Michael, Levi, Eli, Thomas, Rebecca, Betsey, Nancy and Mary. Thomas Powell moved to Ohio and settled in Stark county at an early day, and was a member of the Baptist church. He lived to be an aged man and died in Stark county, Ohio. William Powell moved to Ohio with his father when but eight years old, in 181 1, to Stark county, and then settled in Columbiana county, he being a good farmer, and had a good home of 140 acres well improved. He married, October 5, 1836, Catherine Burger, of sturdy Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry, born near Gettysburg, Adams county. Pa., Septem- ber 26, 1804, and when a child came to Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, with her parents, Michael and Catherine Burger. William Pow- ell and wife lived together over fifty-eight years. The children were Sarah, John, Si- mon, Jonas, Mary, Daniel, Lydia, Anthony, Harriet, Luther and Franklin B. Mr. and Mr. Powell were devout members of the Lu- theran church, and he was nearly all his life elder in his church. He was always a genu- ine republican in politics. He lived to be eighty-one years old and died in his home January 7, 1885. He was a man of upright character and highly respected by all who knew him. Arvin O. Haymaker, our subject, has now a farm of 140 acres, well improved, on the borders of Twin Lakes, and it is beautifully situated, with a delightful prospect. The chil- dren are Homer A., Deborah J., Franklin P. and Abbie R. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and is church trustee. Politically he is a republican and has held the office of township trustee four years. Mr. Haymaker is a man of excellent character and well educated. He taught school in his neigh- borhood for twenty-five winters, and was a successful teacher and well-known educator. His children are also well educated; Homer A. is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan university and Franklin P. and Deborah J. will graduate from the same institution the present year. At one time Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker had five children together at this excellent institution. The Haymaker family is one of the best- known and intelligent in Portage county. ^^AMES NORTON, a prominent citizen M of Garrettsville, was born in Hiram /• J township, Portage county, Ohio, Sep- tember 9, 1833, a son of Thuel and Harriet R. (Harrington) Norton, who were the parents of ten children, viz: Anna, born October 21, 1823; Seth D., a lawyer, born August 19, 1825 — died in Ravenna; Edwin, born July 16, 1827 (deceased); Amelia C, born January 4, 1829; Julia M., born April 24, 1831; James, our subject; Lois E. , born No- vember 28, 1835 — died in Trenton, Mo.; Emily E. , born May 6, 1838; Richard C, president of the Southeast State Normal school at Cape Girardeau, Mo., born June 16, 1840, and Harriet R. , born January 28, 1846. Thuel Norton was born in New Hartford, Oneida county, N. Y., March 10, 1801, and was the third son of Peter and Elthina (Thompson) Norton, who came to Ohio when OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 777 Thuel was but six years of age, and for two years lived in Trumbull county, then for a short time in Tallmadge, Summit county, and finally settled in Springfield, at that time in Portage, but now in Summit county — the site of Akron being then a mere wilderness. Here Thuel grew to manhood, and became renowned for his great physical powers. August 4, 1822, he married, in Hiram, Harriet Rebecca Har- rington, who was born July 15, 1803, in Salis- bury, Litchfield county. Conn., a daughter of John and Asenath (Marvin) Harrington, the result of the union being the children already enumerated. Mr. Norton died in Hiram, April 2, 1880, from injuries received by being thrown from a buggy by a runaway horse, and on Au- gust 30, 1880, while on a visit to a son and daughter in Garrettsville, Mrs. Norton was called to everlasting rest. James Norton, the subject of this memoir, passed his early life virtually on the home farm in Hiram township, but when about thirteen years of age was injured by being thrown from a horse, and for three years his health was so poor in consequence that he was not even able to attend school. At sixteen, however, al- though still in poor health, he resumed his studies, walking to and from the district school at Freedom with the aid of a crutch and cane. In the autumn of i8i;i he entered the Western Reserve Eclectic institute, well advanced in the common branches. During this term, a physician, learning that young Norton was Still suffering from a dangerous sore on his arm, engaged with his father to heal it for a stipulated sum, and at the end of about six months the doctor's efforts were rewarded with complete success. After an attendance of three terms at the Eclectic institute, Mr. Nor- ton engaged in teaching school, a vocation he followed until the close of 1861 — keeping up his own studies in the meanwhile, chiefly at Hiram college, although he attended one term 32 at the Shalersville academy. He next took a commercial course in Cleveland, and special lessons in penmanship under P. R. Spencer, Sr., at Geneva. In January, 1862, he entered the recorder's office at Ravenna, to which po- sition he had been elected in October by a handsome majority. His duties here actually began January 6, 1862, and were concluded six years later in January, 1868 — and during this period he was never absent a single busi- ness day. He declined to run for a third term, for the reason that disabled soldiers were at that time seeking the office. In the winter of 1868-69, Mr. Norton, with others, organized a banking institution in Garrettsville, of which he was for a time the cashier, but resigned — an act afterward considered to have been a mistake. He was then engaged as superintend- ent of the Garrettsville public schools, to till a vacancy, and filled the position four terms. Subsequently he was twice elected justice of the peace and served until 1895; twice as mayor of the incorporated village of Garretts- ville, seven times as a member of the board of education, serving twenty-one years, and also served as clerk of the board twenty years. He is now a notary public, and is engaged in the real estate, insurance and collection business, and has frequently been called upon to act as executor, administrator, assignee and guardian in the settlement or management of large estates. The marriage of Mr. Norton took place December 17, 1859, to Miss Ann Eliza Taber, a native of Garrettsville. John Taber, father of Mrs. Norton, was born in Providence, R. I., April 29, 1798, and was married, in Providence, October 19, 18 19, to Mary Henrietta Greene, who was born in Barre, Mass., June 21, 1799, and was a relative of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Taber was car- penter on board of ship, and made some very long sea voyages. His ship was at (' \llao 778 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD when Bolivar entered Peru with his Columbian army. They took a ship load of royalists to Cadiz, Spain, with immense quantities of gold and silver. This was a six years' voyage, mostly in South American waters. The next was a three years' voyage, chiefly doing a coasting business in European seas. In early life Mr. and Mrs. Taber were members of the First Baptist church of Providence, which was founded by Roger Williams. They moved to Ohio in 1829, and after a residence of four years in Mogadore, Summit county, they moved to Garrettsville. Mr. Taber spent about three and a half years among the gold mines of California, starting for that then far- away country in the spring of 1850. Mr. Taber died suddenly, while on his way to worship in Garrettsville, March 12, 1871, and June 2, 1884, Mrs. Taber passed away, dying in the house in Garrettsville in which she had lived over half a century. They were the parents of four children, viz: Mary Henrietta (Mrs. Dr. A. M. Sherman), born November 15, 1829 — died October 26, 1853; John Her- man, born August 10, 1832 — died in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Novembers, 1856; James Hun- ter, born June 21, 1835 — died in Adrain, Mich., December 5, 1866, and Ann Eliza (now Mrs. Norton), born September 23, 1837. To the felicitous union of Mr. and Mrs. Norton have been born three children, of whom the first- born died in infancy; James Edgar, born in Ra- venna, March 18, 1866, and John Herman, born in Garrettsville, February 12, 1869. Of James E. and John H. further mention will shortly follow. James Norton, the subject, has for forty years been a newspaper correspondent. In pohtics he has always been a republican, and has always filled with credit to himself and satisfaction of the public every office he has held. In rel gion he and wife have been mem- bers of the Disciples' church for many years, and he is at present clerk of the church board. He has made a success of life and is well pro- vided with this world's goods, having overcome by his energy all the impediments on the road to fortune, and is still an active business man, honored and respected by the entire commun- ity of which he is a member. James Edgar Norton, son of James and Ann Eliza (Taber) Norton, began attendance at the Garrettsville schools in the fall of 1873, and graduated from the high school June i, 1883. In the fall of the same year he entered the senior preparatory class for a classical course at Hiram college, and triumphantly passed through to the junior class, at the annu- al exhibition of which, April 5, 1887, he greatly distinguished himself. Although his height was six feet precisely, and his average weight between 154 and 160 pounds, his health was never rugged nor robust, and it was probably owing to this circumstance that he met with an untimely death. On the evening of April 29, 1887, young Norton had been assisting in the preparation of the decorations of the chap- el for a college entertainment, and, having answered to the supper bell, took a slight re- past, and hastened back to complete the un- finished work of decoration; but the weather had been inclement, the college steps at the front were slippery, and, missing his footing, he was violently dashed against the corner of the step-stones, sustaining injuries which re- sulted in his death, shortly after six o'clock, Tuesday morning. May 3, 1887. The blow was a most distressing one to his parents, and was the most severe they had ever suffered or have suffered since. The noble young man was deeply beloved by the faculty and students of Hiram college, and many were the letters of condolence forwarded to the despondent parents from friends in various parts of the country. John Herman Norton, the youngest son of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 779 James and Ann Eliza (Taber) Norton, now one of the editors and proprietors of the "Scientific Machinist" of Cleveland, was grad- uated from the high school at Garrettsville, and from Hiram college with the class of 1892. For some little time after graduation he trav- eled as a solicitor for advertisements for the Scientific Machinist, and in the fall of 1892 his father purchased one-quarter interest in the concern, and presented it to the son, who now is one the managers of the business and is treasurer of the company. Mr. Norton was married, in 1892, to Miss Carrie P. Patch, daughter of A. J. Patch, a wealthy farmer near Hiram, and to this union one child has been born — Harold P. Mrs. Norton also graduated from Hiram college with the class of 1891. Mr. Norton and wife are members of the Disciples' church, on Euclid avenue, Cleveland, and of this church Mr. Norton is clerk. >^EROME B. HINMAN, janitor of the m new school-building at Mantua Station, /• 1 Portage county, Ohio, and a faithful ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Oswego, N. Y., July 9, 1835, and is a son of James and Dorothy (Fox) Hinman, the Hin- man family being of German origin. In some- what early times, three of the brothers of this German family came to America in company with each other, but separated on arriving, one settling in New York state, one in Ohio, and one in Michigan. Of the brother who settled in the Empire state, Jerome B. is a descendant, and was but two years old when brought to Ohio by his mother, then a widow, who was accompanied by her parents. Dan- iel Fox, father of Mrs. Dorothy Hinman, set- tled on a new farm in the woods at Auburn, Geauga county, but died one year later, and Dorothy came to Portage county, was mar- ried to William Springer, of Streetsboro,: and bore him two children — John and Henry. Jerome B. Hinman was reared to. farming in Streetsboro township, and August 13, 1862, enlisted, at Shalersville, in company D, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged, June 17, 1865, at Greensboro, N. C. , the war hav- ing been brought to a close. He took part in the following battles, among others, these men- tioned being the hardest fought: Covington, Ky., September 10, 1862; Danville, Ky., March 24, 1863; Knoxville, Tenn., November to December 4, 1863; Dallas, May 25 to June 4, 1864; Kenesaw Mountan, Ga. , June 9; Pine Mountain, Ga., June 13; Lost Moun- tain, June 16, and again at Kenesaw Moun- tain, June 27 to 30, 1864; Atlanta, July 28; Eutaw Creek, August 6; Columbia, Tenn., November 24 to 29; Atlanta Ga., September 2; Franklin, Tenn., November 30; Nashville, December 15 and 16; Fort Anderson, N. C. , February 18, 1865; Town Creek, February 20, 1865. At Dallas, Ga., he was shot slightly through the left breast by a Confederate cav- alryman, and for a few days was confined in field .hospital. Mr. Hinman was a brave and faithful soldier, was never absent from his post with the exception just mentioned, caused by his wound; was on every march and in every battle in which his regiment was en- gaged, and in every skirmish, excepting what may have taken place when, for a few weeks, he was on detailed duty as guard at a railroad station at Knoxville, Tenn., and for meritorious conduct was promoted to be wagon master, a position he held for two years. The commander of the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio infantry was Col. James Reilly. It cap- tured eleven Confederate flags — more than half the number captured by the entire bri- gade, which was twenty. After the war, Mr. Hinman returned to 780 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Portage county and settled in Shalersville, and December lo, 1865, was married, at Freedom, Ohio, to Miss Mary H. Chalker, who was born in that town July 5, 1835, a daughter of Enos and Eunice (Austin) Chalker. After marriage Mr. Hinman lived in Shalers- ville one year, then bought a home in Free- dom, where he lived twenty-seven years, and then came to Mantua Station in 1893, since when he has been janitor of the new school building. To his marriage there has been born one son, Clayton J., who was married to Miss Clara Gary and has one daughter, Mary D. Enos Chalker, father of Mrs. Mary H. Hin- man, was born in Susquehanna countj'. Pa., was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and was reared a farmer. He married, at Turin, Lewis county, N. Y. . Miss Eunice Haskins, a daugh- ter of Thomas Haskins, who was a soldier of the war of i8i2, and who died in Portage county, Ohio, in 1844, at about seventy years of age, his remains lying in an unmarked grave in the cemetery of Freedom. Enos Chalker came to Ohio in 1832, and located on a farm, but later removed to the Thomas Haskins farm at Freedom, on which he passed his re- maining years, dying in February, 1897, at the age of eighty-six, the present age of his widow, who still resides on the old homestead. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Chalker were five in number, and were named Mary H., Eunice A., Edna V., James W. and Martha A. John Springer, half-brother of Jerome B. Hinman, was a private in company K, Twenty- third Ohio volunteer infantry, in the three- year service; re-enlisted as a veteran in the same organization, and went through the en- tire war, participating in all the campaigns in which his regiment had anj' part. Mr. and Mrs. Hinman are consistent and conscientious members of the Disciples' church. and freely contribute toward its support. Mr. Hinman is a charter member of Bentley post. No. 294, G. A. R. , at Mantua Station, in which he has served as quartermaster and as junior and senior vice-commander. As a cit- izen he is highly esteemed for his strictl)' moral character, and is equally respected for his excellent record as a soldier. (D RS. MARY R. HAYMAKER, widow of James D. Haymaker, is a daugh- ter of Arvin Olin (born at Shafts- bury, Vt. .July 13, 1797), son of Ezra Olin, a son of John Olin, third, and born in Rhode Island, March 23, 1772. EzraOlinwas three and one-half years old when his parents removed to Vermont and settled in the town of Shaftsbury. He was five and one-half years old when the battle of Bennington was fought on August 16, 1777, and well remember hear- ing the booming of the cannon on that memo- rable day, his home being near the battle ground. Ezra Olin had but a limited education and and was reared a farmer; he was early taught the lessons of industry, thrift and economy. In March, 1791, he married Ruth Green, a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Green, natives of Rhode Island. Ruth Green was born in Rhode Island and moved with her parents to Vermont when she was quite young, and re- sided there until she was married, and soon after they moved to the old place, some two miles northeast of the center of Shaftsbury, which afterward became the homestead where the children were all born, with one exception. Ezra Olin and wife (Ruth Green Olin) were the parents of fourteen children, all born in Ver- mont. They were John, Samuel. Betsy, Arvin, Asa, Philip, Ezra, Ruth, Maria, Paris, Heman, Truman, Mary A. and Almira. Ezra Olin was a farmer of Vermont and had a comfort- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 781 able pioneer home in the midst of the Green mountains, and by their sturdy thrift and in- dustry lived in frugal comfort. Mr. Olin was a whig in politics and a man of sterling worth and integrity and reared his family in the paths of honesty and virtue. In 1824 he sold his farm in Shaftsbury and moved by team to Genesee county. New York state, where six of his sons had preceded him and were busy in clearing up the farm. His wife and four of the children were left to follow the next June. They went from Albany to Rochester, N. Y., by canal boat. He settled on a farm partly cleared by his son Arvin. He finally cleared up a farm at Perry, consisting of about 100 acres, and made a good home, and here passed his remaining days and died November 5, 1858, aged eighty-six years. The Olins descended from sterling Welsh ancestry. John Olin, the first of the name in America settled in East Greenwich, R. I. He had been pressed on board a British man-of- war on the coast of Wales, but deserted at Boston. Mass. Tradition states that the name was originally Llewellyn, and that the original John changed it to Olin. John Olin was a Welshman and had red hair. He was a farmer and made his home near the head waters of the Narragansett bay and here reared his family. He was married in East Green- wich, R. I., to Susannah Spencer, October 4, 1708, by Thomas Fry, justice. She was a daughter of John and Susannah Spencer, who emigrated from Wales. The genealogy of two of their four children, John and Henry, comes down to us with unerring accuracy. John Olin, the first, died at Newport. R. I., June 10, 1725, aged sixty-one years. Of the other children, there is no record. John Olin, second, son of above, was born in Rhode Is- land in 1 714, was an overseer of the poor and pound keeper, and a freeman of the town of East Greenwich. He married in East Green- wich, December 8, 1734, Susannah Pierce, daughter of Jeremiah Pierce, of Rhode Island. They lived in Rhode Island, where they reared their family, but in later life they returned to Shaftsbury, Vt. , where they had four sons liv- ing. The following children were born of this marriage. : Phebe, Jonathan, Anna, John, John (second), Gideon, Giles and Barbara. During the struggle for independence this fam- ily took an active part, and some of them were raised to the rank of officers in the colonial army. John Olin died in January, 1797, aged eighty-three years, and Susan his wife, died in February, 1802, aged eighty-seven years. John Olin, third generation, and the third son of John, was born September 17, 1 74 1, and married Sarah Card in Rhode Island about 1764, and moved to Vermont to escape the lawlessness of the British soldiers on the coast, and in 1775 settled in the Green moun- tains. His children were Paris, Hannah, Ezra, Phebe, Henry, Nancy, and Joseph. John Olin, third; died September 24, 1821, aged eighty years, and Sarah, his wife died June 12, 1819. Arvin Olin, son of Ezra and Ruth (Green) Olin-, was born July 13, 1797, and at the age of thirteen years was bound out to a farmer for seven months of the summer season, until nineteen years old. During a part of each winter he was allowed to attend school, and at nineteen his father gave him his freedom. The first summer he worked for a farmer for $16 per month and taught school during the winter in a district school. Here he v/on his wife, who was Miss Betsy Bennett — one of his pupils — and they were married March 9, 18 1 7. On the 1 8th of March, not finding em- ployment in his neighborhood, he shouldered his knapsack and started in pursuit of employ- ment and a home. After a journey of 300 miles on foot, he arrived in Perry — then Gene- see county, N. Y., where his elder brother 782 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD had settled the year previous, and with his assistance he bargained for fifty acres of land, of which six acres had been cleared, and on which a small house had already been built. The price was $1,300, all on credit. He re- mained here through the season and worked part of the time on his land and part of the time for wages, and having made some prepar- ation for living, in September he walked back to Vermont for his wife. About October istof the same year they packed their few effects in a two-horse wagon, which he hired, and with a teamster started for their new home in the west, as that part of New York state was called, and they arrived at his small log cabin in the woods about the 20th of October, and he, by working for others and the help of his brother John, and making potash, was quite enabled to get through the winter. He was joined by his brother Samuel, who came out the second year, to whom he sold a part of these fifty acres, and they worked together for three and one-half years. Mr. Olin then sold Samuel the place and bought another partly- improved farm near by, to which he added during the succeeding eight years, until he owned 210 acres, and here lived until Novem- ber 22, 1834; having sold his farm, he located in Portage county, Ohio, where he lived for a few weeks in Mantua, and in 1834, late in De- cember, settled on the farm in Franklin town- ship, where he passed the remainder of his days, and died June 7, 1870, aged seventy-two years. His wife, Betsy Bennett, was born February 6, 1801, at Bennington, Vt. Her parents were Francis and Cynthia Bennett. She attended the district school in Bennington at the time it was taught by Arvin Olin. She was married in Bennington, and while her husband was away west, she was busily en- gaged in spinning, weaving and making articles of use for her western home. In the spring of 1835, he made brick and built a two-story brick house, which is still standing in a good state of preservation, and by his steady industry he greatly improved the farm. He had a farm of 240 acres, and was an excellent citizen and served as township trustee several years, and justice of the peace many years. He was a member of the board of education and of the Universalist church. He was a man of strong character and reared an excellent family. His wife Betsy died January 5, 1872, aged seventy years; they were the parents of thirteen children, viz: Cynthia, Mary R., Franklyn, Ransom, Hen- rietta, Nelson, Merilla, Sarah A., Laura, Al- mira, Anson, Diantha, and one died an infant, nine days old. Mary R. Olin received the usual limited school education and married at fifteen years of age, November 29, 1835, •" Franklin town- ship, James D. Haymaker, the son of Freder- ick and Rachael (Davis) Haymaker. John Haymaker, son of Jacob and the father of Frederick, came to Portage county with his wife, Sallie, and children, Jacob, George and Catherine, and settled in Kent, on the Cuyahoga river, coming from Warren, Ohio, where they had located a year previously, having come from Pittsburg. They were of German descent and members of a large con- nection of that name in central and northern Pennsylvania. The father, Jacob, had pros- pected through this section of the country dur- ing the spring of 1805, and, being pleased with the country, now Franklin township, pur- chased of Olmstead's agent a tract of land consisting of the present site of the Kent mills. Arriving at the Cuyahoga, John and his family took possession of a rude cabin left by the surveyors, in 1803, which stood just west of where the upper bridge now is. This hut had been used for several years indiscriminately by the Indians and a shelter for deer and other wild animals, and was about a foot deep with OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 783 excrement, which had to be shoveled out before occupation. During the time they occupied this hovel, the Indians came around in great numbers, as the headquarters of the red-skins were at the falls of the Cuyahoga and on a small stream in Streetsboro township. One day, while the Haymakers were occupying this cabin, a few Indians came there and the squaw, as usual, took her papoose from her back and stood the board to which it had been strapped up against the logs of the cabin, as they never took their children into the houses of whites, except in very cold weather. After the squaw had gone in, a wild hog came through the brush, and grasping the Indian baby ran off with it; the mother, hearing the noise, ran out and rescued her babe, but not until she had badly beaten the hog. In the spring of 1806, George Haymaker, brother of John, and their father, Jacob, came in. Jacob built a house on the west side of the river where the Kent mills now stand. During the fall of 1806 Frederick Haymaker came in. He was another son of Jacob. He purchased a tract of land including most of the upper village. He was a man of fine educational and natural abilities, and served as private secretary to the famous Aaron Burr on the well known expedition for which Burr was tried for treason. Frederick was the father of twenty children by three wives. The Hay- maker family owned about 600 acres on the present site of Kent. The older Haymakers were Indian traders. During 1807 the Hay- maker's built a small mill. The stones forgrind- ing were those known as hard heads and were prepared by Bradford Kellogg, of Hudson. The mill was a very crude affair and was used before it was entirely finished. Crotched poles were planted, upon which other poles were placed. A coarse cloth was used as a bolting-cloth — the work being done by hand. This primitive affair was of great convenience to the settlers and was used with but little im- provement for several years. The first white child born in Kent was John F. Haymaker, son of John and Sallie Haymaker, born Sep- tember II, 1807. The first death was that of Eve Haymaker, wife of Jacob, father of the first settler, John. Jacob died in 1819, John in 1827, George in 1838 and Frederick died in Trumbull county Ohio, at Leavittsburg, in 1850. Sallie died on June 15, 1869, at the great age of ninety-four years, having lived in this township seventy years. The old bury- ing ground in which Eve Haymaker was buried in 1810 was donated by one of the Haymakers for burial purposes and consisted of two acres of land. In 1831-2 Federick Haymaker sold his property, consisting of 100 acres of land and a fine water power in the upper village of Kent. Frederick was born at Little York, Pa., November 7, 1772. He married Elea- nor Robertson, who was born in Pittsburg. Pa., March 9, T77, of Scotch-Irish an- cestry, and died at Pittsburg, Pa., November 19, 1807. By his first marriage to Eleanor Robertson he was the father of the following children, John, Sarah, Mary, Andrew. Mar- garet, Sarah, and Susannah. Mrs. Haymaker died, and he then married Rachael Davis, who was born December 12, 1788, at Shippensburg, Pa., and she died Sep- tember 15, 1809, in Franklin township, Port- age county, Ohio, the mother of one child, James Davis. Frederick Haymaker married, for his third wife, Mary Swan, born June 19, 1789. in Westmoreland county, Pa., and bore the fol- lowing children: Allen, William D. , Rachael, Eliza, Rebecca, Frederick, George. Cynthia, Jesse, Francis, Marion, and Henry Clay. A period of over thirty-six years elapsed between the birth of his first child and his last, who was born seventeen years before his death. His first child was born when he was about 784 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD twenty-five years old, and the last when he was about sixty-one years old. Frederick Haymaker was a prosperous man, of excellent character and much respected among the pio- neers. In early days he built a wqolen-mill at Kent, Ohio, which he ran several years. He was a man of marked ability and had a good knowledge of medicine, which he prac- ticed among the pioneers. In his earlier days he was a well-known Indian trader. James D. Haymaker was born September 2, 1809, a short distance from the spot where Brady made his leap across the Ohio river in Franklin township. Portage county. He re- ceived a very limited education in the district school and gained much of his knowledge him- self. He worked in the woolen-mill with his father when he was young, and at the age of twenty-two years he engaged in the manufac- ture of wooden pails with his brother, Will- iam, at what is now Kent, Ohio, then Frank- lin Mills. For two years he had charge of a hotel at Fairport, on lake Erie, and returned to Franklin township, where he engaged in farming, a pursuit which he ever afterward fol- lowed. He married November 29, 1835, Mary R. Olin, born February 22, 1820, in Genesee county, N. Y. , a daughter of Arvin and Betsy (Bennett) Olin. Mr. and Mrs. Haymaker were the parents of fourteen children, viz: Franklin, Oscar F., Rachael D., Ann M., Arvin O., Mary R., James A., Clarissa L. , Almira B., Martha A., Cora E., William J., Abbie M., and an infant unnamed. Mr. Haymaker was a strong Union man, and a stanch republican. He had one son in the Civil war — James A. — a private of com- pany I, One Hundred and Ninety-third regi- ment Ohio volunteer infantry, who served seven months, enlisting when sixteen years old. Mr. Haymaker was a member of the l'ni\ersalist church of Kent, and was church tni-tee many years. He was an honored citi- zen, township trustee many years, and justice of the peace several terms; also a member of the school board. He lived to be seventy-nine years old, and died January' 31, 1889. He was a pioneer of great worth, always indus- trious and frugal, well known for his honesty, and he accumulated a goodly propert}', own- ing a well-improved farm of 200 acres. Polit- ically, he was a life-long republican. He was of an active mind and strong character. Mrs. Haymaker is yet living, and is a venerable lady of over seventy-seven years of age. Her faculties are remarkablj- well preserved, and she possesses an excellent memory. She is a woman of very wide experience and for many years has taken an active interest in his- torical matters pertaining to the county, and to her family, and possesses a wonderful fund of fact and reminiscences. She has since her husband's death managed her homestead with wisdom and prudence, and has succeeded in preserving it in good condition. Her daugh- ter, Abbie M., resides with her mother. She married Edmund W. Case, son of Henry and Mary Case. They have one daughter, Lona M. f^y^ UFUS L. WILLARD (deceased). I /^T formerly one of the respected resi- £ , P dents of Cuyahoga Falls, was a de- scendant of Revolutionary ancestry. Major Willard, the founder of the family in America, came with an English Puritan emi- gration between 1630 and 1640, and settled near Boston, Mass. On the maternal side, the subject also descends from Revolutionary stock, his maternal grandfather having served as a soldier in the war for independence. John O. Willard, father of Rufus L., was born in Hartland township, Windsor county, Vt., in March, 1788. He was a lumberman, and married, in Vermont, Silinda Lamb, who was born in 1787. Mr. Willard came to Ohio ^ ^ S^'WZ^e^z^^^^ ,jh^ (/^'^ ^^j/aj.cl 4' OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 789 in the fall of 1818 and worked one season, then walked back from Cleveland to Ver- gennes, Vt., in 18 18, a distance of about 700 miles, making this long distance in fourteen days, or at the rate of about fifty miles per day. Mr. Willard, in 1820, moved his family to Cleveland, Ohio, in May, coming on the first steamboat, Walk in the Water, on Lake Erie. The passengers were landed in Cleve- land in small boats. Mr. Willard's family consisted of his wife and four children — Sarah, Harrison, Adelia and Anson; Elliott S. and Rufus L. were born in Cleveland. Mr. Wil- lard bought land where the northwest corner of Euclid and Wilson avenues now is, and cleared up a farm of fifty-four acres, built a residence and other buildings, and engaged in the manufacture of wagons. He lived to be forty-four years old, and died, in 1832, in Cleveland. In his day Cleveland was a small village, mostly composed of hewed log houses. His widow passed all her remaining days on the old place and died in June, 1865, having been a member of the Christian church many years. Rufus L. Willard was born in Cleveland, Ohio, April 8, 1825, on his father's farm and received the education of the pioneer schools in that city, attending district school in a log school-house during the winter, and a select school in summer. He learned the painting business and made a specialty of marine work and fine painting. He married, November 17, 1847, Mary Tifft, who was born September 24, 1 829, in Cato, N. Y. , a daughter of Charles and Jane Ann (Chase) Tifft. Charles Tifft was born at Danville, Vt., March 25, 1800, a a son of Matthew and Sarah (Carr) Tifft. The Tiffts were of English ancestry and probably came with the English Puritans to New Eng- land and were early colonial settlers in Ver- mont. Matthew Tifft was born in New York, September 12, 1771, and was a shoemaker He was a member of the Methodist church and he and wife were the parents of Charles, Joseph, John, Keziah and Polly. Mr. Tifft was killed by accident May 31, 1829. He was a prosperous farmer, in comfortable cir- cumstances, and was buried on his old farm. Charles Tifft, son of above, received his early education in the public schools and married in New York state, at Cato, Jane Ann Chase, who was born August 14, 1809, at Poughkeep- sie, N. Y. , a daughter of Joshua and Mar}- (Hackett) Chase. Joshua Chase was born in Rhode Island, being a descendant of one of three Chase brothers, John, Aquiila and Will- iam, who came from England in 1730 and settled in that state. The original Joshua, the founder of this branch of the Chase family, married a Miss Johnson, and they had the fol- lowing children: Polly, Mary, Joshua, Job, Johnson, Nathan, Maxon, Merza and Electa. Grandfather Joshua Chase married Mary Hackett. Their children were Austin (born in Connecticut), Nathan, Edwin, and Jane Ann (born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.), John A. (born in New York), Johnson (born in Red Kill, N. Y.) and Northrup (born at Cato, N. Y.)." Joshua Chase was a shoemaker and sub- stantial citizen. He died at Cato, a Metho- dist in religion and a man of many virtues. Salmon P. Chase, the great war statesman, was a descendant of this family. Charles Tifft, after marriage, settled at Cato, N. Y., and was a manufacturer of potash. In 1833 he came with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, and lived on a farm on what is now Wilson avenue for four years, cleared up 100 acres of land of heavy timber, and then came to Norton, Summit county, and bought a farm of 200 acres, where he lived for five years, and in 1841 moved to Cuyahoga Falls, where he established the first livery stable and a hack line to Hudson, and continued in this business many years. Mr. Tifft was also en- 790 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD gaged in the pottery business, and was at one time proprietor of what is now the CHfford Inn. He prospered and bought a great deal of real estate. He and wife were the parents of twelve children: Sarah, Mary, George, Caroline, born in Cato, N. Y. ; Adaline, born in Cleveland, Ohio; Mark, born in Barberton, Ohio; Lucinda, Euphemia, Julia, Jane Ann, Willard H. and Edwin H. Mr. Tifft was a well known and prosperous citizen, was highly respected, lived to be eighty-five years old, and died June 30, 1885. After marriage Mr. Willard settled in Cleveland and followed his business of painting for nearly fifty years, and then engaged in glass staining ten years. He built a substan- tial residence of brick at the corner of J and Pearl streets, in which he resided with his family for nearly thirty-seven years. He and his wife were the parents of one son, Charles A. (now deceased). Mrs. Willard is a mem- ber of the Christian church, and in politics Mr. Willard was a republican. Fraternally he was a Mason, a member of Biglow lodge, Cleveland, Ohio, and of Thatcher chapter, and had been master of his lodge and held numerous offices. He was also a K. T. and a member of Oriental commandery. No. 12. Mr. Willard was entirely a self-made man and was always noted for his industry and integ- rity. Mr. Willard was a member of the school board of Cleveland eight years and president of the board one year. Mr. and Mrs. Willard came to Cuyahoga Falls in 1892, having re- tired from active life, and here he died June 6, 1897. In the death of Rufus L. Willard, Ohio lost one of her noble and true men. To his funeral there came from his old lodge at Cleve- land nearly 100 members, to do honor to his memory. Charles A. Willard, born April 30, 1849, in Cleveland, Ohio, received a good education in the public schools and engaged in the wall paper business. When he was a boy of six- teen years he enlisted in Capt. Russell's com- pany, in the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and served one year, when he was disabled and was con- fined for some time in a hospital. He married, in Cleveland, Catherine Arntz, and they had three children, Silenda, Jennie and Frank W. Charles A. Willard was a member of the Masonic fraternity, Thatcher chapter. He was a man of strict integrity, and was greatly respected wherever known, and died April 6, 1896. aLIFFORD S. HIDDLESON, M. D. , of Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Randolph, in the same county, May 8, i860, and is a son of John and Mary (Prosser) Hiddleson, both of whom were born in Ohio, the former in 1843 and the latter in 1843, Mrs. Hiddleson dying, however, in 1891. Mr. Hiddleson, a harnessmaker by trade, has followed this busi- ness upward of thirty-eight years, and has always been respected for his straightforward dealing and unswerving honesty. He was a soldier in the Sixteenth Ohio volunteer in- fantry during the Civil war, and is now a mem- ber of the G. A. R. Dr. C. S. Hiddleson received his early ed- ucation in the district and high schools of Randolph, and pursued his Latin and German studies under a Catholic priest named Reb- holtz, and also under the Lutheran minister. After leaving his tutors he entered upon the study of medicine under Drs. Price and Per- kins of Randolph, with whom he remained four years, and then went to Cleveland and took a course of study in the Western Reserve Col- lege of Medicine, in the meantime reading for six months in the office of Dr. X. C. Scott, of that city. He then went to Cincinnati and Z^f/gA^-^ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 791 there completed his medical studies at the Ohio Medical college, in March, 1883, and then returned to Randolph, where he formed a partnership for practice with Dr. J. Price, which partnership continued for three and one- half years. He then came to Atwater, met with unequivocal and unqualified success in his profession, and here he has since remained. Dr. Hiddleson was united in marriage Oc- tober I, 1885, with Miss Ella Mendenhall, a native of Randolph, and the accomplished daughter of W. P. and Aseneth Mendenhall, of Atwater, this union resulting in the birth of two children, viz: Robert M., July i, 1887, and Dorothy, June 30, 1889. The doctor and wife are members of the Congregational church, in which he holds the office of trustee. and are rearing their children in the same faith. Fraternally, the doctor is a member of Unity chapter. No. 12, R. A. Masons, of Ra- venna; holds the office of chancellorcommander in the Knights of Pythias order, being a mem- ber of Atwater lodge. No. 164, and is past commander of the Knights of Maccabees, At- water tent. No. 64. In politics the doctor is a sound money republican and protectionist; holds the office of health inspector of Atwater and is a member of the board of education. He is genial and courteous, is respected for his professional skill, and socially he and wife are always welcome at the homes of the best people of Atwater township. ai 'ARREN T. HAYES, one of the most respected citizens of Streets- boro township. Portage county, Ohio, and a gallant soldier of the late Civil war. springs from an old colonial family of Massachusetts, and was born in Burton, Geauga county, Ohio, May 31, 1846, a son of Elijah and Sallie (Fowler) Hayes. He received a good common-school education, and enlisted, at the age of eighteen years, at Cleveland, Ohio, March 3, 1864, in company K, Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, July 13, 1865 — a period of one year, four months and thirteen days. He was always an active sol- dier, except one month, when he was home on sick furlough with lung fever. The winter was extremely cold and the summer hot, and Mr. Hayes suffered a great deal from expo- sure, from which he has never recovered. Warren T. Hayes, as a defender of his coun- try's honor and her flag, was unswerving in his efforts. He was faithful to the trust im- posed upon him, and his services as a private in company K, One Hundred and Twenty- eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, were promptly recognized. His arduous duties were guard- ing and taking care of rebel prisoners at John- son's Island, but he was frequently called upon to help form detachments for important services elsewhere. His work during the en- listment ofttimes called him in pursuit of the rebels in western Virginia, during the year 1862. Mr. Hayes enjoys the confidence of his comrades, as well as those who know him in his vicinity. He is possessed of a genial, cordial disposition, is sympathetic in manner and has a good word for all. The citizens of the United States should ever honor those brave men who offered their lives, if need be, as a sacrifice upon the altar of liberty. Mr. Hayes returned to Geauga county after the war and engaged in farming until 1870, when he came to Portage county, and here married, March 22, 1871, in Streetsboro town- ship, Laura A. Trotter, a native of the towns- hip, born September 17, 1842, a daughter of John and Harriet (Johnson) Trotter, the former of whom, an old settler of Streetsboro, was born in Ireland and came to New York state, and thence to Aurora township, where he died 792 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD a venerable man of eighty-three years. His children were Laura A. and Annie. Mrs. Hayes was the eldest in her father's family. Her sister Annie was the wife of Melville Smith, of Streets- boro township. They had one child, Annie, and she is the wife of William Bell, who is a farmer. Mrs. Smith died October 20, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Haj'es settled on the present homestead after marriage, and their children are Fred A. and Annie Z. In politics Mr. Hayes is a republican, and cast his first presi- dential vote for U. S.Grant: is a member of the G. A. R. , \\'illiam T. Sherman post. No. 68, Hudson, Ohio, and is at present officer of the day. Mr. Hayes is a straightforward, honor- able man and a good citizen. George, great-grandfather of Warren T. Hayes, was a farmer of Connecticut and was born December 12, 1726. The first of the name of Hayes in America was born in Scot- land in 1655, came to Windsor, Conn., in 1680, moved to Simsbury, Conn., in 1698 and died there September 2, 1725. He married, the first time, at Windsor, Conn., about 1682, and had born to him a son, George, who died an infant, April 3, 1683. The first wife died in 1698, and he ne.xt married, also at Windsor; Conn., Abigail Dibble, only daugh- ter of Samuel Dibble, of Windsor, by his first wife. She was born January 19, 1868, and died in 1725. Eleven children are men- tioned in his will of April 30, 1725, viz: Abigail, born in Windsor 1664 and married Paul T. Thompkins; Daniel, born in Windsor, April 26, 1686, ancestor of president R. B. Hayes: Sarah, born in Windsor, 1687-8, and married JohnGossard; Mary, born in Windsor, 1690 and married William Rice; Joanna, born in Windsor, 1690 and married James Hilyer; George, the third, born Windsor, March 9, 1695 and died in or after 1765; William, born in Windsor, June 13, 1697: Samuel, born in Simsbury, 1699. George Hayes, the fourth, was born at Windsor, March 9, 1765, and by his marriage became the father of the following children: Jonathan, Zera, George, Elisha, Jane, Mary, David, Benjamin, Jacob, Elija, Amos, James and Sarah. The Hayes family is of undoubted Scottish ancestry, although, since the days of William the Conqueror, branches of the family have lived in England. Four families by the name of Hayes are recorded in New England in the seventeenth century — one of them in New Hampshire, and the other three in Connecticut. First — Thomas, of Milford, Conn., 1645, whose descendants removed a few years later to Newark, N. J., where they remain to this day. Second — Nathaniel, of Norwalk, Conn., 165 I, of whose family no trace is found after the year 1729. Third — John, of Dover, N. H., who came in 1640, from Scotland, and was the founder of a widespread and honorable New England family, many of whom still cluster around the old homes in New Hampshire and Maine. Fourth — George, of Windsor, Conn., who came, also, from Scotland as early as 1680, being then about twenty-five years of age, and whom an early tradition among his progeny calls a brother of the New Hampshire emigra- tion. No proof of this nor any relationship has yet appeared, but the tradition shows the undoubted Scottish descent of both families, and their coming to New England about the same time and the unmistakable coincidence of names. From George Hayes, of Windsor, Conn., ex-President Hayes descended, and many of the Ohio branch. A manuscript record, written or dictated by Ezekiel Hayes, first, of New Hampshire (born 1724 and died 1807, grandson of George, of Windsor, Conn.), says that George Hayes went from Scotland to Derbyshire, England, and lived with his OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 793 uncle. He was anxious to see London, whither he went. Having received some ac- count of America, he took passage, and came to this country. He married, and three chil- dren were born to him. His wife died, and also his children. Afterward he married Abi- gail Dibble, of Long Island, and settled in Windsor, Conn., and by her he had ten chil- dren. George Hayes died at Simsbury, Conn. , September 2, 1725; Daniel is the ne.xt in this line; then Ezekiel; then Rutherford, and then Rutherford, the father of R. B. Hayes, ex- president of the United States. Of Daniel, the second generation, it is stated that when he was about twenty-two years old he was taken prisoner by the Indians, almost in sight of his old home, and carried a captive to Can- ada, and held four years. An interesting ac- count of this is given in Phelps's History of Sunbury. For full Hayes genealogy, see life of George Hayes, of Windsor, and his descend- ants, by Rev. Charles Wells, M. A., West- field, N. Y., printed at Buffalo, N. Y.. by Wells, Jones & Co. Eli Hayes, grandfather of Warren T., came to Burton, Geauga county, Ohio, in 1801, and cleared up a farm of about 100 acres, and here remained until his death on his farm — a venerable man of about ninety- three years of age, and a respected pioneer. His children were Simeon, Elijah, Amos, Amanda, and Polly. Elijah Hayes, father of Warren T. , was born at Russell, Hampden county, Mass., in 1784, and came with his parents to Ohio when seven years old. He was always a farmer and owned a farm of 117 acres of good land. To his marriage with Sallie Fowler were born the following children: Eber B., Arvilla L. , and Warren T. Mr. Hayes lived to be eighty-seven years old, and died at Char- don, Geagua county, Ohio. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist church from the age of twenty-one years, and was a class leader. In politics, he was a whig and republican, and was an honored citizen and upright man. St ILLIAM H. HARR is a respected citizen of Mantua Station, though he was born in Green county, Ohio, August, I, 1845, the son of Jacob and Maria Harr, both of whom came from Washington county, Md. William H. removed, with his father, to Dayton, Ohio, when he was about eight years old, and attended first the public school and then the free academy, and gained a good education. He attended school until i860, and then began learning the milling business at Tippecanoe City, Ohio. He enlisted in August, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio, as a seaman on the United States gunboat Tyler for two years, and served until his time of enlistment expired, receiving an honorable discharge at Cairo, Ills., on the Clara Dolsen. a United States receiving ship, August, 1864. He was in the battle of Lake Providence, skirmish at Millican Bend, and at Vicksburg, Hayne's Bluff, and .in the Red River expedition and a battle at Helena, Ark., and in several minor engage- ments. Mr. Harr was a good soldier, and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of all his duties, and served his country faithfully. He considers the hardest battle he was in was at Helena, Ark. His captain was James Pritchett, a regular naval officer, ranking as captain. After the war Mr. Harr returned to Tippe- canoe City, Ohio, and continued the milling business as soon as he was able, one year being wasted on account of his disease — the chronic diarrhea, incurred in the war, and from which disease he has ever since suffered. He came to Portage county about 1870, and bought Fenn Valley mills, which he still continues to run. He, in company with his father, Jacob 794 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Harr, built in 1876 the Mantua City mills, which burned in 1879, and W. H. Harr, who then owned the niili, lost about $9,000. He then returned to the Fenn Valley mills and one year later went to Xenia, Ohio, and bought a mill which he sold one year later, and then operated a mill in Tippecanoe City for two years, and thirteen years ago returned to the Fenn Valley mill, which he has operated since. Politically he is a republican and a mem- ber of the G. A. R. , Mantua Station, Bentley post, of which he has served as adjutant; also is a member of the K. of P. Mr. Harr has always been a hard-working, industrious man, and was a good soldier, and has always stood high for his integrity of character. Mr. Harr married, August 18, 1878, Nannie J. Crocker, born July 27, 1850, at Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, daughter of Amos and Mary Jane (Mannis) Crocker. Amos Crocker was the son of David and Nannie (Warren) Crocker. David Crocker was born in Con- necticut and came as a pioneer to Portage county, settled in Freedom township, where he owned and cleared up a large farm, and was a substantial farmer. He was the father of Thomas, Amos, Orlando, Lucretia, Charlotte, Salomie and Nancy. David Crocker lived to be an aged man and died on his farm, a much respected pioneer. Amos Crocker was born in Connecticut, and came when a boy to Ohio with his par- ents, and here married Mary J. Mannis. He was a blacksmith and wagonmaker, and lived in Freedom and Hiram townships all his life. He was a mechanical genius and could make anything of iron and wood. He made guns as well as wagons, and many other things, and was a well-known man. His children were Nannie J., Emma D., Mary L., Lillie G., Olive A., James T., Ella M. and Rose. Mr. Crocker was an industrious man, much re- spected by all. He died aged fifty-three years. His widow lives in Hiram, aged sixty-three. Jacob Harr, father of subject, was the son of Rudolph, who was the son of Rudolph, and this name has been handed down to this branch of the Harr family in America for five generations. In early times two brothers came over — one named Rudolph. They left one family home to hold the old family name, which was of noble ancestry. The family settled on the line of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania before the Revolutionary war. Ru- dolph, grandfather of subject, was a pioneer in Washington county, Md., where he was one of the best and largest farmers of that county. He sold out and bought a farm in Montgomery county, Ohio, as a pioneer, set- tling in Dayton, at Shakerstown. Here he had a good farm of 160 acres, and here passed his active life. He was drowned in the Miami river at Tippecanoe City. Jacob Harr, father of subject, was born in Washington county, Md., and came to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, when a young man. He had learned the milling trade in Maryland, near Baltimore. He was married, in 1837, in Daj'ton, to Marie Howard, by Rev. D. Winters, and their children were Nettie A., William H., Amanda E., Mary C. , and Anna M. Mr. Harr worked at his trade, of a miller in Dayton, and in the early 'fifties owned the largest mill in that city. He located, in 1858, in Montgomery, Ala., and engaged in milling, but was interrupted by the Civil war, when he returned to Tippecanoe, re-engaged in milling, and then came with his son, William H., to Mantua Station, where he died, in 1876. He was a member of the old Dunkard church, and an honest and upright man. Marie Howard was of German ancestry, and was the daughter of H. Hunt. Mr. Hunt, the grandfather of Mrs. Jacob Harr, was a com- missioned officer in the Hessian army during OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 795 the Revolutionary war, and resigned his com- mission from the British arn-iy and joined the patriot army. He was captured and was to be shot as a deserter, but through Gen. Wash- ington's influence he was exchanged. Mr. and Mrs. Harr have the following chil- dren: Rudolph Howard, born August 20, 1879; Blaine, born January 9, 1881; William Oliver, born January 14, 1883, and John Ben- jamin, born February 10, 1885. HBRAHAMHUFFMAN. a pioneer farmer of Edinburg township. Port- age county, Ohio, is a native of Red Bank township, Armstrong county. Pa., and was born January 27, 1821, a son of William and Christina (Money) Huffman. William Huffman was a native of Ver- mont, and his wife of Pennsylvania, in which latter state they were married, and about 1825 came to Ohio, and for six years lived at Deerfield, Portage county. Mr. Huffman then purchased a farm of 100 acres in Rootstown township, where he followed farming until his death at the age of eighty-six years, his widow living to reach the advanced age of ninety-two. They were the parents of nine children beside the subject, who were named Philip, Henry, Adam, John, Martha, Catherine, Jacob, Will- iam, and Anna, all now deceased, with the exception of Abraham (the subject). Abraham Huffman, who was but four years of age when brought by his parents to Ohio, was educated in the only school-house then in his neighborhood. This was a rude log struc- ture, the light to which was admitted through holes cut in the log walls, and protected by cheese-cloth. The teacher generally boarded with one patron and then wiih another, and his fee was $1 per term of three months for each pupil, and this old building was situated on the farm Mr. Huffman now owns. He well remembers the wild animals and birds that inhabited the woods when he was a boy — among which were bears, foxes, deer, wolves, squirrels and turkeys; and he also recalls an incident which occurred to his father one bright Sunday morning when the latter was on his way to church at Atwater. The father was threading his way along a narrow path through the woods, when he sighted a bear in his way, which he succeeded in " treeing; " calling for help, he was soon joined by his sons, who secured a rifle from their home at no great distance, and bruin soon became the victim of the deadly aim of the father, who then pursued his way to the meeting house, while the boys lugged the bear to their home, to be further discussed at future meals. After leaving school subject went to farm- ing with his parents in Rootstown. He mar- ried, January 2, 1 842, Miss Jane Summerill, who was born March 23, 1824, in Lexmgton town- ship. Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of Har- rison and Hope (Crockford) Summerill, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of New Jersey. The father of Harrison was of English descent, was a slaveholder in Virginia, and met his death at the hand of one of his own slaves. Harrison was born in 1789, served in the war of 181 2, and died in Indi- ana in 1861, while on a visit to some of his children and his wife. Hope, who was of Scotch descent, born in 1800, died in Lexing- ton, Stark county, Ohio, in 1833. After mar- riage Mr. Huffman started farming on his own account, leasing land from his father, in Rootstown, on which he remained several years, and then, disposing of his lease to a sister, moved to Edinburg township, where he purchased a farm three-quarters of a mile south of his present place, and this farm of fifty-eight acres of improved land he sold to Stacy Dole. He then purchased from Stacy Dole and John Wilks a tract of 102 acres, of 796 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD which he sold one acre to the township as a site for a school building. This tract Mr. Huffman has converted into a comfortable home, and here resides with his wife and daughter and two grandchildren. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Huffman has been blessed with three children — Alvira Rosalia, Marion J. and Hope Victoria. Of these Alvira R. is the wife of Lucius F. Butler, an agriculturist, of Rootstown, and is the mother of two chil- dren — Mary Lillian and Clarence Metz. Mary Lillian is the wife of Dr. Mallott, of Roots- town Center, a man of brilliant education. Marion is married to Emma Bow, resides in Randolph township, and is the father of one child, Mertie B., who is the wife of Charles Colton and the mother of one child. Glen Colton. Hope Victoria was first married to William J. Stratton, to whom she bore one child — Marion J. — and after the death of Mr. Stratton was married to David Luli, by whom she became the mother of another child — Helen Jane. Hope Victoria resides with her two children on the home farm with her parents. Mrs. Huffman had three sisters and two brothers, and of this family of six there are only three survivors, viz: Mrs. Huffman, the eldest; Susan, wife of David Wood, a native of the Highlands of Scotland, and re- siding in Waterville, Minn. ; William, a farmer, of Michigan, who married a Miss Howe (now deceased), and had born to him seven children. Clarence Metz Huffman is employed in the pension office at Washington, D. C. In April, 1881, Mr. Huffman rented his farm and retired to Atwater, where he con- ducted the hotel known as the American house for eight years, when, failing health disinclining him for further business pursuits, he rented his hotel and returned to his farm, where he is passing his days in peace, as a wealthy and honored citizen is well entitled to do. Mr. Huffman is not connected with any secret order, nor has he ever held a public office, although in his political proclivities he is a democrat. No man in the township, how- ever, is more respected or more favorably known throughout Portage county. *-|^ lEUT. ASA WHITESTINE, of No. I j 1 00 1 East Exchange street, Akron, ^I^J Ohio, is one of the veteran soldiers of the Civil war and a member of Buckley post. No. 12, G. A. R., of Akron, Ohio. He was born in Perry county. Ohio, March 4, 1841, a son of James and Massie (Shreve) Whitestine. He was taken by his parents to Huntington, Ind., in 1841, when he was but six months old. There he grew to manhood and enlisted, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Sulli- van, Indianapolis, Ind., October (i, 1861, for i three years or during the war, in company F, Forty-seventh regiment Indiana volunteer in- fantry, under Capt. Sextus H. Shearer. He was honorably discharged at New Iberia, La., December 16. 1863, to enable him to re-enlist, on the same date, as corporal in the same or- ganization, three years as a veteran. He then served until honorably discharged as ,irst ser- geant, by reason of the close of the war, at Baton Rouge, La., by Capt. Jefferson F. Slus- ser, October 23, 1865. His first promotion was from corporal to fifth sergeant, January i, 1864, at Algiers. La., next for meritorious conduct to be first sergeant, April 10, 1865, at Blakely. Ala., and received his commission as first lieutenant July I, 1865 (but was not mustered in as such), his commission bearing the signature of the famous war governor of Indiana, Oliver P. Morton. He was in the following-named battles: New Madrid, Miss., Island No. 10, Riddle's Point, Fort Pillow, Memphis, Tenn., Brown's ^^ 'jf/iMcZC^ I OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 799 plantation, Haines' Bluff, Bolivar Bluffs, Ark., Arkansas Post, Yazoo Pass expedition and siege of Fort Pemberton, Miss., Bruimbury and Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Bayou Bridge, Mill Creek, Champion Hills, Big Black River, siege of Vicksburg, the Jackson, expedition to Carrion Crow Bayou, La., Grand Coteau, Red River campaign and Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River, Alexandria Dam, Atchafalaya River, Moscow, Tenn., Spanish Fort, Ala., and Fort Blakely and Mobile, Ala. Lieut. Whitestine was in a fighting regi- ment. He was in twenty-five battles, and in skirmishes too numerous to mention. He has a splendid military record, saw fighting from the beginning to the snd of the great war, but never received a wound nor was a prisoner. He was, however, confined in hospital with bloody flux at Helena, Ark, ten days — many of his regiment dying away quickly of that dread disease. He considers his hardest bat- tle to be Champion Hills, and the next hard- est Port Gibson. In front of Spanish Fort, the rebels charged the picket line at day- break. He was sergeant of the picket, and held his position until the line broke, and he found his squad surrounded, but he escaped, leaving but few men killed. For his gallant conduct on this occasion he was promoted to be first sergeant. He considers the Vicksburg campaign to be the most severe in which he was engaged, as in this he carried eight days' rations, and 120 pounds of ammunition for several days. Mr. Whitestine was a very hardy soldier, and endured all the hardships of a soldier's life with fortitude, and served the country faithfully. After the war Mr. Whitestine returned to Huntington and engaged in contracting and teaming. He married there, October 8, 1868, Rebecca Immel, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of David and Elizabeth Immel. Mr. Whitestine moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 33 1 87 1, and engaged in contracting, and in 1877 came to Akron, where he has since lived and has prospered. Mr. and Mrs. White- stine are the parents of the following children: David, Celenia, Chester and Jessie. Mr. White- stine is a member of the G. A. R., Buckley post, Akron, in which he has held the offices of officer of the day, senior and junior vice- commander. In politics he is a republican. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, Spartan lodge, in which he has held office of director, and likewise a member of the Royal Arcanum, at Akron. Mr. Whitestine is yet well preserved, for a man who saw so much exposure and service as a soldier. His brother George was a private of company E, Seventy- fifth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, and was killed in the battle of Stone River, when he was but seventeen years old. HOMAS T. HOPKINS, one of tfie oldest and most highly respected citizens of Palmyra township. Port- age county, Ohio, is a native of southern Wales, and was born April 9, 1818, a son of Thomas and Eleanor (Davis) Hopkins. Thomas Hopkins, father of Thomas T. , was a farmer in Wales and one of the most extensive dealers in live stock in his section of the country. To his marriage with Eleanor Davis were born eight children, of whom Thomas T. is the sole survivor, the deceased having borne the names of Samuel, Hopkins, Daniel, David, Mary, Margaret and Hannah. The father died in 1830, at the age of sixty- one years, and the mother in 1861, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. The father never left his native land, but the mother, after her husband's decease, crossed the ocean to visit her son, the subject, and then returned to Wales, where she passed the remainder of her days, honored by all who knew her. bOO PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Thomas T. Hopkins, when a mere lad of fourteen years, came alone to America in 1832, and for eight years was employed in mining at Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio; he then went to St. Louis, Mo., and for some time was engaged in mining in the vicinity of that city, then lived in Pennsylvania three years, and finally settled down to farming in Palmyra township, his present home. Octo- ber 27, 1855, he here married Miss Eleanor Thomas, who was born in Caemarthen, Wales, November 14, 1833, a daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Jenkins) Thomas, who came to America in 1852, and settled in Palmyra town- ship. Mrs. Rachel Thomas was a daughter of David and Eleanor (Thomas) Jenkins, and bore her husband nine children, of whom five are still living, viz: Eleanor, now Mrs. Hop- kins; Mary, wife of Edward Jones; Ann, now Mrs. Cowell; Thomas, and Rachel, wife of Edwin Bigelow; Daniel died in 1862, aged fifteen; John died in the army in 1863, at the age of nineteen years; David died April 21, 1890, when sixty-one years old, and one child died in infancy. The mother of this family died in August, 1853, at the age of forty-four years, and the father in 1877, when sixty-nine years old. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins was blessed with three bright children, but these were all called to eternal rest, within a few weeks of each other, in the fall of 1862 — Eleanor died at the age of six years, Rachel at four, and Samuel at three years of age — all dying of diphtheria. Since his residence in Palmyra township Mr. Hopkins has devoted his attention strictly to agriculture, and his farm is one of the neatest and best in the township, over which he still keeps a super- vision. He has so lived as to win the love and esteem of his neighbors, and his declining years are being passed in peace, unmarred by any retrospect of an evil action. >>j*OHN H. HOFFMAN, tinner, of Deer- m field, Ohio, is considered one of the /» 1 most enterprising citizens of this town, as he is one of the most highly re- spected. He comes of a family which traces its lineage back as far as the year 1400, to one Nicholas Hoffman, a reputable German burgher. Mr. Hoffman was born in Moore township, Northampton county, Pa., April 4, 1823, son of John and Maria (Seigfried) Hoff- man, natives of that county, who were the parents of five children, of whom our subject, John H., is the eldest; J. J., Michael S., Amanda, wife of George Bartholomew, of Northampton, Pa., and Henry E., deceased. Both parents are dead, the father dying at the age of eighty-three, and the mother at the age of eighty-five. Both weie active members of the Reformed church. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Mi- chael Hoffman, was a farmer and distiller in Northampton county. Pa. He married a Miss Greenameyer, who bore him the following chil- dren: Michael, Catherine, John, Paul, Edward, William, who has a son who has served in the Prussian army and is now living in Manheim, Germany, engaged in the consular service; Polly, Susan and Samuel. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Seigfried, was a native of Northampton, Pa., a farmer-miller and a major in the war of 18 12. He married a Miss Traisbach and had two children, our subject's mother and Lavina, wife of Samuel Lynemand, who died at Free- port, 111. John H. Hoffman was reared a farmer, receiving what educational advantages the schools of his neighborhood offered. At the age of eighteen he left the farm and appren- ticed himself to the tinner's trade. Upon completing this apprenticeship, he went to Allentown, Pa., where he remained a short time, going thence to Reading, where, for OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 801 four years, he was employed in a responsible capacity as tinner and coppersmith in the works of the Reading & Philadelphia Railroad company. It was during his residence at this place that' Mr. Hoffman was married, in Au- gust, 1847, to Miss Rosanna Baker, a daughter of Godfrey Baker, a stone and building con- tractor, who came to this country when a young man, settled at Reading and married a Miss Hoyer, who bore him but one child, Ros- anna. To this first marriage of Mr. Hoffman were born three children, all living: Mary A., wife of Jasper N. Gibbons, of Alliance, Ohio; Winfield Scott, of Alliance, married Susan Luther (deceased), and Mrs. Peters; Joseph- ine, who resides at Ravenna. Mrs. Hoff- man died June 11, 1862, at the age of si.xty- four years, and our subject was married again, in September, 1865, to Mrs. Henriette Carber, who was born in Deerfield, Ohio. Her father, A. H. Wi'cox, is one of the oldest residents of Deerfield now living. He was born in 18 1 2, and for years followed the trade of car- penter, then settled on a farm. He tnarried Miss Elizabeth Diver (deceased), daughter of John and Christina (Hartzeli) Diver, and to them were born nine children, si.x of whom, Mrs. Hoffman, George, William, Charles, Cornelius and James, are still living; Joseph and Julia are deceased, and one died in in- fancy. In 1852 Mr. Hoffman left Reading, and returned to Northampton, where he em- barked in the tinning business for himself. He remained there for six years, and in 1858, settled in Deerfield, continuing in business until the war broke out, when the country's need claimed his services. He entered the service at Cleveland, as private, in company F, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, Capt. H. Williards. He saw much active service, being a participant in the following engagements: Chickasaw Bayou, Fort Hind- man, Ark., Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Cham- pion Hill, Raymond, Miss., Big Black River, siege of Vicksburg, and a number of skir- mishes. In his first engagement Mr. Hoffman was wounded in his left hand by an exploding shell, and at Vicksburg suffered a sunstroke, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He received his honorable dis- charge at Camp Chase, Ohio, July 30, 1863. At the close of his service, Mr. Hoffman re- sumed his business at Deerfield, and has been thus engaged ever since. In 1867 he was elected justice of the peace in this township, and held that office for twenty-four years suc- cessively. He is at present township clerk, and holds a commission as notary public. Mr. Hoffman is an honored member of Ra- venna post. No. 327, G. A. R., and he and his wife are active members of the German Re- formed church. ^^ w ^ ALL ACE HUMPHREY, one of the ■ ■ I "lost respected citizens of Boston ^J^^^ township. Summit county, Ohio, and a veteran of the late Civil war, was born July 7, 1844, in Twinsburg town- ship, this county, and is a son of Isaiah and Almira (Waite) Humphrey, of English and Irish extraction. The grandfather of Wallace Humphrey was a native of Goshen township, Litchfield county. Conn., was named Isaiah, and was one of the pioneers of Twinburg township, Summit county, Ohio, and his children were Judge Van R. , Joseph D. (a lawyer of Can- ton, Ohio), Ruby, Josiah, Theodosia and Lo- rinda, his wife's maiden name having been Lorinda Drake. Isaiah Humphrey, father of Wallace, was born in Connecticut, and came with his father to Ohio. He served five years in the Seventh United States regular infantry before his mar- 802 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD riage to Almira Waite, who was a daughter of Benjamin and Zelpha (Howard) Waite, and who bore him the following named children: Ruby, Edwin, Lydia, Wallace, Isaiah, Almira and Delia. Mr. Humphrey was educated at Prof. Samuel Bissell's school at Twinsburg, was admitted to the bar, and practiced law for forty years in Summit county. He died at the age of sixty-nine years, in Boston town- ship, the owner of 2,000 acres of land. Wallace Humphrey received a sound com- mon-school education, and read law under his father to some e.xtent, and August 16, 1861, enlisted at Peninsula, Summit county, in com- pany A, Second Ohio volunteer cavalry, for three years, and was honorably discharged at Mossy creek, Tenn.. January i, 1864, in order that he might re-enlist, as a vet- eran, for a second term of three years, con- ditioned as before, and served until Septem- ber 18, 1865, when he was again honorably discharged at Benton Barracks, Saint Louis, Mo., five months after the war had been brought to a close. He fought in the battles of Knoxville, Blue Spring, and Jonesboro, Tenn., was on the Sanders and Bird raid to Knoxville, at Strawberry Plains, and on the East Tennessee & Georgia railroad raid, and in the fights at Loudon, Tenn., and at Pow- der Spring Gap, where the command was broken up, lost much of its artillery and many of its members through capture or death, and and was scattered generally. Mr. Humphrey, however, escaped capture, and after wandering in the mountains ten days, living mostly on pilfered sugar, finally reached London, Ky. , where he found himself within the Union lines. Mr. Humphrey also took part in the battles of the Wilderness, of Spottsylvania Court House, Dinwiddie, Cold Harbor, Five Forks, Harper's Farm, and was on Wilson's raid, and in Shenandoah Valley, under Gen. Custer. He was promoted to be corporal for meritorious conduct, and was always prompt and cheerful in the discharge of duty. Mr. Humphrey was united in marriage in Northfield township. Summit county, Ohio, October i, 1867, to Miss Sarah Smith, who was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, October I, 1843, a daughter of William and Mary (McCarron) Smith. William Smith settled in Summit county many years ago, was a pros- perous farmer, was the father of three chil- dren — Sarah, John and James — and died at the age seventy years on his farm in North- ampton township. Mr. Humphrey, after marriage, settled in Boston township and en- gaged in farming and auctioneering. There were born to his marriage four children, named, in order of birth, as follows: Flor- ence, Howard, Irving and Cilley. Mr. Hum- phrey is a democrat in politics, and has held the office of constable of Boston township for eight years. He is a member of George L. Waterman post. No. 272, G. A. R. , in which he has held the office of vice-commander and other positions, is a man of unusual independ- ence of character and intelligence, and is favorably known and respected throughout his own and adjacent townships. ^V'^ AVID D. JONES, a retired farmer I I and highly-respected citizen of Pal- /^ ^^ myra township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in the south part of Wales, June 13, 1830, a son of John D. and Margaret ( Richards) Jones, and with them came to America in 1832, before he was quite two years old. John D. Jones was reared a farmer, and on settling in Palmyra township purchased 341 acres of land, of which 141 acres later became the property of his son. David D. To the marriage of John D. and Margaret Jones were born nine children, only two of whom are still OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 803 living — Owen, of Mahoning county, Ohio, and the subject of this memoir. The deceased were Richard, who died January 20, 1855, aged forty-four years; John D., Jr., died in January, 1864, aged thirty-nine; Susan was married to James Davis; Elizabeth, was the wife of Daniel E. Jones; Margaret, was the wife of John D. Davis and afterward wife of William D. Edwards; Mary was married to Richard Williams, and Isaac died in 1864. Both parents died in Palmyra township, con- sistent members of the Congregational church. David D. Jones received as good an educa- tion as the pioneer schools of his childhood afforded, and vigorously assisted his father on the home farm until twenty-seven years old, but in the meantime, December 2, 1856, was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Morgan, who was born August 7, 1838, in Paris township. Portage county, a daughter of John and Sarah (Davisj Morgan, natives of Wales, who in early life settled in Paris township, where the father was engaged in farming until death. John Morgan was quite prominent in his town- ship and for many years was a justice of the peace. To his marriage with Miss Davis were born six children, of whom three are still living, viz: Job, John and Sarah, the last named of whom was first the wife of William Lewis and then of Joseph Leonard. The de- ceased children were Letty (Mrs. Jones), Mary, wife of Isaac D. Jones, and ^^'illiam. Three years after his marriage, David D. Jones began farming on his own account, and acquired a competency through his skill and industry, and was amply able, a few years ago, to retire from active labor. He had the misfortune, however, to lose his wife March 16, 1883, she dying at the age of forty-four years, seven months and ten days, in the faith of the Congregational church, leaving no chil- dren. Mr. Jones, during his active years, was considered to be one of the best farmers of Palmyra township, and has always enjoyed the respect of the community in which he has passed so many years of his useful life. HDAR H. JOHNSON, a well-known business man of Peninsula, Summit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born January 16, 1840, in Boston township. Summit county, a son of Henry and Roxy (Trowbridge) Jack- son. He received a common education, was reared on the home farm and learned the carpenter's trade. He enlisted, at the age of twenty-one years, at Peninsula, in company A, Second Ohio cavalry, to serve three years, was promoted to be corporal in 1863, and re- enlisted as a veteran at Mossy Creek, Tenn. , January i, 1864. He was with his regiment in all the border counties of Missouri and Kansas, and in many skirmishes with the guer- rillas. He was in the battles of Horse Creek, May 7, 1862, Cowskin Prairie, Ind. Ter. , June 25, 1862; also Fort Gibson, Ind. Ter., July 15, 1862; Lone Jack, Mo., August 28, 1862; Newtonia, Mo., September 30, 1862, and assis'ted to reinstate the Union Cherokees and Osage Indians in the Indian Territory. He returned with his regiment in the winter of 1862-3, to Camp Chase, Ohio, when the regi- ment was re-organized and re-equipped and sent to Kentucky, where it remained the greater part of June, 1863, and was then on Sander's raid of fifteen days; then at Wild Cat Gap, in the Cumberland mountains, and on that raid had many skirmishes a long distance of forty miles up the Holston river; then in the battle of Mount Sterling, Ky., April 14, 1863; Monticello, Ky. , May 25, 1863; Steuben- ville, Ky., June 19, 1863; Richmond, Ky., July 28, 1863; London, Ky., September 5, 1863; Cumberland Gap, September 10, 1863; Blue Springs, Tenn., October 10, 1863; Ray's 804 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Mill, Tenn., October ii, 1863; Blountville, October 14, 1863, Russellville, Tenn., De- cember 12, 1863; Bean Stations. Decem- ber 13, 1863; Rutledge, Tenn., Decem- ber 14-15, 1863, and Dundridge, Tenn., December 24, 1863. The regiment stood second best in the cavalry service, the regiment that stood first being the Second United States regulars. After the service in Tennessee and after veteranizing and reorganiz- ation, the Second Ohio cavalry was assigned to the army of the Potomac, under command of Gen. Wilson, and was in the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Chan- cellorsville, Brandy Station, and when on Wil- son's raid assisted in the destruction of the Weldon R. R. and had severe fighting on the return, being obliged to abandon and burn their ambulances, stores, ammunition, wagons, guns and artillery, and at the fight at Ream's Station lost heavily. The regiment joined Sheridan, and, under Custer raided down the Shenandoah Valley, destroying by fire all ma- terial that could feed or shelter the rebels. He was in the battle of Cedar Creek, in the spring of 1865, the closing campaign of the war. Mr. Johnson was furloughed home in February, 1865, rejoined his regiment in May, 1865, at Washington, D. C, and was present in that great militarj' pageant — the grand re- view. He then went with his regiment to Springfield, Mo., where he was mustered out September 12, 1865, having served over four years in one of the most active cavalry regi- ments of the Civil war. He was not wounded, nor a prisoner, nor sick in hospital, or even sick a day while in the service, but was strong, well and sturdy, served out his complete time as an active soldier, and until detached for a short service in the ambulance corps, was in all the marches, campaigns, raids, battles etc., in which his regiment took part. After the war, Mr. Johnson returned to Peninsula and engaged in carpenter work. He married July 4, 1866, at Peninsula, Miss Julie E. Cody, who was born in Kilkenny, Ire- land, May 6, 1841, a daughter of Richard and Margaret (O'Brien) Cody. Richard Cody came from Ireland about 1842, was a farmer, and settled in Boston township. Summit county, Ohio, where he passed his remaining days, dying a mem- ber of St. Marj-'s church. His children were Mary, Isabel, Ann, Julia, and Thomas. Mr. Cody was a hard-working and industrious man, respected by all. His son, Thomas, who was in the Civil war — One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, company C — was killed by the explosion of the steamer Sultana's boilers. He was in several battles, imprisoned in Andersonville several months, and was on his way home, a paroled prisoner, when he met his death. Adar H. Johnson settled in Peninsula, aft- er his service to the country, where he has since lived. The children are Georgiana, Lil- lias B., Helen M. , and Henry R. (who died aged eleven years). In politics, he is a stanch democrat, and has held the office of assessor several terms, and, as a member of the board of education, was its treasurer. He is a mem- ber of George L. Waterman post, No. 272, G. A. R. , at Peninsula, was one of the charter, members, and is at present its commander. He is also a member of the K. of P., the Knights of Maccabees, and the Veterans' Union. Mr. Johnson is now a substanial business man and was at one time a manager of the Zanesville (Ohio) Street Electric railway five years. Henry Johnson, grandfather of Adar H., was born in New York state, was of English colonial stock, was a pioneer of Bedford, Ohio, and a soldier in the war of 18 12. His children were named William, Wesley, George, Henry, Nelson, Maria, and Catherine. Mr. Johnson was a carpenter by trade, and settled OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 805 on a farm near Bedford, and lived to be about sixty-five years old, and was a re- spected pioneer. His son, Henry Johnson, Jr., father of Adar H. , was born in New York state and came to Ohio when a boy, was a carpenter by trade and married Roxy L. Trow- bridge, daughter of John and Lydia L. (Rus- sell) Trowbridge. Mr. Johnson settled in Boston township, Summit county, after mar- riage, and passed his later days in Peninsula. His children were Josephine, Helen, Adar H., and Lydia. Mr. Johnson lived to be fifty- two years old and died a member of the Episcopal church, and in politics a democrat. He served as township trustee and held other offices, and was a greatly honored citizen. ■^ v' OHN KISSEL, a respected and pros- M perous farmer of Randolph township, A J Portage county, Ohio, and an e.\-sol- dier of the Civil war, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in April, 1844, a son of Michael and Magdalena (Rice) Kissel, who were the parents of six children, viz: Valentine and John, still living; Margaret, who died in November 30, 1866, the wife of Andrew Cook; Lizzie, wife of a Mr. Donnes, died in Illinois, in 1878; Kate was the wife of Nicholas Sams, and is also deceased; one child died in infancy. The father of the fam- ily died on shipboard when coming to this country in 1853 with his family, and the mother died here March 16, 1869. John Kissel was about ten years of age when he landed in America with his mother and her family, having been 100 days in cross- ing the Atlantic ocean. They settled in Rootstown, Portage county, where the mother purchased a farm, which was diligently culti- vated by her two sons, aided by hired help, until the enlistment of her son John, our sub- ject, in January, 1865, in company H, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served nine months and was honorably discharged September 25, 1865. Returning to Rootstown he worked on the farm for his mother until 1868, when he married, January 7, Miss Barbara Goodyear, a daughter of Peter Goodyear, who was born in Germany, but came to America when a young man, settled in Randolph township, where he engaged in farming and married a Miss Bussel, who bore him five children, of whom three — John, George and Barbara — are still living; Adam died in July, 1897, aged sixty-six years, and Lizzie died in 1864. Both parents are now deceased, dying in the faith of the Church of Rome. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kissel has been blessed with eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, who was born July 17, 1869, and is the wife of Burt Walters; Barbara, born February 14, 1871, is the wife of Martin Miller; George, born June 6, 1873; Kate, born July 28, 1875, is married to Jacob Luli; Mary, born June 2, 1887; Lewis, March 15. '879; Adam, February 12, 1881; Joseph, January 10, 1883; Seth, September 10, 1885; Clara, October 29, 1885, and Mina, May 13, 1893- In the spring of 1875 ^^- Kissel bought his present farm in Randolph township, on which he settled in March of the same year, and in addition to general farming has oper- ated a threshing machine for the past nine years. He is a most excellent farmer, as everything around him fully attests, his fields being well drained, his fences always in good order, and his dwelling and farm structures being neat and tasty in appearance. Mr. Kis- sel has served as township supervisor one term. He and family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, to the support of which they contribute freely and liberally, and they hold the-esteem of all the members of the com- munity in which they live. 806 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD *| ^ ENRY WOLFCOMER, a substantial l'^^ citizen of Aurora township, Portage M. . r county, Ohio, is a son of John and Eliza (Kiercoff) Wolfcomer, the for- mer of whom was born in Prussia in August, 1824, the son of a farmer, whose children were two in number, Henry and John, who both came to America. John Wolfcomer learned the carpenter's trade in his native land, and was about twen- ty-two years old when he came to the United States, as he reached this country on the eve of the Mexican war. He found employment at his trade in Cincinnati, and there married Eliza Kiercoff, a native of Germany, to which union was born one child — Henry, whose name opens this article. About 1856, Mr. Wolfcomer removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until he enlisted in company B, Fifty-eighth Ohio volunteer infan- try, February 5, 1864, to serve three years, unless sooner discharged by reason of the ter- mination of hostilities, this termination occur- ring in April. Mr. Wolfcomer was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, June 2, 1865. He was one of the guards on the ill-fated steamer Sultana, which exploded her boilers on the Mississippi river when loaded down to her guards with a living freight of volunteers who were on their way home after exchange, and hundreds of whom lost their lives through this dire catastrophe, after having passed through all the perils of war for years. To add to the horror of the explosion, a confla- gration destroyed every remnant of the vessel and consumed man}' of the unfortunate pas- sengers. Mr. Wolfcomer, who could not swim, clung to the burning wreck as long as the intense heat would permit, and then sprang overboard, landing on the back of a mule, which soon sank beneath his weight. He was fortunate, however, in catching a plank, on which he floated down stream sev- eral miles, and was rescued next morning by a searching party on a raft. He was badly scalded about his head, and was confined in hospital until nearly the date of his discharge. From Cleveland Mr. Wolfcomer removed to Twinsburg, Summit county, Ohio, in the fall of 1865, and purchased a farm of fifty acres, which he occupied until 1871, when he came to Aurora township, Portage county, and bought the homestead now owned by his son Henry, which comprises 171 acres and is improved with substantial buildings. This farm Mr. Wolfcomer continued to cultivate until his death, which occurred January 30, 1889, he being then about sixty-five years of age. He was a member of the G. A. R. post at Hudson, was independent in politics, and was a hard-working, upright and temperate citizen, who commanded, by his virtuous life, the respect of all who knew him. Henry Wolfcomer, whose name opens this article, was born m Cincinnati, Ohio, Decem- ber 3, 1850, was educated in the common schools at Twinsburg and Cleveland and was reared to manhood on his father's farm. Sep- tember 4, 1870, he married Miss Laura A. Fisher, who was born in Boston, Ohio, Janu- ary 14, 1848, a daughter of Dudley and Jane (Fields) Fisher, both families being of Revo- lutionary stock. Dudley Fisher was born in Akron, Ohio, a son of a pioneer from New York state, and by trade a carpenter. He en- listed in Akron, in 1861, in the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, fought at Vicksburg, but died before the close of his term, at his home in Akron, from lung fever. His children were named Laura A., Lucy, James, Maggie, Phebe (deceased) and Phebe, second. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfcomer settled on the old homestead at marriage, and they have been blessed with eight children, viz: Bert J., William D., Frederick J., Jessie L., Bes- sie J., Maggie M., Ethel G. and Hazel R. 1, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 809 The parents and four children are members of the Congregational church at Aurora, and in politics Mr. Wolfcomer is a democrat and is a member of the board of education. He is a substantial, upright and honored citizen, and his family is one of the most respected in Au- rora township. aHRISTIAN KOEHLER, of Streets- boro township, Portage county, Ohio, is a gallant veteran of the Civil war, who is now totally blind from the ef- fects of exposure while with Gen. Sherman on the famous march to the sea from Atlanta, Ga. Mr. Koehler was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March lo. 1839, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Sweet) Koehler, received a good common-school education, and when about twenty years of age embarked at Bremen in a sailing vessel for America, and after a boister- ous voyage of eight weeks, being nearly lost at sea, landed, in 1859, in New York city, whence he came to Ohio. In August, 1861, he enlisted at Akron, in company D, Thirty- seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, and at the end of the term was re- leased from duty in order that he might re- enlist, as a veteran, in April, 1864, in his old regiment, under the same conditions as those of his first enlistment. The war having come to a close in April, 1865, he was still retained in the service until July, of the same year, when he was honorably discharged at Little Rock, Ark. Among the man)' battles in which Mr. Koehler took part may be mentioned those of Fayettesville, and several others in what is now West Virginia; Raleigh, N. C, and Charleston, S. C. : the siege of Vicksburg, Miss. ; Champion Hills and Jackson, in the same state; Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Re- saca. Dallas, Pumpkinvine Creek. Kenesaw Mountain, the general assault and battle of Atlanta, Ga., the charge at Stone Mountain Junction, etc., although these are not placed in chronological order. He was also at the capture of Fort McAllister, and of Columbia, having marched " from Atlanta to the Sea," and took part in the grand review, in May, 1865, at Washington, D. C. , which is famous as the grandest review ever held in the world. The only wound Mr. Koehler sustained during his long service was a slight one in the right knee at the battle of Missionary Ridge, but he had a serious attack of camp diarrhea, and was confined in the hospital at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1863, for about five weeks. But the greatest misfortune which befell Mr. Koehler was on the march from Atlanta to Savannah, during which he was compelled to wade many rivers. In wading through the Edisto, he was seven hours in crossing, and much of the time was in the water up to his armpits. The con- sequence was a severe cold, which resulted in an inflammation of his eyes, terminating in total blindness in 1887. After the war, Mr. Koehler returned to Akron, Ohio, where he was sick with fever for awhile, but recovered, and for a short time was helper for a stone- mason and was otherwise employed, being for twelve years janitor of the Spicer school build- ing, blind as he was, and was also employed about five years in the Buckeye works at Akron. Mr. Koehler was united in marriage, in May, 1866, in Stark county, Ohio, with Miss Catherine Klink, and to this union were born five children, named, in order of birth, Emma (wife of Corwin Mooney, of Streetsboro town- ship), Minnie, William, Frank, and Ida, but April J9, 1882, Mr. Koehler was bereft of his helpmate, who died in the faith of the Lu- theran church. In 1885 Mr. Koehler came to Streetsboro township, bought 1 16 acres of land, and had built for himself a neat and 810 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD substantial dwelling. He is very happy in his disposition, and his hearty laugh gives no in- dication of his great affliction. He has done much for his adopted country, and. with his children, enjoys the respect and honor which all true Americans should yield to such as he and his offspring are fully entitled to. '^t'OHN leisure, a well-known resident m of Aurora, Portage county, Ohio, and A 1 for four years a soldier in the late Civil war, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., November 26, 1837, a son of Joseph and Mary (Michael) Leisure, of French and Irish descent respectively. Joseph Leisure attended school until about fourteen years of age, when he shipped as cabin boy on board a sea-going vessel at New London, Conn., and for fifteen years led a sailor's life, making his last voyage on the ocean as second mate, but later sailed one season on the great lakes of the west. In April, 1 861, he enlisted at Cleveland, Ohio, in Capt. Lovejoy's company D, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, but May 10, 1862, was captured by the rebels at Giles Court House, (now West) Va., and with his fellow-captives was sent to Libby prison, Richmond, and about two weeks later was transferred to Salisbury, N. C, where he was held until June 15, 1862, when he was paroled, being among the first of the Union prisoners of war to receive that favor. He reported at Camp Chase, Ohio, and was given transporta- tion, by Gov. Tod, to his regiment at Flat Top mountain, West Va., but his colonel (afterward president), Rutherford B. Hayes, refused to permit him to rejoin the regiment, which was in active service, as he was on parole and not yet exchanged. Returning to Columbus, Ohio, Gov. Tod issued him an un- limited furlough, and advised him to enlist in another regiment. Mr. Leisure then went tO' New York city, where he enlisted in October, 1862, in company K, Fourth New York cav- alry, Capt. Burga, and served until the close of the war, making a total service of over four years. Mr. Leisure fought at Carnifax Ferry, Cotton Hill, Fayette Court House, Raleigh Court House, Princeton and Giles Court House, while with the infantry; with the cav- alry he fought at Kelley Ford, Va., the Wil- derness, Chancellorsville, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Mine Run, and with Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, and also at Mill Springs, and in skirmishes innumerable. At the battle of Cedar Creek he was shot through the left hand, and was in the hospital at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pa., for four months, but, beside this, his only other confinement was with typhoid fever for three weeks. He was a brave, active and willing soldier, and cheer- fully endured the many hardships of a soldier's hazardous life. After his military service, Mr. Leisure shipped, at New York, for three years, Janu- ary 6, 1866, on board the United States trans- port, Massachusetts, and was honorably dis- charged April 29, 1869, having contracted yellow fever in one of the West India ports, and his term of service having also expired. March 15, 1873, he came to Ohio, and for some time worked in Northfield township. Summit county, as a farm hand. July 15^ 1874, he married, at Sharon, Pa., Mrs. Emma Alford, a widow, whose maiden name was Michael, and this marriage was blessed with four children, viz: George (deceased), Zelpha (deceased), Ella and William R. Mrs. Lei- sure was a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Hagett) Michael. She died in April, 1885, a member of the Disciple's church, and a truly good woman. Mr. Leisure is a republican in politics, cast his first vote for Abraham Lin- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 811 coin, has been constable of Aurora sixteen years, and deputy sheriff of the county four years, during which time the Blinkey-Morgan trial was held. Joseph Leisure, father of John, was also a soldier in the Civil war, served three years in the One Hundred and Sixth New York volun- teer infantry, and among the many battles in which he participated was that of the Wilder- ness. His three sons, John, Joseph, Jr., and Oliver, all served in New York regiments dur- ing the same struggle. Mr. Leisure came to Aurora, Ohio, October 13, 1874, and worked until 1 88 1 for Frank Hurd, a capitalist, and for the past three years has been employed by W. J. Eldridge. The Leisure family are up- right, straightforward in all their dealings, and enjoy the respect of the entire community. ^>^^ EES R. JONES, a prosperous farmer I /^ of Paris township, Portage county, I^P Ohio, was born in southern Wales Feb- ruary 26, 1826, a son of Evan R. and Jane (Davis) Jones, and came to America with his father in 1838, his mother having died in her native country. Evan R. Jones was a carpenter by trade and was three times married. By his first wife, Jane Davis, daughter of Rothera and Mary Davis, he became the father of five chil- dren, of whom Rees R. is the only one liv- ing. Of the deceased, Mary died in October, 1831, aged eight years; Margaret died at the same date, aged three years, and one died in infancy. The mother passed away in 1832, at the age of thirty-five. Mr. Jones next mar- ried, in April, 1838, Miss Mary Morgan, daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth (Jones) Morgan, and to this union was born one daughter, Jane, who died in 1875, aged thirty- five years — the mother having died in 1845, also at the age of thirty-five. The third mar- riage of Mr. Jones was to Jane Evans. Mr. Jones departed this life in April, 1863, aged seventy-five, and his third wife in 1881, when sixty-three years old, members, respectively, of the Methodist church and Baptist church. Rees R. Jones lived on the farm in Pal- myra township. Portage county, where his father settled in 1838, and faithfully aided in tilling the land until after the death of the lat- ter. In 1867 he came to Paris township and purchased the farm on which he still lives, and which is one of the finest in the township. May 29, 1882, he married Miss Jane Davis, daughter of Evan T. and Sarah (Williams) Davis, and this union has been blessed with two children — Evan R. and J. C Mrs. Jane Jones was born in Paris township March 22, 1845, her parents having come from Wales in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Davis had six children, of whom four still survive, viz: Mary, wife of William Thomas, Jane (Mrs. Jones), William and Thomas. Benjamin and Thomas were the names of the two deceased. Mr. Davis died in January, 1894, at the age of seventy- three, and Mrs. Davis is still a resident of Paris township, having reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. Mr. Jones has served his township as treas- urer, school director and supervisor, and he and family are members of the Welsh Meth- odist church at Palmyra, of which he has been a deacon many years. The family are all highly respected, and Mr. Jones is recognized as one of the most upright citizens of Paris township. * ILLIAM T. LEWIS, one of the most successful farmers of Palmyra town- ship, Portage county, Ohio, was born in the southern part of Wales, May 5, 1834, a son of Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lewis, who came to Ohio in 1838, and m. 812 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD settled in Palmyra township, where the father engaged in farming. Thomas Lewis was born in Arding, Wales, in 1805, a son of David Lewis, and his wife, Mary, was born in the same place in 1S03, a daughter of William Jones. To the marriage of Thomas and Mary Lewis were born eight chil- dren, viz: David, Issac, WilliamT., John, Eliza- beth (Mrs. Evan Jones), Mary (Mrs. Elisha Lord), John, who died in 1838, at the age of two years, and Thomas, who died in 1840, also at two years of age. The father of this family passed away August 6, 1889, and the mother's death took place February 2, 1896, both devoted members of the Methodist churh, in which Mr. Lewis had for many years been a deacon. William T. Lewis attended public school until eighteen years old and remained on his father's farm until twenty-three. March 22, 1858, he married Miss Ann George, who was born June 25, 1839, in Palmyra township, a ■daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Reesi George, natives of Wales, who settled in Pal- myra township in 1832. Thomas George was a miller by trade and also a farmer. To his marriage with Margaret Rees, daughter of John Rees, there were born eight children, six of whom are still living, viz: Mary, widow of Thomas Lewis; John C. ; Ann, now Mrs. William T. Lewis; Margaret, wife of William Richards; Sarah, unmarried, and Thomas Jr., who is married to Maggie Williams. The de- ceased children were David, who died in in- fancy, and Evan, who died in April, 1857, at the age of twenty-one years. Mrs. George passed away February 1, 1892, at the age of €ighty-four years; Mr. George, at the great age of ninety-two years, is now a resident of Paris township. Thomas George, paternal grandfather of -Mrs. Lewis, came from Wales to America in 1833, and settled in Palmyra township. To his marriage with Miss Rees were born seven children, viz: Ann, Margaret, Thomas, Sarah, Rachel, Mary and Evan, all of whom are now deceased. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Lewis was killed by a falling tree in 1836. His wife's name was Mary. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Lewis has been blessed with eleven children, nine of whom still survive, viz: Margaret, wife of Felix Barger, of Diamond, Ohio; Isaac, who is married to Electa Gilbert; Thomas, married to Belle Thomas; Evan, married to Jane Spencer; Elezer, married to Dollie Man- ley; Mary Ann, wife of Charles D. Kistler; Arthur, Sarah and Edna, unmarried. The two children who have passed away were named David, who died in infancy, and Alfred, who died December 6, 1884, aged four years and nine months. In 1862, Mr. Lewis settled on his present farm, which he has placed un- der the best possible tillage and improved with modern structures, and everywhere about the premises are evidences of the care and good management of a master agriculturist. Mr. Lewis is greatly honored by his fellow-towns- men, whom he has served many years as school director and supervisor, and the entire family is held in the highest possible esteem. Mr. Lewis cast his first presidential vote for Gen. John C. Fremont, at the birth of the republican party, and has ever upheld the principles of republicanism. ISAAC LEWIS, a prominent citizen of Palmyra township. Portage county, Ohio, is a native of Wales, was born in March, 1832, and has been a resident of Palmyra township since 1838, having been brought hither by his parents, Thomas and Mary (Jones) Lewis. As Palmyra township was quite a wilder- ness when Mr. Lewis arrived here, at the age OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 813 of six years, his opportunities for school at- tendance were somewhat meager, still he succeeded in acquiring a fair education. He faithfully assisted his father, when old enough for the purpose, in clearing up the home farm from the woods until he reached man's estate, when he served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade, under Owen Jones, and after the termination of his term of indenture continued with Mr. Jones, as a journeyman, three years longer, and altogether worked at the trade about fifteen years, when he engaged in farming. The first marriage of Mr. Lewis took place in September, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Evans, daughter of Lewis and Mary Evans, and to this marriage were born five children, of whom John D. , David W. and E. T. are still living; William died at the age of three, and Evan at one year of age. Mrs. Elizabeth (Evans) Lewis was called away November 15, 1870, a devoted member of the Welsh Presbyterian church, and the second marriage of Mr. Lewis was solemnized September 16, 1873, with Miss Elizabeth Jones, who was born in Wales in 1848, a daughter of Llewellyn and Jane (Williams) Jones, and this union has been blessed with twins — Hattie and Nettie — now over twenty-one years old. Llewellyn Jones, father of Mrs. Lewis, was a general farm laborer, and a very indus- trious man. To his marriage, in 1842, with Miss Williams, daughter of John and Jane Williams, were born seven children, of whom five still survive, viz: Jane, wife of John Davis; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Isaac Lewis; Samuel; Margaret, wife of John Parry, and Isaac; John died at the age of eleven years, and Sarah died in 1872, aged fifteen. The parents died in Wales in 1877, the father at the age of seventy-seven, and the mother at seventy-one years, both members of the Pres- byterian church — Mrs. Lewis having come to America in 1871, accompanied by her brother, Samuel. David Lewis, paternal grandfather of Isaac Lewis, reared a family of five children, viz: David, Thomas, John, Richard and Elizabeth, all now deceased. William Jones, maternal grandfather of Mr. Lewis, reared nine chil- dren, of whom one only — Ann — is now living. In 1866 Isaac Lewis settled on his present farm, and has met with much success in his vocation. He is an honored citizen, and has served as a republican as township supervisor and as a school director for many years. He and family are members of the Welsh Presby- terian church in Palmyra, in which he has held the offices of deacon and elder, and no family in the township is held in higher esteem than that of Isaac Lewis. "^ j* ESSE LING, one of the sailors of the m Civil war, and a respected citizen of /• 1 Mantua township. Portage county, Ohio, was born in Monroe county, N. Y. , March 3, 1842, a son of Edward and Bet- sey (Elsfeck) Ling. He received a common education and ran away from home when he was between sixteen and seventeen years of age, and shipped on board the United States man-of-war. Northern Light — Capt. McKnight. He was accompanied by an older boy, about nineteen years old, who shipped with him, but who became tired of a sailor's life after a month's experience, and was sent ashore. Jesse had more pluck and stuck to the ship. He was quick to learn his duties, and the cap- tain took a liking to him from the first, and Jesse liked the captain. He was one of the ship's boys and did a little of everything at first, and was promoted to be coxwain's mate, and soon became an ordinary seaman, and finally, after about two years' service, an able seaman while on the Northern Light, which «14 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was a full, square-rigged, three-masted ship, and carried a crew of about 250 officers and men. Jesse visited many parts of the world, including the English channel, and saw Scot- land, Ireland, England, the Isle of Wight, France, and even went as far as India and through part of Calcutta. He was on the South American coast and saw Honduras. He was finally transferred to the ship Tennessee off the coast of Virginia. She was a first- class man-of-war, and he served one year and four months on her as an able seaman. She was stationed on the blockade during the war — most of the time in the Gulf of Mexico — her duties being to chase and capture the English blockade runners. She captured sev- eral of them, being a large and powerful ship, well armed. Jesse received a share of the prize mone\. He was an active sailor, served faithfully and did his duty promptly. He stood well with the captain, officers and men,, and became a thorough sailor, and caused no trouble of any kind. He was honorably dis- charged from the navy at New York in 1862, and went to Oneida county, N. Y. He then sailed two years on the great lakes, as first mate under Capt. England, owner and master, and came to Mantua, Ohio, in 1864, and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Ling married, October 15, 1866, in Mantua township, Roena C. Jennings, who was born September 5, 1830, in Mantua township, a daughter of Phineas U. and Cle- ona (Wilmot) Jennings. Phineas U. Jen- nings was born in Vermont, May 4, 1796, at ■Craftsbury, a son of Benjamin, who was born August 29, 1752, and Serene Jennings, who was born March 16, 1765, and died April 16, 1833. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, viz: Betsy, Ann, Lucretia, Phineas U., Telmon, Lucy M., Elida, and Benjamin. The Jennings were an old colonial family of New £ngland. Phineas Jennings came, when a young man, to Mantua township, and here was married, June 16, 1822, to Miss Cleona Wilmot, daughter of a pioneer. Mr. Jennings settled in Mantua township, and cleared up a good farm from the woods. He at first bought sixty-four acres on credit, paying $8 per acre, and by his steady industry and thrift, he prospered, and finally owned about 300 acres, and became a substantial farmer. His children were Serene, Cordelia (died young), Roena, Cordelia, and Eugenia. Mr. Jennings lived to the venerable age of eighty-six years and died June 26, 1882. His wife died March 26, 1 88 1, aged seventy- four. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were members of the Disciples' church, in which he was a deacon many years. Mr. Jennings was a man of high character and well-known for his sturdy and straightforward course in life. He was much respected by the old pioneers, and all who knew him, and in politics was a republican. Jesse Ling, after his marriage, settled in Mantua township, and is now one of the most substantial and prominent farmers in his pres- ent locality. In 1S82 he built a pleasant and tasteful residence, and has a fine farm of 240 acres. He is very independent in his views on all subjects. In politics, he is a stanch democrat, and a bi-metalist, and voted for William J. Bryan, and is strong in the faith. Mr. Ling is an honored citizen of his town- ship, and has been township trustee several times. Fraternally a Mason, he is a member of the Blue lodge, at Mantua, and chapter, at Garrettsville, Ohio, and is chaplain of the Blue lodge and member of the Prudential committee. Mrs. Ling is a member of the Disciples' church. Jesse Ling owes much of his success in life to his early training when a boy on a man-of-war. He is a true gentle- man, kind and obliging, and is one of the few men who has carried into his daily walk in life gentle treatment to all who meet him. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 815 His frank, manly expression is in a great part due to his life as a sailor. He lool^OHN LYONS, one of the brave de- m fenders of his country's flag during the A 1 late Civil war, and now a highly-re- spected citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, is a native of Essex county, N. J., was born April i, 1843, and is a son of John B. and Susan (Freadline) Lyons, well known and prominent residents of the Old Line state. John B. Lyons, father of John, the subject, was also born in Essex county, N. J., a son of Benjamin and Charlotte Lyons. He was an expert hatter, and also learned the shoemak- er's trade, in which he became equally skillful. He was united in marriage at Orange, Essex county, N. J., with Miss Susan Freadline, a daughter of John A. and Susan (Wagoner) Freadline, the former of whom came to Ameri- ca from Germany. To this happy union six children were born in New Jersey, and in 1853 Mr. Lyons brought his family to Ohio, located at Cuyahoga Falls, and engaged in farming. At the outbreak of the Civil war, however, Mr. Lyons, who was a true American, enlisted, in 1861, in battery D, First Ohio volunteer light artillery, under Capt. A. J. Konkle, to serve three years unless sooner discharged by reason of the cessation of hostilities, but did not live to see the termination of the great struggle, as he died from sickness while still in the service. He had proven himself to be a brave and faithful soldier, and had fought under Gen. Nelson at West Liberty and Pike- ton, was with Gen. Buell on the advance from Green River, Ky. , to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. ; was at Corinth, Munfordville, and with Burn- side at the siege of Knoxville, and at Rockford and Cumberland Gap, and with Sherman through the Atlanta campaign, and was always ready and willing to do his duty until over- come with sickness. As a civilian, Mr. Lyons was an industrious and moral man and was greatly respected for his many personal merits. Since the lamented death of her husband, Mrs. Lyons has patiently and worthily labored to rear in respectability her family of nine children, who are named Almira, John, Char- lotte, Fannie, Katie, Minnie, Julia, Mattieand Naomi; Aurelia, the tenth child, died young. John Lyons, whose name stands at the head of this biography, was about ten years of age when brought by his parents to Ohio, and here he was reared until his enlistment, in July, 1862, at Cuyahoga Falls. He was mus- tered in, July 18, at Camp Massillon, Ohio, in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, and served until honorably discharged, July 4, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio. He fought in the second battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn. , when the rebel. Hood, made his raid on Nashville, and was then placed on guard duty at Fortress Rose- cranz, Murfreesboro, for about eighteen months, having many skirmishes with guerril- las. In 1862, however, he was seized with erysipelas, which caused his confinement in hospitals at Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio, for about one year, and after having experi- enced much suffering, he rejoined his regiment and faithfully did his duty until mustered out. Since his return to Cuyahoga Falls, Mr. Lyons has been engaged in various kinds of business, but has always been industrious and straight- forward, and has achieved an excellent reputa- tion and made many sincere friends. He is a member of Eadie post, G. A. R., is strictly moral, and is ever willing to lend a helping hand toward the promotion of any project designed for the good of the public. OP' PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 823 BENRY C. McGIRR, one of the most enterprising and successful young farmers of Deerfield township, Port- age county, Ohio, was born in Lex- ington township, Stark county, September 9, 1 86 1, a son of John and Mary (Reeves) McGirr. James McGirr, paternal grandfather of Henry C., a native of Maryland, born March 25, 1786, was reared a farmer, came to Ohio a young man and married Sarah Hamlin, the result of the union being seven children, four of whom are still living — John, William, James and Henry — and three deceased — Eliza- beth, Lydia and Harpley. The mother of this family died June 16, 1866, at the age of seventy years, seven months and eighteen days, and the father's death took place March 6, 1876, at the ripe age of seventy years and twelve days. Samuel C. Reeves, the maternal grand- father of Henry C. McGirr, was born in New Jersey April 4, 1803, and when a mere boy was brought to Ohio by his parents, who set- tled in Columbiana county, and in his early manhood was engaged in school-teaching, but later became an agriculturist. He married Miss Ann EUyson, who was born June 4, 1803, and to this marriage were born eight children, viz: Melicent and Mark, still living; Anna Jane, who died November 23, 1861, aged twenty-five years and five months; Joshua, who died March 21, 1888, when forty- eight years, three months and twenty-four days old; Mary, who was married to John Mc- Girr, and died March 28, 1890, aged fifty-eight years, two months and eighteen days; Benja- min, who died July 14, 1890, aged sixty-two years, five months and two days, and John, who died June 7, 1897, at the age of fifty- five years. Samuel C. Reeves, the father of this family, passed away December 17, 1883, at the age of eighty years, six months and thirteen days, and his widow died July 25, 1885, aged eighty-two years, one month and twenty-one days, all the family having been adherents of the Quaker society. John McGirr, father of Henry C, was born in Stark county, Ohio, March 15, 1825, learned the spinning-wheel trade, later en- gaged in stair building, and also did some car- penter work, and is now engaged in the manu- facture of extension ladders. November 6, 1850, he married Miss Mary Reeves, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Ann (Ellj'son) Reeves, to which union were born seven children, viz: Thomas, of Deerfield township; Webster and Albert, of Iowa; Henry C, whose name opens this article; Sarah A. and Benjamin R. , of Iowa, and Charles, who died in infancy, all of whom were reared in the Quaker faith. Henry C. McGirr lived on the home farm until fifteen years of age, receiving in the meanwhile a good common-school education, and then hired out among the neighboring farmers until twenty-four years old. In 1886 he began farming for himself in Stark county, and June 9, 1887, married Miss Maggie Pick- ens, born in Stark county, January 2, 1866, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Brown) Pick- ens, and this union has been blessed with two children — Edna May and Myrtle Ivy. In 1891, Mr. McGirr rented the present farm in Deer- field township. Portage county, where he has ever since been most successfully engaged as a tiller of the soil. Samuel Pickens, father of Mrs. Maggie McGirr, was born in Franklin county. Pa., March 8, 1830. He is a carpenter by trade, and married, September 15, 1850, Miss Nancy Brown, who was born August 12, 1829, and to this union were born three children, viz: William H., Susie, wife of Joseph Balmat, and Maggie, now Mrs. McGirr. Mr. Pickens enlisted as a volunteer, in company I, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infant- ry, in 1862, and served two years. The 824 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD family are members of the Reformed church, and the parents still reside in Stark county. Henry C. McGirr has a very pleasant home in Deerfield township, and he and wife are among the most respected residents of the township, Mr. McGirr being one of the steady- going, intelligent farmers who always lend a dignity to the calling of a husbandman, and advance the prosperity of any community in which they may chance to cast their lot. t^/^ ICHARD H. McGOWAN, a promi- I /«^ nent farmer and highly esteemed resi- £ , P dent of Deerfield township, was born October 6, 1833, in Smith township, Columbiana (now Mahoning) county, Ohio, son of Adam and Mary (Davis) McGowan. Adam McGowan was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1802, lived all his life on the same farm, and died in 1866. In 1828, he mar- ried Miss Mary Davis, a native of Wales, daugh- ter of John and Mary (Humphreys) Davis. To them were born seven children: Richard H., Adam, third, Theresa, wife of William Foutz; Eliza Jane, wife of Stewart Taylor, deceased; Peter H., Thomas, and J. Miller, deceased. Of the eleven children of Adam McGowan, first, and Elizabeth Miller, but one, Deborah, wife of Ebenezer Hoadley, who resides in In- diana, survives. The others were: Eliza, Polly, wife of E. Hubbard; Ann, wife of Jacob Hartzell; Elizabeth, wife of Joshua Calvin; Beniah, who was shot in California during the gold fever; Samuel, John, Adam, second; Rachael, wife of Peter Hartzell; Rebecca, wife of Samuel Walker. Our subject's maternal grandparents were Welsh people who came to this country in 1820, and settled in Maho- ning county, Ohio, where they acquired a large farm. They had eight children; two of them, John and Thomas, survive. The others were Mary Ann, wife of Thomas Gray; Mrs. Mc- Gowan; Jane, wife, first, of Martin Becket, and, second, of David Borden; Margaret, wife of William Wharton; Elizabeth, wife of Hiram Hoadley, and Ann, who died during the twelve weeks' voyage across the ocean. Richard H. McGowan was reared on his father's farm, in Mahoning county, receiving the common-school education afforded by the public schools of that place and period. This he supplemented by a course in Mount Union college, and in the fall of 1854 he began teaching school. For two years he was thus occupied and May 1, 1856, he married Miss Harriet Mowen, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Roodasell) Mowen. Five daugh- ters, all of whom are living, have graced this union: Cora May, wife of Alonzo Baldwin, of Rootstown, Ohio; Mary I., wife of C. Pettit, who resides in Kansas; Elizabeth O., wife of William Waithman, of Mahoning county; Rosa A., wife John Calvin, of Cleveland, and Lula, wife of John Robb, of Deerfield. Most of Mr. McGowan's life has been passed in agricultral pursuits, although he has not occupied the old home farm all of that time. For eight years after their marriage, the McGowans resided on the home farm, and then moved to Van Buren county, Mich., where for ten years they lived on a farm, dur- ing part of which time Mr. McGowan worked in a blast furnace. In 1875 they moved to Deerfield, remaining a year, after which they moved to Atwater, Ohio. While here our subject held the elective offices of township assessor and supervisor, and followed farming and saw-milling. In 1888 the family moved back to Deerfield, where they have since re- sided on the farm, being prominent among the most substantial and highly regarded fam- iles of the community. Both Mr. and Mrs. McGowan are members and active supporters of the Disciples' church, at Deerfield, in which the former has held the office of deacon. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 8-J5 aHARLES C. MEAD, a thriving farm- er of Boston township, and an old soldier of the Civil war, was born in Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio, January 14, 1846, a son of Abner R. and Barbara (Klofinstein) Mead. He springs from old New England ancestry, of English descent on his father's side, and from French ancestors on his nxjther's side. Charles C. Mead received a good common- school education, and was reared to farming. He enlisted, at sixteen years of age, in 1862, at Peninsula, Ohio, under Capt. Means A. L. Conger, recruiting officer, for three years, or during the war, but being under age, the mustering officer would not accept him. He tried again, in the winter of 1862-3, to enlist in the Twenty-first battery, but was again re- jected, as he was taken sick with measles — which rendered him deaf. He finally suc- ceeded in enlisting, July 19, 1864, at Cleve- land, Ohio, for three years, or during the war, in company A, Second Ohio cavalry, and was honorably discharged at Benton barracks, St. Louis, Mo., September i, 1865, the war hav- ing closed. He was in Sheridan's command, and served under Gens. Wilson and Custer. He was in the battle of Opequan Creek, at Winchester, which was Sheridan's first en- gagement. Mr. Mead was through many skirmishes, being nearly every day under fire. He was in the battle of Cedar Creek, which was desperately fought, and in which the Sec- ond Ohio cavalry took an active part. This was, in reality, the battle of Winchester, to which point Gen. Sheridan made his famous ride from Winchester, twenty miles away. Mr. Mead saw Sheridan on the battle field as he rode up. The Second Ohio cavalry had escorted Sheridan to the railroad train about two days before. Mr. Mead was in the great raids down the Shenandoah valley, in which all the barns, straw stacks, and all the mills that could give food to the enemy, were de- stroyed. The dwellings alone were excepted, but many of these were burned by accident. Sheridan said that a " crow could not fly over the valley without his rations with him." Mr. Mead also assisted in the defeat of Early, and was always an active soldier, and in all the battles, raids, skirmishes and marches in which his regiment was engaged, except when sick in hospital, two months, at Baltimore and Philadelphia, with typhoid fever. He was not wounded, nor a prisoner, and endured the hardships and privations of war with fortitude. After the war, Mr. Mead returned to Ohio and married, in Richfield township, Summit county, Miss Julia A. Carter, of Boston town- ship, a daughter of William and Emeline (Gil- lett) Carter. William Carter was born in Ohio and his children were Charles, Prof. William, a prominent school man, Albert, Ed- win, Fanny, Julia, Nettie and Lilly. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mead first located in Richfield township and moved to his present farm about twenty years since, where he has a pleasant home. In politics he is independ- ent and voted with the free-silver democrats in 1896. He is an honored member of George L. Waterman post, G. A. R., at Peninsula, Ohio, and has always been an industrious and respected citizen. Abner R. Mead, father of subject, was born in Vermont, a son of Ira Mead, a pioneer of Summit county, Ohio, and came to Ohio when young. He married, in Summit county, Miss Barbara Klofinstein, daughter of Chris- topher Klofinstein, who was born in France and who was a teacher of foreign languages. His children were Joseph, Truman, Charles C, B. Frank, Cynthia, Mary, Martha, Flora, and Josie. Joseph was a private of Capt. Coul- ter's battery, and was among the missing, sup- posed to be drowned in the Ohio river. Ab- ner R. went to Kansas and there lived about 826 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD fifteen years, but returned and died in Summit county. He was at one time a prominent farm- er of Richfield township, and on one occasion, with his brothers and father, who were all pot- ters as well as farmers, discovered a valuable bank of potter's clay in Springfield township, and they were the first to open the manufac- ture of pottery in that township. The following congratulating address to the Third cavalry division, issued by order of General Custer, at the close of the war, is self-explanatory : Headquarters Thiud Cavalry Division, i Appomattox Court House, Va., v April 9, 1865. ) Soldiers of the Third Cavalry Division: With profound gratitude toward the god of battles, by whose blessings our enemies have been humbled, and our arms rendered triumphant, your commanding general avails himself of this, his first opportunity, to express to 3'ou his admiration of the heroic manner in which you have passed through the series of battles, which to-day resulted in the surrender of the enemy's entire army. The records established by your indomi- table courage is unparalleled in the annals of war. Your prowess has won for you even the respect and the admiration of your enemies. During the past four months, although in most instances confronted by superior numbers, you have captured from the enemy, in open bat- tle, one hundred and eleven pieces of field ar- tillery, si.\ty-five battle-fiags, and upwards of ten thousand prisoners of war, including seven general officers. Within the past ten days, and included in the above, you have captured forty-six pieces of artillery, and thirty- seven battle-flags. You have never lost a gun; never lost a color, and have never been de- feated; and, notwithstanding the numerous engagements in which you have borne a prom- inent part, including those memorable battles of the Shenanhoah, you have captured every piece of artillery which the enemy had dared to open upon you. The near approach of peace renders it improbable that you will again be called upon to undergo the fatigues of the toilsome march, or the exposure of the battle field, but should the assistance of keen blades, wielded by your sturdy arms, be re- quired to hasten the coming of that glorious peace, for which we have so long been con- tending, the general commanding is proudly confident that, in the future, as in the past, every demand will meet with a hearty and willing response. Let us hope that our work is done, and that, blessed with the comforts of peace, we may be permitted to enjoythe pleasures of home and friends. For our comrades who have fallen, let us ever cherish a grateful re- membrance. To the wounded, and those who languish in southern prisons, let our heartfelt sympathy be tendered. And now, speaking for myself alone, when the war is ended, and the task of the historian begins — when those deeds of daring, which hove rendered the name and fame of the Third cavalry division imperishable, are inscribed upon the bright pages of our country's history, I only ask that my name may be written as that of the commander of the Third cavalry division. G. A. Custer, Brevet Major-General Commanding. Official. L. W. Barnhakt, Capt. cS: A. A. A. G. *-|-» EELAND A. MERWIN, a retired I r farmer of Nelson township. Portage ^l^J county, Ohio, and residing in Gar- rettsville, was born in Nelson town- ship, September 29, 1840, a son of Leeland P. and Mary E. (King) Merwin, theformer of whom was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Septem- ber 18, 1803, a son of Dr. Jesse and Sallie Merwin, pioneers of Portage county, Ohio. Dr. Jesse Merwin was of New England ancestry and came from New York state to Ohio in 1821, settling in Nelson township. Portage county, where he cut the first timber and cleared up the first farm from the wilder- ness. He was a practicing physician and was well known throughout the surrounding coun- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 827 try, the pioneers fully appreciating his ability and skill. His son, Leeland P. Merwin, fa- ther of subject, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., September 18, 1803, and came to Ohio with his father in 1821, being at that time about eighteen years of age. He assisted in clearing up the Nelson township homestead, and a few years later married Miss Mary E. King, to which union were born Louisa, Sal- lie, Helen, Hannah, Martha, Van B., Leeland A., John C. and Todd S. All the sons were soldiers in the late Civil war — John C. and Leeland A. having served in the Second Ohio cavalry and Todd S. in the Sixth; Van B. was in the 100-day service, was captured by John Morgan at Cynthiana, Ky. , but was held two days only. Beside these four brothers of the Merwin family, a brother of Mrs. Merwin served throughout the same struggle. Her sis- ter, Angeline, married Harr}' Daily, and Mr. Merwin's sister, Sallie, married Henry Merwin, and these two gentlemen were also soldiers who fought in defense of the Union. The fa- ther of this family was called to rest Novem- ber 18, 1887, honored by all who knew him. Leeland A. Merwin, just before his twenty- first birthday, left the Nelson township home- stead and enlisted, in Windham township, September 25, 1861, in company G, Second regiment, Ohio volunteer cavalry, to serve three years, and continued in the army until honorably discharged at Ba.xter Springs, Kans. , October 10, 1862. He fought against Quan- trell's guerrillas through all the border counties in Missouri and Kansas and in the Indian terri- tory, taking part in many skirmishes. He suffered a great deal from typhoid-pneumonia, contracted from exposure and sleeping on the ground in swampy localities, and was confined in the hospital at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., for six weeks, when he rejoined his regiment at Fort Scott, but two months later, on ac- count of disability, was discharged at the place and time above mentioned. When not con- fined by illness, Mr. Merwin was always prompt and cheerful in the performance of his military duties and was a good and brave soldier. On his return to Ohio, Mr. Merwin attend- ed Hiram institute two terms and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed ten or twelve years, and then settled on the old Nel- son township homestead of about 123 acres, which he stills owns, but from the active and practical care of which he retired to Garretts- ville in 1892, The marriage of Mr. Merwin took place in Vienna township, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 5, 1873, to Miss Margaret J. Lyon, who was born in Clarion county, Pa., a daughter of John B. and Catherine (McNaughton) Lyon, parents of the following-named children: James S., Calvin W., Franklin, Thomas, An- geline, Margaret J., Barbara A. and Ellen. The father, John 1:5. Lyon, was a farmer, was a republican in politics, and two of his sons, James S. and Franklin, served during the Civil war, in a regiment of Pennsylvania vol- unteer infantry — Franklin dying from wounds received in battle and his remains being in- terred at City Point, Va. The father, who descended from one of the oldest pioneer fam- ilies of the Keystone state, was born in 1815 and died in 1894. His daughter (Mrs. Mer- win) is a lady of great natural abilities, is a member of Ora Rebekah lodge, No. 240, I. O. O. F. , of Garrettsville, held the office of presi- dent of the state assembly from 1895 to 1896, and has been presented by the state lodge with a beautiful emblem of solid gold, set with seven diamonds, as a testimonial of her gra- cious conduct and administrative impartiality. In politics Mr. Merwin is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has filled the office of township trustee two years, is a member of Mark Hor- ton post, G. A. R., at Garrettsville, in which 828 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD he has served as junior and senior vice-com- mander, and is also a member of Portage lodge. No. 456, I. O. O. F., at Garretts- ville, in which he has filled all the chairs, in- cluding that of noble grand. In religion, the family afifiliate with the Congregational church, and is one of the most highly esteemed in Nel- son township. ^V^^ EWTON SPERRY. a prominent cit- I m izen and one of the wealthiest fami- ly ^ ers of Streetsboro, Ohio, descends from one of the New England pio- neer families of the Western Reserve, and is of sterling English ancestry. Lyman Sperry, grandfather of Newton Sperry, was born in Woodbury, Conn., and he first married Deborah Newton, to which union were born the following-named children: Amadeus, Mary, Amanda, Phebe and Adna. After the death of his first wife. Lyman mar- ried Lydia Peck, and the children born to this marriage were Lyman, Lydia, Elizabeth L. , Levinus, Lewis, Ira P., Samuel. Ebenezer, and Dr. Willis, the last two born in Ohio. Lyman Sperry moved with his family to Ohio in 1 8 19, making the journey with horse and ox-teams — quite a party coming together. Lyman Sperry settled on the north line of Tallmadge, a little east of Monroe Falls. He bought a lot of 160 acres, which he cleared from the woods, aided by his sons. He and wife were members of the Congregational church, and in politics Mr. Sperry was a whig. He died on his farm, quite an aged man, greatly honored for his integrity of character. Amadeus Sperry, father of Newton, was born in Woodbury, Conn., March 16, 1798, and March 22, 18 19, married Esther Upson, who was born November 25, 1799. They came to Ohio on their wedding trip, with the Lyn)an Sperry party, in 1S19. Andrew set- tled on forty acres, a part of his father's tract of 160 acres, which he cleared up, sold, and bought 100 acres, in 1834, in Streetsboro town- ship. Portage county, all in the woods. His sons cleared this land, as Mr. Sperry lived but eight years after settling in Portage coun- ty, his death taking place September 18, 1842, aged about forty-four years. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian church, of Tallmadge, and the Presbyterian church at Streetsboro, and in politics Mr. Sperry was a whig. He was a man of sterling worth and straightforward character. Mrs. Sperry died September 12, 1866, aged si.xty-seven years, a woman of many virtues. Their children were Newton, Lucius, Mary, Clark, Alonzo, Oman, Olive E., Eunice and Celia M. Newton Sperry was born in Tallmadge township, on the old Sperry homestead, Sep- tember 2, 1 82 I. He is entirely self-educated, and by his home study acquired much practical information, being possessed of unusual in- telligence. He began work at clearing when a small boy, and when but twelve years of age was hired out to a farmer in Tallmadge to drive a yoke of oxen and plow, and even at that early age could do a full day's work, and plowed, at this age, with James Chamberlain for Andrew Treat. As he was the eldest son, he had to work young; when he was twenty- one years old, his father died and he was left with the care of his mother and eight children, and the homestead was not yet paid for; he, therefore, worked with great perseverance to support the family and pay for the farm. Mr. Sperry married. May 13, 1849, in Au- rora township, Lucy L. Cannon, who was born July 8, 1825, at Kirkland, Lake county, Ohio, a daughter of John and Lydia (Rice) Cannon. John Cannon was born January 11. 1787, in Blanford, Mass., of sterling Scotch ancestry. The name was originally Carnahan. aJ:^2/^ ^?^rn^ i.yJ^M OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 833 and the genealogy is traced to the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. His parents were John and Mary Cannon, whose family consisted of eight children, viz: John, Stephen, George, Eli — one daughter who married a Cochran, one who married a Spen- cer, Lucy L., and Polly, who married Charles Starr. John Cannon came with his mother, brothers and sisters to Ohio in i 806, when he was a boy. The farm had been selected by his brother Stephen, in 1804, in the southwest part of Aurora township. He made some im- provements, and in 1806 returned for his mother and the children, and on the 20th, with a genuine pioneer outfit, a huge wagon drawn by two yoke of o.xen, lead by a trusty horse, upon which the young pioneers of the family took turns riding, and for forty days they continued their march, crossing hills, scaling mountains, wading swamps, threading forests, in the early days of December, and, all tired out, they made their home in the woods of Ohio. John Cannon and his brother Eli were both soldiers in the war of 181 2. John was in the regular United States service three years near the Niagara river. He had a good education for his time and taught school in Darrowville, and there he married, Septem- ber 10, 1820, Lydia Rice, who was born Feb- ruary 2, 1787, in Massachusetts. She was a school-teacher in Darrowville, and came from Massachusetts with William Blair and family to Painesville, Ohio. John Cannon lived in Painesville for five years on fifty acres of land, and in after life lived in Aurora, Northampton and Streetsboro as a farmer. His children were Lucy L. and Norman S. Mr. Cannon was a Methodist in religion and democrat in politics, but became a republican during the war. He was a man of good character and temper and very up- right. He died April r, 1872, aged eighty-five years, his wife having died November 2, 1868, the death of both occurring at the home of Newton Sperry. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sperry settled on the farm which he had bought and paid for, consisting of 1 10 acres, and which was the old home of his father. He had also assisted his mother to bring up her family. Mr. Sperry prospered and eventually became the owner of f>oo acres, and was one of the most sub- stantial farmers in Streetsboro township, and still owns a fine estate of 370 acres. This property he has acquired by his thrift and sturdy industry and sagacity, working every day early and late, and is an entirely self- made man. Mrs. Sperry died October 24, 1896, a member of the Presbyterian church at Streetsboro, of which Mr. Sperry has been an elder for twelve years, and was deacon several years, and to the support of which he always liberally contributed. In politics he is a pro- hibitionist, being a strong temperance man. Mr. Sperry is well preserved and a man of active manner, and has always been well- known for his straightforward honesty of char- acter. Mrs. Sperry was a woman of marked character and strong personality, of great in- dustry and perseverance and for eight years cared for her parents in their declining years. The children born to Newton and Lucy L. (Cannon) Sperry are Alice E., wife of William J. McDowell, an agriculturist, of Woodstock, 111., with a family of four living children — Laney A., Emma M., William A. and Elmer N., and one deceased, Mary S. Arthur N., was married, but is now deceased, having left two children — Robert M. and Arthur G. Fred A., a carpenter and builder at Colorado Springs, Colo., was first married to Fannie E. Kerr, of Tallmadge township, and had three children — Berrie L. , Ethel B. (deceased), and Marjorie A. — and after the death of his first wife in Colorado, October 12, 1895, married Mrs. Fannie A. Beebe, of Des Moines, Iowa. 834 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Lucy E. is at home with her father, is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, is president of the C. E. society, secretary of the local union of the W. C. T. U., and is superintendent of the L. T. I. department, W. C. T. U., for Portage county. m: 'ILLIAM T. MENDENHALL, of the firm of Mendenhall & Shuman, the well-known furniture dealers and undertakers, of Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Chester county. Pa., May 8, 1832, a son of Stephen and Mary (Thomas) Mendenhall, also natives of the Keystone state. Stephen Mendenhall and wife were the par- ents of five children, viz: Margaret (deceased), William T. (subject), Edwin D., Maria and Thomas C. In 1834, accompanied by his wife, and Pennsylvania-born children, Mr. Mendenhall crossed the mountains in a wagon, and in the course of four weeks arrived in Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, where he bought a tract of land, cleared up a farm, built a log cabin, and engaged in his trade of wagon- making, and finally added carriage and buggy manufacturing; did a good business for a num- ber of years, but eventually moved to Indiana, where his wife died in January, 1874, and where his own death also took place in No- vember, 1894. William T. Mendenhall received his earlier education in the common schools of Colum- biana county, and later attended high school in Marlboro, Stark couuty, then for a number of years worked at carriagemaking, and then came to Portage county, and for ten years op- erated a saw-mill in Randolph; for the twenty years following he was engaged in farming, and in 1883, settled in Atwater, where he en- tered into the furniture trade in partnership with Mr. Stanford; three years later Mr. Stanford sold his interest in the concern to E. M. Chapman, and in 1893, Mr. Chapman sold to Mr. Shuman, since when, the firm has been conducted under the title mentioned at the opening of this notice, and now does the largest house-furnishing business in the town- ship, to which has been added a complete un- dertaking equipment. June 13, 1855, Mr. Mendenhall was mar- ried at Canton, Ohio, to Miss Asenath Mich- ener, who was born in Goshen, Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1831, a daughter of James and Eliza Michener, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in the same year in which their daughter, Asenath, was born. To Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall have been born three children, viz: Carrie, now Mrs. D. S. Perkins; Nina, married to C. J. Stanford, and Ella, wife of Dr. C. S. Hiddleson, whose biography ap- pears on another page. Mr. Mendenhall is a republican in politics, and has held the office of township trus- tee, for a period of si.x years. He is very popular personally, and his family, as well as himself, are among the most respectable resi- dents of Atwater township. eLIAS MILLER, one of the most re- spected, old-time farmers of Bath township. Summit county, was born in Jackson township. Stark county, Ohio, March 12, 1824, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Williams) Miller, the former of whom was born October 5, 1796, and was a son of George Miller, who was born Novem- ber 7, 1763. Peter Miller married Miss Mary Williams, February 13, 1823, and came to Bath town- ship, Summit county, in 1838, and settled on a farm, one-half mile east of the center there^ of, where he continued to follow his life-long vocation as an agriculturist, and attained a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 835 considerable degree of popularity and influence with his fellow-townsmen, whom he served as township trustee, school director, and justice of the peace, having been elected by the re- publican party. In religion, he was converted to the Evangelical faith fourteen years prior to his death, and was a consistent member of the church of that name. He lost his wife, Mary, in 1826. She had borne him two chil- dren — Elias, the subject of this biography, and Robert S., who died in infancy. For his second helpmate, he married Nancy Sprankle, who gave birth to three children — James, Jo- seph (died in infancy), and Milton, the death of Peter Miller occurring March 31, 1867. Elias Miller was tolerably well educated in the district schools of Stark and Summit counties, and was reared by his father to the honorable and noble pursuit of agriculture. He married, April 16, 1848, Miss Sarah Sprankle, who was born June 16, 1827, a daughter of Jacob Sprankle, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1798. Mrs. Sarah Miller died of a tumor. May 10, 1895, the mother of the following-named children: Jacob S., born November 12, 1849 — died of consump- tion of the lungs, May 7, 1878; Etta Ann, who was born November 28, 1851, was mar- ried to Wait Hopkins, and died of a tumor, January 13, 1896; Nancy, born December 18, 1854, now the wife of Daniel Mull, and a resi- dent of Cleveland; Mary A., who was born February 27, 1857, is married to Newton Hockett, and resides in Bath township; Ama G., born February 19, 1859, died of typhoid fever, October 3, 1871; Dora, born June 13, 1864, was married to John Rothrick, and died of consumption of the lungs, July 18, 1892, and Peter Milten, born in Bath township, P^ebruary 6, 1867, died of consumption of the bowels, October 22, 1885. The subject of this sketch was married again, April 11, 1897, to Margaret A. Drushal, which was her maid- en name, but who was twice married before she married Elias Miller — first to Samuel Tins- ler, and secondly to William Watts. Mr. Miller had led a very active and indus- trious life, having cleared up nearly all of his 130-acre farm and made all the improvements, the buildings being substantial and neat and tasty in appearance, while the farm itself, which is situated three-fourths of a mile east of the center of Bath, presents an aspect of thrift and good management unsurpassed by any farm of its dimensions in Bath township. In politics Mr. Miller affiliates with the republican party. He has long been a mem- ber of and leader in the Evangelical church, and fraternally is a member of Richfield lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M., in which he has held the chair of junior deacon. He is now living in comparative retirement in Homer township, Medina county, Ohio, having done no practical farm work for the past ten years, his ample means affording him the privilege of enjoying in ease the fruits of his early indus- try, although he keeps a general oversight in the management of his estate. He is an honorable and upright gentleman in every sense of these words, and holds with a lasting tenure the respect of his neighbors. at 1 L L I A M B. M I C L E, long a re- spected resident of Aurora town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, and for over three years a soldier of the Civil war, was born in Pottsdam, Saint Law- rence county, N. Y., a son of Benjamin W. and Mary (Hoggett) Micle, who were of French descent and had a family of four chil- dren, viz: Malinda, Emma, George and Wil- liam B. The family early came to Ohio, but the parents some years afterward returned to the state of New York, where the father 83H PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ■passed the remainder of his life, and died at about the age of forty-five years. WiUiam B. Micle, when about nine years old, was brought to Aurora township by his parents, received a good common-school edu- cation, and was reared a farmer. October 7, 1 86 1, he enlisted, at Streetsboro, in company F, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged, November 19, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio. He fought in seven rebel states during this period — Ken- tucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas — and among other battles in which he took part were those of Middle Creek, Chickasaw Heights, Fort Hinman, Port Gibson, Ray- mond, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge and Vicksburg, and was, beside, in several se- vere skirmishes, but passed through all without a wound, although several rifle-balls passed through his clothing. Mr. Micle is small of stature, being but five feet, three inches in height, and weighing but 137 pounds, yet he endured the long marches better than the large men, many of whom fell in the ranks from fatigue. His hardest march was with Gen. Morgan, from Cumberland Gap to the Ohio river, a distance of 237 miles, many skir- mishes occurring on the way. The troops were without regular rations and subsisted on the forage of a very poor country. The reb- els captured all the stragglers, and blockaded all the roads, and when the troops reached the Ohio river, they were dirty, ragged, shoe- less and hungry, a little green corn having sus- tained Mr. Micle through the march. On two occasions he marched with his company 700 miles, and while many a robust soldier fell ex- hausted, Mr. Micle came through intact. He was not in the hospital, excepting about three weeks in the early part of his service, when he was suffering from measles, although for four months, during the latter part of his term, he suffered from chronic diarrhea, yet did not leave his company. Mr. Micle was united in marriage, Janu- ary 14, 1869, at Shalersville, Portage county, with Miss Margaret J. English, who was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in 1851, a daughter of John and Martha (Piburn) Eng- lish. John English came to America shortly after the birth of his daughter, Margaret J., and settled in Shalersville, where he engaged in saw-milling. His children were seven in number, and were named Eliza, Martha, Eliza- beth, Hattie L. , Margaret J., Joseph and John, and of these, Joseph was in the three months' service in the late war. Mr. English de- parted this life in Shalersville, at the age of sixty-four years, a respected citizen, and an industrious, temperate, honest man. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Micle, have been born the following-named children: John, Henry, Eugene Arthur, Harry, Maud and Maggie. Since the war Mr. Micle has been much dis- abled, and for a year at a time has been un- able to do any work. Generally, he has engaged in teaming in Shalersville, Ravenna, Newburg and Aurora, having lived in the last- named place since 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Micle are consistent members of the Disciples' church, and in politics Mr. Micle is independ- ent, voting for the candidate he deems to be best fitted for office. He is a quiet, unassum- ing, honest man, and is held in great respect in the community in which he lives. @IDEON H. MILLS, Jr., of Twins- burg, Ohio, an old soldier of the Civil war, springs from old New England ancestry, of Holland-Dutch stock, and is the seventh generation of his family named Gideon. Gideon Mills, grandfather of subject, was one of the pioneers of Hudson, and Gideon OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 837 Mills, father of subject, came with his father, when a boy, to Hudson, Ohio. The last- named Gideon was reared a farmer, and mar- ried Matilda Case, daughter of Gideon and Temperance (Minor) Case, and to this union were born six children, viz: Julia. Lucy, Gideon, Eliza O., Almon D. and Harlow. Mr. Mills located in Streetsboro, where he cleared up a farm. He enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war in the fall of 1861 — probably September — for three years, and had nearly served out his time when he was honorably discharged on account of disability, and re- turned to Streetsboro. His first wife died, and he next married, in Streetsboro, Mary Wilcox, and they were the parents of two children — Edward and William. Mr. Mills was a member of the Congregational church, and in pohtics was a whig and republican. He was an honored and respected citizen, a well-known and substantial farmer and owned a good farm, and died at the age of eighty- four 3'ears. Gideon H. Mills, Jr., was born October 29, 1834, at Twinsburg, Ohio, received a common- school education and became a farmer. He enlisted in Capt. George Wetmore's Ninth Ohio independent battery, November 2, 1861, to serve three years or during the war, was promoted to corporal in 1863 and re-enlisted in the same organization as a veteran volun- teer February 11, 1864, at Tullahoma, Tenn., and was honorably discharged July 25, 1865, at Camp Cleveland, Ohio. He was in the battles of Mill Springs, Cumberland Gap, Franklin, Tenn., second battle of Franklin, Tazewell, Tyrone, Nashville, Stone River, Tullahoma, and Chattanooga, and several others, fifteen battles in all. His service was principally in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ala- bama, and he was always an active soldier, prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duty. He kept a memorandum in a diary of each day's events while in the army, which is of great interest. He was not sick in hospital nor wounded, nor a prisoner, but was all the time with his battery, although he was rup- tured in 1863. After the war Mr. Mills re- turned to Summit county, and married, Jan- uary 22, 1868, in Twinsburg township, Sarah White, widow of Elisha White (nee Sarah Lane), daughter of Luman and Irene (Thomas) Lane. Luman Lane was born at Killingworth, Conn., in 1796, and came on foot to Ohio with a pack on his back, in 1820, when a young man of twenty-four years, in company with Hanford White, the father of Elisha White, the first husband of Mrs. Mills, and located at the place now occupied by our sub- ject, then all woods. They built a cabin and lived together nearly two years, as bachelors, when Luman Lane married Irene Thomas, who came from Connecticut with Ethan Ailing and family. He cleared up a farm of 100 acres and made a good home. His chil- dren were Charles, Albert, Augusta, Edward, Emeline and Sarah. Mrs. Lane died and he married Emma Parrish, and they had one child — Philena. Mr. Lane was an honored pioneer and upright man. He lived to be eighty-two years old, and died a member of the First Congregational church at Twinsburg, and in politics was a republican. Gideon H. Mills, Jr., after marriage, first lived on the White farm and then twelve years in Hudson township, where he bought 106 acres; then returned to the White farm, bought a lot and built a feed-mill, cider-mill and a factory, and for twenty years ran a threshing machine and a portable saw-mill. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mills are Lottie P., and Gideon L. Lottie P. is the wife of George M. Wall, a bookkeeper of Wilming- ton, Del. They have one son and daughter, Adelbert, Marion. Gideon L. is a resident of Solon, Ohio, and is an engineer; he married 838 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Miss Electa Sheets, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Mills were pupils in the Rev. Samuel Bissels Twinsburg institute, and are now members of the Twinsburg Congregational church, in which he has held the office of deacon. In politics he is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Gen. John C. Fremont, is a member of the W. T. Sherman post, G. A. R. , at Hudson, and has held the office of vice-commander. He is a member of the school board, and for two years was a supervisor. Mr. Mills is a veteran of the late war, with a fine military record. The famous John Brown of Kansas was a relative of Mr. Mills, John Brown's mother having been a sister of 'Squire Gideon Mills of Hudson, the grandfather of our subject. The Mills are of Holland-Dutch stock. The first of the name was Peter Walter Mulen, as the name was spelled, who came from Holland to America. Gideon Mills, Jr., and Samuel Bediant made the first traction engine, at Hudson, and ran this engine twenty years. >Y' OHN B. MOECK, an ex-soldier of the m late Civil war and a well known resident /• 1 of Stre^tsboro, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of Germany, born in Wurtem- berg November 12, 1830, asonof John and Mar- garet (Ruetz) Moeck. He received a good education in the excellently managed public schools of his native city, and then learned the butchering business. In the latter part of May, 1851, he embarked at Havre, France, on board the A i swift-sailing packet ship Isabel for New York, and landed in that city July 2, after a short passage, for those days, of a little more than thirty days. He readily found emplo3ment and worked in New York city, Albany, N. Y. , Philadelphia, Pa., and then for a few years in Bucks county, Pa. In March, 1862, Mr. Moeck came to Ohio and worked in Stowe township. Summit county, then moved to Brimfield township, where he lived until his enlistment, October 2, 1862, at Cleveland, in company C, Sixth Ohio cavalry, Maj. Bingham commanding, for nine months, but served ten, and was honorably discharged, at Cleveland, July 29, 1863. He was assigned to the army of the Potomac and took part in the destructive raid through the Shenandoah valley. He fought at Kelly Fort, Va., was in the charge on Fort Thompson, was in the bat- tle at Cross Roads, and the engagements at Warrenton, and was in many brisk skirmishes during Gen. Stoneman's famous raid. At Stoneman's headquarter's, Mr. Moeck's com- pany acted as body guards, and its members were selected as bearers of dispatches, accord- ing to trustworthiness and daring, and in this hazardous service Mr. Moeck met with many adventures and hairbreadth escapes from capture. He endured many hardships and privations, and at one time, when his boots were burnt up by accident in camp, was bare- foot for a whole week in cold weather. He was taken sick and was in field hospital on the Potomac river for about a month, was then taken to Washington, D. C, and thence sent to Cleveland, where he was discharged at the date mentioned above, and given transporta- tion to Ravenna, where he was confined to his bed for three months, and after recovering en- gaged in farm work. Mr. Moeck married in Ravenna, October 15, 1863, Mrs. Barbara Shaffer, who was born April 2, 1845, in Germany, a daughter of John and Mary (Mades) Shaffer. John Shaffer was a farmer in Baden province, Germany, and owned his land, which had been in the family for generations. To his marriage with Miss Mades, daughter of Jacob Mades, a farmer, were born Joseph (who died at twenty-four years of age), Mary, Visula, Mary A., Eliz- abeth, Catherine, Eva and Barbara. Mr. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 839 Shaffer died March 25, 1850, when his daugh- ter Barbara (now Mrs. Moeck) was but five years of age, and when si.\ years old she came with her sister, Mary, to America. She was reared by strangers in Randolph, Portage county, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years she became the bride of Mr. Moeck. After marriage, Mr. Moeck continued to reside in Ravenna until 1867, when he went to Minnesota, where he lived three months and then returned to Portage county and located in Kent, where he resided until 1879, when he came to Streetsboro and bought his present home. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Moeck has been blessed with one child — Rosa — who is married to William Shoemaker, and is the mother of one son, John. In politics Mr. Moeck is a republican. He and wife attend the Methodist church, although Mr. Moeck is in belief a Lutheran. He has always been an industrious, moral, temperate man, and is as good a citizen as he was a soldier. V^ y *' ALTER E. MOWEN, M. D., a mm I physician and surgeon of Portage ^jL^ county, Ohio, was born July 31, 1856, in Deertield, in the county named, and here he still has his residence, his ability in his profession being fully recognized by those among whom he was born and reared to manhood — a recognition not usually ac- corded professional men. He descends from a long line of American ancestors, of whom three generations, at least, have been resi- dents of the Buckeye state. Daniel Mowen, the paternal grandfather of the doctor, was a native of Berks county. Pa., was a tailor by trade, but came at a very early day to Ohio and engaged in farming in Columbiana county, and later moved to Fred- ericksburg. To his marriage with Elizabeth Rudisall were born nine children, of whom six are still living, viz: Humphrey, T. R. (father of the doctor), both residing in Deer- tield; Simeon J., of Chicago; Oliver P., of Deerfield; Harriet, wife of Richard McGowan, and Sophina, wife of Daniel Koons, of Cleve- land. Of the three deceased, Nancy died April 8, 1857, at the age of nineteen years; Hiram, who was a soldier in the Civil war and died in Tennessee, and Samantha, the de- ceased wife of Orison Diver. The father of the family died April 9, 1845. a member of the Lutheran church, of which his deceased wife was also a member. Ephraim Hubbard, the maternal grand- father of the doctor, was born February 10, 1792, in Stratford, Conn., and in 1800 was brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Deerfield township. Portage county, where they purchased a farm. On this farm Ephraim was reared to manhood. He took part in the war of 18 12, and later became a prominent citizen and a leader of men, repre- senting his district in the state legislature two terms, and later serving for a number of years as chaplain in the state penitentiary, his polit- ical affiliations having first been with the whig party and later with the republican, and bv the latter was elected to nearly all the township offices. He first married Miss Mary Mc- Gowan, who bore him eight children, of whom two are still living, viz: Mrs. T. R. Mowen, the mother of the subject of this sketch, and Mary, wife of Jesse L. Slack, of Deerfield. The deceased were Rebecca, wife of M. L. Streetor; Homer, Edgar, Cyrus, Horatius, and Samantha, who died suddenly in the rail- road station at Alliance, the wife of Andrew Slack. Mrs. Mary (McGowan) Hubbard was also called away, dying in 1838, and Mr. Hub- bard next married, in 1840, Mrs. Julia Reed, who bore him two children, viz: Alma, wife of Michael Edler, and Helen, who died in in- fancy. Mr. Hubbard died on his farm July 840 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD lo, 1876, at the age of eighty-four years, and Mrs. Julia (Reed) Hubbard, his wife, departed this life a few years later, aged eighty-eight years, and both in the faith of the Disciples' church. The father of Ephraim B. Hubbard, above alluded to, was also named Ephraim B., was a resident of Dutchess county, N. Y. , where he married Miss Mary Kidd, a niece of the famous Capt. Kidd, for whose supposed buried treasures visionaries are digging along the banks of the Hudson river, and elsewhere, up to the present day. From New York Mr. Hubbard came to Ohio and bought a tract of land near Deerfield, on which he died in 1825, at the age of sixty-one years, the father of four children — Sophia, who was married to Harvey Mills, of Nelson, Ohio; Ephraim B., subject's grandfather, and Stephen A., who became a minister of the Methodist church. T. R. Mowen, father of Dr. Walter E. Mowen, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 14, 1824, and when a small boy was bound out to a farmer, with whom he re- mained until he attained his majority, when he began work as a farm hand for the neighbor- ing agriculturists, and through frugality was enabled to purchase his first farm in 1859, which was situated in Deerfield township, ,and on which he resided until 1887, when he re- tired to the town of Deerfield, where he had purchased a fine residence, and where he still resides in ease and comfort. The marriage of T. R. Mowen took place December 25, 1844, to Miss B. E. Hubbard, who was born January 3, 1824, a daughter of Ephraim B. and Mary (McGowan) Hubbard, of whom full mention is made in a foregoing paragraph. To this union there was but one child born — Dr. Wal- ter E. Mowen — who still resides with his parents, and of whom further mention will be made in the paragraph following. T. R. Mowen and wife are devoted members of the Disciples' church, of which Mr. Mowen has been a deacon for more than thirty years, and no family in Deerfield is more highly esteemed than theirs. Dr. Walter E. Mowen, with whose name this biographical memoir is opened, was reared on his father's farm, which, to some extent, he assisted to cultivate, but the major portion of his early days was passed in attending the district school and Mount Union college, after which he engaged in selling farm machinery and agricultural implements until 1886, when he succumbed to an ^irgent desire to become a physician. Accordingly, in that year, he began reading under Dr. Oglesby, of Deer- field, and for six months was an assiduous student under his preceptorship; the next six months' study was had under Dr. C. M. Hoover, of North Benton. Ohio, and in the following fall he entered the Cleveland Medical college, where he studied three years, gradu- ating March 9, 1889. He then returned to Deerfield and purchased the business which had been established by Dr. Henry Powers, and this he has since increased from year to year, until he has the longest list of patients of any physician in Deerfield. Dr. Mowen was united in marriage July i, 1877, with Miss Alice B. Randall, daughter of H. S. and Sarah (Alberta) Randall, and this happy union has been blessed with four chil- dren, named, in order of birth, Don T. , Clif S. , Blanch and Ned W. The doctor and family are members of the Disciples' church at Deerfield, and Mr. and Mrs. Mowen are free contributors of their means to its support. Fraternally the doctor is a member of Charity lodge, F. & A. M., and also of the Cleveland Medical society. In politics he is an active republican, and is the present chairman of the republican township committee. The social standing of the doctor and his family is with the most respected of the residents of Deerfield township, and individually he is highly es- , / fdytt^r-yiy\..^K^>^K_ OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 846 teemed as a gentleman of integrity, morality, and unfailing charity, reaching, in fact, the virtue of philanthropy. (D KS. LAWSON WATERMAN, of Peninsula, Ohio, is one of the pa- triotic ladies of the Civil war. Her husband, Lawson Waterman, was born in Otsego county, N. Y.. at Decatur, January 21, 181 1, and at the age of nineteen years went to Rochester, N. Y., where he was employed in a ship-yard. He went on the lakes as a sailor the following summer and for several years was engaged working in the ship-yard winters and sailing summers. He came to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1836, and here met Angelina C. Rogers, to whom he was married October 24, 1840. Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Waterman came to Peninsula, where Mr. Waterman died, after a short illness, September 21, 1892. There were two sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Water- man — George Lawson, who was born Septem- ber 5, 1 84 1, and who grew to manhood in Peninsula, and Lewis Rogers, who was born August 6, 1S44, and died October 20, 1S44. Mr. Waterman was a very charitable man, and no worthy person in need ever applied to him in vain. He was many years in the canal boat building business and prospered by his steady adherence to his vocation. He began a poor man at Peninsula, in 1S38, but suc- ceeded in establishing a large business, em- ployed many men, built many canal boats, and in 1852 built the home where his widow now lives. He was a man of sterling integrity of character, and much respected by all who knew him. The home place consists of 300 acres of fine land, cleared from the woods. Politically a democrat, he was postmaster at Peninsula several years, also a member of the town board, and was township trustee; like- 35 wise a member of Meridian Sun lodge, No. 266, A. F. & A. M., West Richfield, Ohio. He lived to be nearly eighty-two years old, and was well known for his sterling qualities. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. H. H. Miller, from which is taken the following para- graphs: In his life Mr. Waterman was a man of charity. He was a friend to the poor. No worthy person in need ever applied to him for assistance in vain. Many there are who can testify of his charitable acts to them. He clothed the naked and fed the poor. I knew him but a few months, but those who knew him best give this testimony. In his giving he was very unostentatious. In a quiet way, his charity was bestowed. He has come down to a good ripe age. We can truly say of him: "The world was better because he lived." His end was a gracious one; sick but a few days, suffering but little pain, he passed away as one going to sleep. He is in the hands of an all-wise and merciful God. Mrs. Angelina C. (Rogers) Waterman was born April 11, 1821, in Kingsville, Geauga county, Ohio, a daughter of James Whitelaw Rogers, who was born in Swanton, Franklin county, Vt. , December 23, 1794, a son of George, who was born in Rhode Island of English descent, and Mary Whitelaw. March 3, 1 8 16, he married Martha Thayer, of Ba- tavia, N. Y. , and their children were Malvina, Harriet, Angelina, Candace, John Randolph Maranda and Susan Ettelina. Mr. Rogers was a carpenter and joiner, and not long after marriage came to Ohio, 'bnt a few years later returned to New York, and died of fever in 1828 at Cold Creek, where he had bought a farm, at only thirty-four years of age. He was an industrious, hard-working man and a Universalist in religion. '' Mrs. Martha (Thayer) Rogers, daughter of Berick and Mary (Bingham) Thayer, was borr< in Williamstown, Berkshire county, Massachn-" 846 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD setts, January 14, 1799. She was a woman possessed of more than ordinary strength of character and perseverance, being left at her husband's death to battle the world alone, with a family of six children, the eldest being but twelve years of age, but she bravely met her task and succeeded in bringing them up respectably. She lived to see them all well settled in life, and respectable members of society. She returned to Ohio with her fam- ily in 1837, and settled in Cleveland, where she died February 28, 1864, at the age of sixty-five years; her remains now lie in Lake- view cemetery, Cleveland, by the side of two of her grandchildren. Mrs. Waterman is a member of the Epis- copal church, and a lady of many virtues, well known for acts of charity, and much beloved. She is a woman of high patriotism and gave her only full-grown son as a soldier to his country. Her maternal grandfather, Berick Thayer, was a Revolutionary soldier and was also in the war of 1812. He was of a colonial family, married in Waterbury, Conn., Mary Bingham, and finally settled as a pioneer at Batavia, N. Y. , and died there a respected citizen. Mrs. Thayer lived to be between ninety-eight years and ninety-nine years old. George Lawson, son of Lawson and Ange- lina Waterman, was born September 5, 1841, and was a boy of sterling and reliable charac- teristics, acquired a high-school education, and was in a commercial college at Cleveland when the Civil war broke out. He was a member of the Cleveland Greys and volunteered with his company for the three months' service at the first call of President Lincoln, and was the first soldier to enlist from Summit county. He left Cleveland with his company for the front, April 18, 1861, when he was but nine- teen years of age. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run and was an active soldier, served out his three months' service without being disabled, and returned safely to Penin- sula, being honorably discharged, and then, owing to the wishes of his mother, remained home one year, but could withstand his patriot- ism no longer and applied for and received a ' commission as second lieutenant August 22, 1862, recruited company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, at Penin- sula, Ohio, and was mustered in at Massillon September 19, 1862. The ladies at Peninsula, as a token of the high esteem they had for him as a man and soldier, presented Lieut. Waterman with a beautiful sword. His com- pany was assigned to guard duty at Cincinnati, Ohio. In the summer of 1863 they were sent to Dayton, Ohio, to preserve order, political disturbances having resulted in riot at that place. While there Lieut. Waterman se- cured leave of absence for himself and sev- eral comrades, for a visit home. On the even- ing of their departure, while awaiting the hour in their tents, a disturbance occurred which called them out, and Lieut. Waterman was shot by one of the ruffians. Although at first his wound was not considered even dangerous, it later became serious, "and his mother was sent for, but all efforts to save his life proved futile, and death resulted September 19, 1863, just one year from the day the company was mustered. His mother remained to the end, and the remains were brought back to the old homestead, where the funeral was held. The services were conducted by Rev. T. B. Fair- child, and it was without doubt the largest funeral ever held in Peninsula. After his death the officers of the One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment passed resolutions in testi- mony of his character and sorrow at his re- moval, and the private soldiers did the same. The day he was shot he had received an ap- pointment on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Cox, commander of the department of Cincinnati. His comrades who still linger on the shores OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 847 of time, when they came to organize, in Pen- insula, the Grand Army of the Republic, per- petuated his memory, and in their hall may be seen the charter naming the organization "George L. Waterman post, No. 272." Al- though it is now thirty years since his demise, he yet lives in the hearts of his comrades, his friends, and, most of all, in the heart of his aged mother, who yet survives her husband and her son. Mrs. Waterman also had two nephews who served in the Civil war, to-wit: One, Edward I. Ranney, was a son of Moses and Maranda (Rogers) Ranney, and enlisted at the beginning and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863; the other, Richard H. Snow, is a son of Palmer and Harriet (Rogers) Snow, who enlisted in the Second Ohio volunteer cavalry, served until the close of the war, and was then honorably discharged. The parents of Lawson Waterman, the husband and father, were Elisha and Diana (Young) Waterman. Elisha was a son of a Revolutionary soldier who served through the entire struggle of seven years. Elisha was born in Decatur, Otsego county, N. Y. , in 1791, married Diana Young in 1810, enlisted at the opening of the war of 1812, and was taken prisoner by the British at the battle of Qneenstown, but was soon released on parole, and was eventually honorably discharged. To his marriage with Miss Young were born four children — Lawson, Onesimus, Marietta and Ellen. In 1843 he brought his family to Ohio and settled on a farm in York township, Me- dina county, where Elisha died at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife at the age of eighty-six. Diana (Young) Waterman was also born in Decatur, N. Y. , in 1790, a daugh- ter of a soldier of the Revolution, and became the wife of a soldier of the war of 18 12, and the grandmother of a soldier of the Civil war. The father of her husband was also a warrior in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Diana Water- man was one of nature's noblewomen, deeply beloved by her children and respected by all who knew her. ^>/*AMUEL R. MOORE, a prominent •^^^k? farmer of Deerfield township, Port- K^__^ age county, Ohio, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in Meadville, Pa., October 10, 1830, a son of James and Margaret (Finley) Moore, natives of Ireland, who, on first coming to America, located in Pittsburg, Pa., where the father followed his trade of stonemason for several years, and then went to Meadville, where he engaged in farming until 1835, when he brought his fam- ily to Ohio, settled in Mahoning county, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying on his farm, November 11, 1848, at the age of forty years; his widow survived until July, 1873, when she expired, at the age of eighty- one years — both in the faith of the Presby- terian church. To their marriage were born three children, viz: Samuel R., whose name opens this paragraph; Andrew, who resides in Nebraska, and James, who died in November, 1873, at the age of thirty-three years. Samuel R. Moore was educated in the common-schools, which was supplemented by an attendance of three months at the high- school at Waldron. He then taught school three winter terms, working during the summer months on his father's farm ; he then devoted his entire attention to the assistance of his father, until the latter's death, the family hav- ing, during the interval, moved to Smith town- ship, in the same county. He then managed the farm for his mother, until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he enlisted October 11, 1 86 1, in company B, Sixty-fifth Ohio volun- teer infantry, for three years, but December 31, 1863, was honorably discharged for the 848 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD purpose of enabling him to veteranize in the same organization, which design was consum- mated, January i, 1864, the service of Mr. Moore extending to June 9, 1865, when he re- ceived his final honorable discharge, the war having been brought to a close. Mr. Moore took part in some of the severest engage- ments of the war, among which were those of Shiloh, Stone River (where he was shot in the left shoulder, which confined him to the hospital two months); Chickamauga, Mission- ary Ridge, Resaca, and Peach Tree Creek, and others, besides skirmishes too numerous to mention, and was, beside, twice captured and imprisoned, at one time being confined for nearly eleven months in the foul stockade at Andersonville. When not held as a pris- oner, or laid up with his wound, Mr. Moore was always promptly at his post of duty, was a brave and cheerful soldier, and ever ready to do his share of the dangerous work in the field, and with indomitable fortitude took part in all the marches, battles and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged while in the service. After the war, Mr. Moore returned to Ma- honing county, resumed agricultural pursuits, and became an influential and popular citizen, being elected to serve as constable and town- ship supervisor. In April, 1872, Mr. Moore was united in matrimony with Miss Ellen C. Cooper, and this union has been blessed with six children, viz: Annie T., James W., George L. , and Howard B., at home; Bessie S., who is attending the high school at Deerfield, and Edward F. , still under the parental roof. James Cooper, the father of Mrs. Ellen C. Moore, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., and when a young man was engaged in school- teaching, and also learned the trade of brick- laying. In 1831 he married Miss Susan Thom, who was born in Somerset county. Pa., in 1814, and to this union were born six children. of whom four are still living, viz: Frank; Ellen C, now Mrs. Moore; James, of Somerset county. Pa. , and Sylvester, of Iowa. Thomas died in Andersonville prison in 1864, and Samuel died in Tennessee in 1877, at the age of thirty years. James Cooper, the father, died in January, 1854, and his widow in Jan- uary, 1892, at the advanced age of eighty years — the death of both occurring in Somerset county. Pa. In 1893, Samuel R. Moore brought his family to Deerfield township. Portage county, and here he bought the farm on which he still resides and which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Moore en- joy the good opinion of their neighbors to the fullest extent, and Mr. Moore is esteemed for his many fine personal qualities, while his serv- ices as a gallant defender of his country's flag, in the hour of peril, is never lost sight of. aRVAN MURPHRY,ofNorthfield town- ship, Summit county, Ohio, with his post-office at Chaffee, Cuyahoga county, is an old soldier of the Civil war, was born in Onondago county, N. Y. , May 26, 1847, a son of Thomas L. and Catherine (Hill) Murphry, of Irish ancestry. He received a common-school education, was reared to farming and teaming, and came to Cleveland, Ohio, when a small boy, and then came to Independence township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio. He enlisted at Cleveland, in 1863, when only sixteen years old, in com- pany B, Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war. He served two years on detached duty, guarding cattle in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Ken- tucky. He returned Cleveland and re-en- listed, January 16, 1865, in company B, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth regiment, Ohio OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 849 volunteer infantry, to serve one year, or dur- ing the war, and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., September 27, 1865. Dur- ing a three days' rain in March, at Murfrees- boro, he took a severe cold, and in June received a sunstroke in Tennessee, on a march between Murfreesboro and Tullahoma, and was sick in camp about two weeks, and this resulted in deafness. Mr. Murphry endured all the harships and vicissitudes of a soldier's life with courage, and was a good soldier. After the war, Mr. Murphry settled in North- field township, and followed farming and team- ing. He married June 25, 1894, in Lorain county, Ohio, Emma Miller, who was born November 18, 1865, in LaGrange, Lorain county, Ohio, a daughter of Warren and Esther (Underbill) Miller. Warren Miller was born in Ohio, of Pennsylvania-German ances- try. Dr. G. C. Underbill, grandfather of Mrs. Murphry, was born in Rutland, Vt., of Eng- lish colonial descent. He was a surgeon in the Civil war, and a prominent physician in Lorain county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Mur- phry, one child has been born — Edward L. , July 15, 1895. Thomas L. Murphry, son of William, and father of subject, was a carpenter and ship builder and cabinetmaker, was born in county Wicklow, Ireland, married there, and came immediately after to America — first settling in New York state, and followed his trade, and farmed also. There were born to this marriage the following children: Francis D. , William, Ulton, Urvan, Lois I. and Florence, and of these, Francis D. was also a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the Sixty-second Ohio volunteer infantry. Thomas L. moved to Ohio when our subject was a small boy, and worked in the ship-yard at Cleveland, where he lived three years, and then came to Independence town- ship, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and engaged in farming. In politics he was a democrat, and a Catholic in religion, and lived to be sixty-five years old. Warren S. Miller was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, May 21, 1842, a son of Samuel and Susan (Smith) Miller. Samuel Miller was a native of Wyoming county, Pa., and mar- ried there, and settled in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where he had a good farm. Warren S. Miller was a farmer of LaGrange, Lorain county, Ohio, having moved there with his parents when a small boy. His children were Margaret, Lulu, Esther, Bernice, Eola and Emma. Mr. Miller is a Baptist in religion, is a respected citizen, and has held several townsip offices. In politics Urvan Murphry is a republican, and in religion he and wife are devoted to the faith of the Methodist church. They are highly respected in the community in which they live, and, individually, Mr. Murphry is regarded as one of the township's most indus- trious and useful citizens. m: ILLIS MYERS, a native of Streets- boro township. Portage county, Ohio, prominent farmer and an ex- soldier of the Civil war, was born on the farm on which he now resides, February 13, 1 84 1, received a good common-school education, and was reared to the pursuit of agriculture. Stephen Myers, grandfather of Willis, was born in Wheeling, Va., whence he moved to Beaver county. Pa., where he married Cather- ine Graham, and to this union were born nine children — Stephen, John, Adam, Jacob, Will- iam, Charles, Daniel, Frederick and George. About 1838 he brought his family to Portage county, Ohio, settled in Streetsboro township, within a mile of the place where Willis Myers now lives, and cleared up a farm of 160 acres from the forest, but later moved, and cleared 850 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD up another farm of sixty acres, and on this he passed away his remaining years, dying in 1864, at the patriarchal age of 105 years. He was a very intelligent man, was educated in Ger- many, and a great student of the Bible. John Myers, son of Stephen and father of Willis, was a native of Beaver county, Pa., and was about thirteen years old when brought to Ohio by his parents. He first married, in Geauga county, Amelia Hagen, who bore him one son, Frederick, and then passed away. His second marriage was with Nancy Tucker, a daughter of John and Catherine (Nieman) Tucker, the former of whom was a pioneer of Franklin township. Portage county, where he cleared up a fine farm, but later removed to Streetsboro township, where he purchased and cleared up another farm on which he passed the remainder of his life, dying at the ad- vanced age of ninety-one years. John Myers was the original settler on the farm now owned by Willis, which he brought out from the woods and on which he built a saw-mill. He was a hard-working, honest man, was a demo- crat in politics, and died at the age of seventy- one years. Willis Myers, on attaining his majority, en- listed, August II, 1862, at Cuyahoga Falls, in the Ninth Ohio battery of artillery, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honor- ably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 16, 1865, with the rank of corporal. He took part in all the marches and campaigns in which his regiment was engaged and endured all the hardships of a soldiers' life, performing his duties cheerfully and promptly, and received his promotion for meritorious conduct on the battle field. It may here be mentioned that Frederick Myers, half-brother of Willis, as al- luded to above, was also a corporal, served in company F, Thirteenth Michigan cavalry, in the three years' service, and was wounded in battle. After his discharge from the service. he returned to the old homestead, and married, March 25, 1868, Miss Ellen Miner, who was born March 8, 184=;, in Goshen, Ohio, a daughter of John and Mary (Hornish) Miner. Mr. Miner was a farmer of Columbiana county, of American birth, but of English descent, and his wife, Mary, was of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. They were the parents of eight chil- dren,, who were named Joseph, John, Thomas, William, Samuel, Lucinda, Matilda and Ellen. Of the sons, Thomas served in a Michigan regiment during the Civil war, Samuel was in the Sixth Ohio cavalry and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and Joseph and William were in the Ohio infantry. The fa- ther of the family died in middle age. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Myers settled on the old homestead, and their union has been blessed with the following children: John, James, George, Jesse D., Frank, Edith, Mamie and Sylvia. In politics Mr. Myers was formerly a republican, but is now a free-silver democrat. Fraternally he is an ex-member of A. H. Day post. No. 185, G. A. R., of which he was junior vice-commander, and was a member of Brady lodge. No. 183, I. O. O. F., both of Kent. Socially Mr. Myers and family stand very high, and personally he is greatly respected for his strictly moral character. HLMON NIMAN, a progressive farmer of Aurora township. Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, was born in Streetsboro, this county, August 6, 1 84 1, a son of Frederick and Pamelia (Van) Niman, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and whose ancestors were pioneers of the Key- stone state. Frederick Niman was born in Westmore- land county, Pa., Setember 5, 1804, a son of Adam Niman, and came to Ohio a single man, and married Pamelia Van, whose name had OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 851 been shortened from Van Guilder, and whose parents were natives of Vermont, but doubt- less of Holland parentage. Mr. Niman cleared up a good farm of lOO acres in Streetsboro township, and to his marriage were born the following-named children: Perry, George, Electa, Orrin, Laura, Almon and Alvin W. Of the sons, Alvin W. and Almon enlisted at the same time and place, and in the same company, as will be noticed further on. Al- vin W. was seized with typhoid fever, and died in Cumberland, Md., hospital, March 7, 1862, and his brother Almon, who was granted a furlough for the purpose, brought his re- mains home for interment. Frederick Niman, the father, was a democrat in politics, and lived to reach the venerable age of ninety years, dying in Kent, in 1894, a pious mem- ber of the Disciples' church, to which his wife also belonged, and was a devoted believer in its teachings. Almon Niman received a good common- school education, was reared a farmer on the homestead, and when about twenty years old enlisted, in Ashtabula county, in company D., Capt. P. C. Hard, Twenty-ninth Ohio volun- teer infantry, for three years, but was honor- ably discharged, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, September 25, 1862, an account of disability, caused by chronic diarrhea, with which he he had been confined in the hospital, at the camp mentioned, from July 12, of the same year. He served in Maryland and Virginia, was in the famous Shenandoah valley raid under Phil. Sheridan, was on several forced marches, and greatly exposed to inclement weather, but was always promptly at his post of duty, and active, willing and cheerful in its performance, until seized with a disorder that nearly proved fatal, and from which he has never since thoroughly recovered. The marriage of Mr. Niman took place in Akron, Ohio, April 16, 1862, to Miss Emma Larkins, of Hudson, Ohio, but who was born in Akron, a daughter of John and Sophronia (Low) Larkins. John Larkins was born in 1800, in the state of New York, was reared a farmer, and was married in Pennsylvania, his wife being of German descent. He was a pioneer of Akron, Ohio, in 1836, settling there when it contained one store only, which was owned by P. D. Hall. For some time he burned charcoal, or, rather, made it, but finally moved to Hudson, in 1853, where he bought a farm, which he partially cleared up, but converted the remainder into an excellent home. To his marriage there were born the following children: Hannah, Louisa, Emma, Samantha, John, Clarinda, Walter and Alice. In politics Mr. Larkins was a democrat. He died in 1877 in good circumstances, having realized a competency through his excellent management of his affairs, and by living a temperate, honest and industrious life. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Niman lived in Franklin township, Portage county, near Akron, where, in 1873, he bought three acres of land, and for two years was engaged in teaming. In 1885 he came to Aurora, and purchased a fine farm of 173 acres, on which he has since resided. His marriage has been blessed with six children, named Frederick H., Ella L., Charles A., Carrie E., Edgar A. and Ida A. Of these, Charles A. is a graduate of Hiram college, of the class of 1895. Po" litically he is a democrat, and in 1897 he was a candidate of the democracy to represent Portage county in the legislature, and ran 250 ahead of his ticket. Frederick H. is a farmer of Geauga county, and is married to Miss Cor- nelia Point, a native of Portage county. Ella L. is the wife of W. G. Eldridge, a farmer of Streetsboro township. Carrie is a student at the Aurora high school, as are also Edgar A. and Ida A. In politics Mr. Niman is a democrat, has «0'4 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD held the office of township assessor, and for twenty years was a member of the school board. ^"V'AMUEL H. NORTON, of Mantua •^^^k* Station, is one of the representative ^ ^ J citizens and old soldiers of the late war, who was born October 2, 1834, at Southington, Trumbull county, Ohio, the son of Joseph H. and Elizabeth (Hatch) Nor- ton. He was earlj' taught the habits of in- dustry and economy and received the usual common-school education, and in early man- hood began to learn the carpenter's trade. Sarnuel H. Norton was united in marriage October 25, 1852, with Miss Bessie Morris, who was born in Nelson, Ohio, in February, 1834, the daughter of David and Rosannah (Hawley) Morris. This felicitous marraige has resulted in the birth of the following-named children: Sarah E., Samuel C. and Charles O. Mrs. Norton died February 18, 1894, and May 7, 1895, Mr. Norton married Miss Sarah Parker, of Canton, Stark county, Ohio, who was born at Redmile, Leicestershire, England, daughter of John and Comfort (Derns) Parker, and she came to America in early childhood. Mr. Norton, soon after his first marriage, located in Southington, Ohio, where he con- tinued to live for several years, and from this town he enlisted, October 6, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service at Cleveland, Ohio, October 8, 1861, as a private of company H, Forty-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years, unless sooner discharged. He was one of the unfor- tunate boys that went into the service, and on November i, 1862, he received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tenn., on account of wounds received in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., in which engagement he had three fingers shot off of his left hand, after which he was required to stay in field hospital three days, which is the e.xtent of his hospital record during his service. He participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and at Shiloh Church, along with the engagement in which he received his wound, beside a number of hard skirmishes. Mr. Norton proved to be an ac- tive and brave soldier, and from the time he joined his regiment he answered to the roll call each morning, and participated in all the service that his regiment saw until he was discharged at Nashville, Tenn., as before stated. Beside the wound that he received on his hand, his hearing was affected, which re- sulted from exposure, while on picket duty in March, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn., and the same has resulted in almost total deafness. After his return from the war he rejoined his family at Southington, Ohio, and resumed farming and carpentering. He, at this time, owned a good farm of 100 acres, which he put in a high state of cultivation, and continued to reside here until 1876, when he moved to Mantua Station and lived four years, after which he returned to the farm, and subse- quently, in 1892, he rented his farm and re- turned to Mantua, where he has resided ever since. While residing upon the farm he was elected several times to serve as township clerk and trustee of his township, which offices he filled to the satisfaction of his constituents. Politically Mr. Norton is a stanch republican and has been such all through his life, casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He is an honored member of the G. A. R. , Bentley post, at Mantua Station, and has always been a straightforward and respected citizen, and he and wife enjoy the confidence and esteem of their vicinity. Mr. Norton, after locating in Mantua the second time, in the year 1893, built his pleasant residence, which is one of the good homes of his village, and where comfort and contentment abide. Joseph H. Norton, the father of our sub- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 853 ject, was born of English parentage in Con- necticut, his parents being early settlers of that state. In the year 1812, Joseph H. Nor- ton came west and located in Ohio, where he purchased land, and then returned to his native state, though he remained in the east only a short time, when he returned to his pioneer home and became one of the early and substantial farmers of the Western Reserve. His children were Samuel H., Theodocia and Sarah M. Mr. Norton was a member of the Methodist church, and in politics a member of the whig party, and died a man of middle age. Samuel H. Norton, the subject of this sketch, inherited one-third of the old home- stead, and later bought his sister's share, which makes him a valuable farm of 100 acres, which is now cared for by his son, Charles O. Samuel C, the elder son, is an engineer, and lives at Meadville, Pa. He married Carrie Bowles, and to them have been born two children — George and Harry. Charles O., the second son, and youngest of the family, and who resides on the old home- stead of his grandfather, married Aggie Tift. They have two children — Chrissible and Jo- seph H. John Parker, the father of Mrs. Norton, came to America in the year 1850, and settled at Newton Falls, Ohio, and the year 185 1, having found a desirable location, sent for his family. Later Mr. Parker purchased a home at Warren, Ohio, where he resided fifteen years, when he sold and removed to Cheboy- gan county, Mich., where he purchased land and lived the remainder of his life. His chil- dren by his first wife, who lived to grow to maturity, were Michael, Sarah, Fannie, Anna, James, Emma, beside six who died in in- fancy. By his second wife. Miss Betsy Broad- bent, there were five children born, only one of whom, Ashton, grew to maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Parker was a republican in politics, and his sons, Michael and James, were soldiers in the Civil war. m. ■» ALTER NOTMAN, a mo.st suc- cessful farmer and a highly re- spected citizen, was born on the farm he still occupies in Deerfield township. Portage county, Ohio, April 4, 1839, a son of George and Ann (Pick- ren) Notman, the former of whom was a native of Scotland and the latter of England. John Notman, the paternal grandfather of Walter, was yet a young man when he brought his family from Scotland to America and settled in Deerfield township, being among the pioneers, and here reared his four children — John, George, father of Walter, subject of this notice, and Mary, wife of Joseph Barnes. The maternal grandparents of Walter Notman were also early settlers of Deefield towhship, and reared a family of seven children, of whom, however, only one survives — Lewis. The six deceased were Mrs. George Notman, William, James, Caroline (wife of George McGowan), Elizabeth (wife of Ralph Scran- ton) and Mary Ann. The grandparents, on both sides, were strict members of the Meth- odist church. George Notman, father of Walter, learned the trade of blacksmith in Scotland, and this he followed for forty years, but his later years were passed in farming. He was twice mar- ried — first, to Miss Ann Pickren, who bore him nine children, of whom three are still living, viz: Walter, the eldest, whose name stands at the opening of this biography; Alvey, of Deefield township, and Julia, wife of Eugene Bow, of Alliance, Ohio; the deceased passed away in the following order: George, Decem- ber 18, 1844; Mary Ann, December 25, 1844; Levi, May 11, 1846; Solomon, February 28, 854 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1849; Eliza, in May, 1853, and one who died in infancy. The mother of this family was called from earth November 22, 1854, and in 1855 George Notmaii married Mrs. Ann Clark, who bore him seven children, five of whom still survive, viz: Theressa, wife of Andrew Strong; Josephine, now Mrs. Charles Strong; George O., married to Lucy Steele; Warren, married to Ida Shively, and Bell, the last named being married to Harry Carver. Olive and a younger child are deceased. George Notman died April 4, 1884, a devoted member of the Meth- odist church, to which church his widow still adheres. George Notman was a most ingenious mechanic, and was the inventor of the binding machine, for which he secured the first patent; was an industrious man, and was highly re- spected wherever known. Walter Notman received a verj- good com- mon-school education and was reared to man- hood on his father's farm. He has been twice married — the first time, December 7, 1861, to Miss Margaret Hagley, daughter of William and Jane (Notman) Hagley, the marriage re- sulting in the birth of four children, viz: George H., who married Rosa Marsh and re- sides in Deerfield; Jennie; Annie, wife of Frank Burkey, of Deerfield, and Ida, now Mrs. Ed- ward McGowan, of Michigan. Mrs. Margaret Notman having been called away April 28, 1875, Mr. Notman chose for his second help- mate Miss Mary E. Barnes, whom he married May 9, 1878, and this union has been blessed with one son — Clarence. Mr. Notman has al- ways led an agricultural life, with the excep- tion of one year, when he resided in the town of Deerfield, where he had charge of a cream- ery. In politics Mr. Notman is a stanch republican, and has served as school director many years; he is also a member of the Deer- field Agricultural society, is its present treas- urer, and for twenty years has been a director of the same. Mrs. Mary E. Notman was born in Deer^ field December 27, 1847, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Haines) Barnes, the former of whom was born in England, February 14, 1806, and the latter in Salem county, N. J., August 22, 181 8. James Barnes was a young man when he settled in Deerfield township, was a farmer by occupation, and in 1838 mar- ried Miss Haines, who was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Carman) Haines, the union being blessed with twelve children, six of whom still survive, viz: John, who mar- ried Mary Kerr, of Canada; Joseph, married to Ellen Kerr; James, who married Elizabeth Strong, resides in Edinburg, Portage county, Ohio; Mrs. Notman; Sarah, wife of James Robinson, of Canada, and Mivert, who is married to Alice Diehl and lives in Ellsworth, Ohio. William, James H. , Willson, Matilda, Rebecca and another, all died when small. The father of this family passed away May 23, 1876, at the age of sixty-eight years, the mother having died November 5, 1875, aged fifty- six, and both faithful members of the Method- ist church. William Barnes, paternal grand- father of Mrs. Notman, died in England, the father of nine children, four of whom came to America, viz: John, Harry, James and Joseph. Joseph Haines, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Notman, came from New Jersey to Ohio in 1825 and settled in Smith township, Mahoning county, where he followed his trade of shoemaking for many years, but later be- came a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Carman were born twelve children, ten of whom are still living, viz: Sarah, wife of Will- iam Snowed; Mary Ann, wife of Jeremiah Koon; Susan, now Mrs. John Baker, of Mich- igan; Joseph, of Williams county, Ohio; Tam- mer, wife of Anthony Yeagley, also of Will- iams county; Hugh, married to Ellen Eatinger; John is married and lives in Atwater, Ohio; Naomi, wife of Samuel Foley, of Edinburg. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 855 Ohio; Hannah, now Mrs. Jared Weaver, of Alliance, Ohio, and Ann, married to William Seacrist, also of Alliance. Benjamin died at the age of fifty-four years, and the mother of the family died in 1842, while the father lived until 1877, reaching the advanced age of ninety-four years. The family all were or are devoted members of the Methodist church, to which Mr. and Mrs. Notman also belong, and of which Mr. Notman has been a deacon for many years, and it may well be said that no family in the township is held in higher respect than his. <>^ROF. CALVIN T. NORTHROP, su- II m perintendent of Garrettsville public J schools, and president of the board of examiners of Portage county, is a native of New York, born in the city of Pough- keepsie. May 17, 1858, his parents being John and Julia (Williams) Schoonoven. At the breaking out of the late rebellion John Schoon- oven tendered his services to his country, enlisting August 28, 1862, in company C, One Hundred and Fiftieth New York infantry, with which he shared the fortunes and vicissitudes of war until stricken with typhoid fever, from which he died at Louisville, Ky. , June 26, 1864. His wife died three weeks previous to that date, her death also being caused by typhoid fever. Four small boys were now left orphans, the eldest eight years and the youngest but two years old; these children were taken into four different families, and all but the eldest adopted the names of their respective foster parents. William, who alone retained the family name, lived for some years in the fam- ily of Albert Martin, a farmer of York state, and he adopted the pursuit of agriculture as his life work. He married and resided at Ox- ford, N. Y. , where his death occurred at the early age of twenty-seven. Richard S., the second son, was reared in the family of Calvin Thomas, a farmer near Worcester, N. Y. , whose name he adopted, and with whom he lived until about fifteen years of age. He attended the public schools of Worcester, and afterwards, by leaching, earned sufficient means to complete the pre- scribed course of the State Normal school at Albany, from which he was graduated. Later he attended the Madison university, and is now a prominent educator, being at this time super- intendent of the schools at Akron, Ohio. He married Estella Saxton, of Madison, and is the father of two children, a son and a daughter. Charles E., another brother, the fourth in order of birth, was two years old when left an orphan, and grew to maturity in the family of Ira Carey, of Morris, N. Y., by which name he has since been known. When in his teens he left the farm and began to secure an edu- cation, teaching in the meantime in order to defray expenses incurred while pursuing his studies. He early united with the Methodist church and intended to enter its ministry, and while gaining his education frequently preached the gospel. He concluded his studies at the' seminary in Cazenovia, N. Y. , and has since been engaged in teaching, his present position being the superintendent of the schools of Warren, Ohio. He married Ekie Smith, and is the father of one son. Calvin T., whose name introduces this sketch, was reared in the home of Alonzo Northrop, a merchant of Worcester, N. Y. , whose name he adopted, and at the age of sixteen left home and began the struggle of life upon his own responsibility. His element- ary education was received in the public schools of Worcester, and later he was grad- uated from the academy of that town, having taught school at intervals while attending that institution. After leaving the academy. Prof. 856 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Northrop had charge of the schools of Rich- inondville, N. Y. , later accepted a similar position at Portlandville, that state, and was for some time superintendent of the schools of Worcester. In 1891 he accepted the superin- tendency of the schools of Garrettsville, Ohio, the duties of which he has since discharged in a manner highlj- creditable to himself and satisfactory to all concerned. The educational system which Prof. Northrop inaugurated at Garrettsville compares favorably with that of any other city in northern Ohio, and reflects great credit upon him as an organizer and suc- cessful instructor. From the primary to a complete course in the school is here placed within the reach of all, rich and poor alike. The entire course is twelve years, divided into four-year periods, namely, primary, grammar and high school. Pupils graduating are eli- gible to enter any normal or college throughout the state without further examination. The average enrollment lists three hundred pupils, and the curriculum is broad, including full English and full Latin-English courses. The schools are noted for being up to the highest standard of educational efficiency and the corps of teachers have been selected because of the professional standing which they have attained. Since his incumbency Prof. Northrop has accomplished many reforms in a gradual way, and in all departments has greatly heightened the standard of efficiency. He has acquired more than a local reputation as an instructor, and is widely and favorably known among the educators of Ohio. Prof. Northrop was married August 27, 1879, in Middlefield, N. Y., to Hattie E. Blair, daughter of Erastus Blair, a well-known citi- zen of that town; they have had one child, a son, that died in infancy. Politically Prof. Northrop is a republican, and fraternally be- longs to the F. & A. M., in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree, and is also a mem- ber of the Mystic Shrine; he is an active worker in the I. O. O. P., and, with his wife, belongs to the Congregational church of Gar- rettsville. Mr. Northrop was appointed a member of the county board of school examin- ers of Portage county in August, 1893, and has served as president of the same. * w ^ IRAM S. RANDALL, one of the most l''^\ highly respected citizens of Deerfield M , . r township, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Kent, Litchfield county. Conn., March 23, 1828, a son of Walter and Mary Martha (Smith) Randall, who came to Ohio in 1840, and located in Palmyra, Port- age county. Walter Randall's father was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., and his mother in Kent, Litchfield county. Conn. Walter was a clothier by trade, and to his marriage with Mary M. Smith, were born five children, of whom three still survive, viz: Hiram S., Walter and Edwin D, The two deceased were Sabra, who died in 1873. at the age of forty-three years, the wife of John Benton, and Smith Randall, who died about 1887. Walter Randall, a few months after reaching Palmyra, Ohio, removed to Nelson, in Port- age county, where he was engaged in farming for eighteen months, and then moved to Trum- bull county, where he bought another tract of land, on which he passed the remainder of his days, dying in February, 1843, at the age of forty years, his wife dying in Palmyra, at the same age, in February, 1848, both in the faith of the Presbyterian church. Elias Smith, maternal grandfather of Hi- ram S. Randall, was a native of Litchfield, Conn., and was actively engaged in farming until, when in his prime, he was precipitated a distance of twenty feet from a falling bridge, and so badly crippled that he was compelled OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 857 to withdraw from active labor, although he kept a supervision over his farm, until death called him away. To his marriage with Miss Dodge were born twelve children, viz: Marian, Harry, John, Reuben, Philemon, Stephen, Chauncy, Sabra, Mary, Flora and two who died in infancy. Mr. Smith was eighty years of age at the time of his death in 1852; his wife died a few years later, and both were de- voted members of the Presb3'terian church. Hiram S. Randall received a good com- mon-school education, and until his father's death lived on the home farm. Being then about fifteen years of age, he began learning the tanner's and currier's trade under Amos Spaulding, at Palmyra, Ohio, served an ap- prenticeship of three years, and then worked as a journeyman at different places, until the death of his former employer, when he re- turned to Palmyra and closed up the latter's business. In March, 1848, Mr. Randall, be- ing but twenty years old, bought a tannery in Deerfield, Portage county, and carried on a very successful trade until about 185 i, when he sold his plant, and worked as a journey- man, for about two years, at Kinsman, Trum- bull county. He next went to Mahoning county, where he was employed at his trade by Walter Smith for a year, and for four years following engaged as a traveling salesman in handling stoves, chain pumps and other com- modities, and then for a year worked again as a journeyman tanner. The first marriage of Hiram S. Randall took place August 21, 1 851, to Miss Sarah Al- lerton, who was born November 9, 1829, a daughter of James and Eleanor (Kellogg) Aller- ton. The father of Mrs. Randall, James Allerton, was born November 11, 1798, and his wife, May |, 1792. They had a family of five children, of whom one is still living — Oliver, born May 23, 1825; the deceased were Catherine, born April 18, 1827, died April 7, 1846; Sarah (Mrs. Randall); Eleanor, born March 19, 1833, died August 22, 1835, and Jane, who was born January 2, 1836, and died April 14, 1837. The parents of this family have both passed away. To the marriage of Mr. Randall and Sarah Allerton were born seven children, of whom three are still living, viz: Williard C, born March 24, 1854; Alice, born May 24, 1859, now the wife of Dr. M. E. Mowen, of Deerfield, and Eliza, born May 15, 1864. The four deceased children were Mary E. , who was born July 18, 1852, and died October 15, of the same year; Warren T., born September 7, 1857, died when twen- ty-three years old; Myrtle M., born August 22, 1867 — died October 12, the same year, and Wallace, who was born April 30, 1861, died May 31, 1894. Mrs. Sarah (Allerton) Randall, the mother of this family, died on the present farm, in Deerfield township, in 1869. The second marriage of Mr. Randall took place August 17, 1870, to Miss Emeline Grate, daughter of Lewis and Catherine (Kebler) Grate, but to this union no children have been born. But it is necessary to resume the recountal of Mr. Randall's business career. On re- linquishing his trade as a journeyman tanner, in 1856, he engaged in butchering in Deer- field, in conjunction with .shipping live stock, doing a very large business in the latter trade and being the first to ship a train-load to the army at the outbreak of the Civil war. While engaged in this trade, he bought a farm in Atwater township, which he cultivated about four years, and in 1864 purchased his present farm in Deerfield township — then known as the Thomas Mead farm. About this time, also, Mr. Randall erected a cheese factory in Deerfield, and, later, another in Edinburg, to which town he removed, after renting out his farm in Deerfield, and there lived one year, when he sold out his Edinburg plant and re- 858 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD turned to Deerfield, where he followed his trade as journeyman for two years in the em- ploy of Henry Muerman. He then returned to his farm, where he has since remained. The father of Mrs. Emeline (Grate) Ran- dall was born July i6, 1808, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and her mother was a native of Virginia, and the fact that Mr. Grate was a butcher, may have led Mr. Randall to embark in that business. Mr. Grate married, February 21, 1833, Catherine Kibler, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Shank) Kibler, to which union were born six children, viz: Emeline (Mrs. Randall), born August 26, 1834; Drusilla, born March 19, 1836; Lavorus, born July 30, 1839; Maryette, born November 24, 1841, and mar- ried to Daniel Kimmel; Angeline, born Decem- ber 9, 1846, and now the wife of John M, Forder, and Sarah S., born July 16, 1854, and married to Wallace Gilbert. Mr. Grate in his later years relinquished has trade of butcher and passed his declining years on his farm in Deerfield township, where he died June 7, 1894, at the age of eighty-five years; his widow, now also eighty-five years old, makes her home with Mr. Randall. George B. Grate, grandfather of Mrs. Ran- dall, was born in Ohio, December 22, 1777, and his wife, Susanah (Thatcher) Grate, was born April i, 1783 — their marriage taking place January 26, 1802. Their ten children were born in the following order: Betsey, October 13, 1803; Jeremiah, December 10, 1805; Lewis, July 16, 1808; Isaac, January 24, i8n;Reson, December 6, 1812; George B., December 5, 1814; Benjamin, March i, 1817; Eleanora, July 23, 1820; John, Novem- ber 22, 1822, and Reson, September 12, 1825. George B. Grate, father of this family, did January 31, 1851, and his wife May 30, 1867, both in the faith of the Baptist church. Hiram S. Randall has always enjoyed the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and in politics was first a whig and then a republican. In 1850 he was elected constable, and served thirty years, and for many years had been a member of the school board. Adelaide, half sister of Mr. Randall, was reared by a family named Steward, who adopted her, so she assumed the same name. She is the wife of Simeon Card, of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a mechanic, and a soldier in the late Civil war, served three years, and now draws a pension. They have two chil- dren, Florence and James Garfield Card. Sr-» ORING J. PHILLIPS, a well-known I r citizen of Everett, Ohio, and one of ^J_^^ the old soldiers of the Civil war, was born in Richfield township. Summit county, Ohio, June 23, 1847, a son of Jason and Alvira (Gillett) Phillips. He received a common-school education, and when seventeen years old enlisted in company A, Second Ohio cavalry, July 19, 1864, for three years, or during the war, and served until honorably discharged, September 17, 1865, at Benton barracks. Mo. He was in the battles of Opequan Creek, near Winchester, and at the battle of Cedar creek — this was the battle at Winchester where Gen. Sheridan rallied the troops. He was in the Shenandoah Valley campaign, when Sheridan destroyed all the mills, barns and forage, so that the enemy could not exist, and said a crow could not fly over the valley unless he took his rations with him. He was with his regiment in all the border counties of Missouri and Kansas, and in many skirmishes with the guerrillas. He was in the battles of Horse Creek, May 7, 1862; Cowskin Prairie, Ind. Ter.. June 25, 1862; Fort Gibson, Ind. Ter., July 15, 1862; Lone Jack, Mo., August 28, 1862; Newtonia, Mo., September 30, 1862, and assisted to OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 859 reinstate the Union Cherokees and Osage Indians in the Indian territory. He returned with his regiment in the win- ter of 1862-3, to Camp Chase, Ohio, where the regiment was re-organized and re-equipped and sent to Kentucky, where it remained the greater part of June, 1863, and was then on Sander's raid of fifteen days; then at Wild Cat Gap, in the Cumberland mountains, and on that raid had many skirmishes, a distance of forty miles up the Holston river; then in the battle of Mount Sterling, Ky., April 14, 1863; Monticello, Ky. , May 25, 1863; Steubenviile, Ky., June 19, 1863; Richmond, Ky., July 28, 1863; London, Ky., September 5, 1863; Cum- berland Gap, September 10, 1863; Blue Springs, Tenn., October 10, 1863; Ray, Tenn., October 11, 1863; Blountville, October 14, 1863; Russellville, Tenn., December 12, 1863; Bean Station, December 13, 1863; Rutledge, Tenn., December 14-15, 1863, and Dundridge, Tenn., December 24, 1863. The regiment stood second best in the cavalry service, the regiment that stood first being the Second United States regulars. After the service in Tennessee, and after veteranizing and reor- ganization, the Second Ohio cavalry was assigned to the army of the Potomac, under command of Gen. Wilson, and was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, and when on Wilson's raid assisted in the destruc- tion of the Weldon railroad, and had severe fighting on the return, being obliged to aban- don and burn their ambulances, stores, am- munition wagons, guns and artillery, and at the fight at Ream's Station lost heavily. The regiment joined Sheridan, and, under Custer, raided down the Shenandoah Valley, destroy- ing by fire all material that could feed or shelter the rebels. It was in the battle of Cedar Creek, and in the spring of 1865, the closing campaign of the war. Mr. Phillips was for a short time sick in hospital at Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, of chronic diarrhea, but outside of this he was always an active soldier, and performed his full duty promptly and cheerfully. He was in all the battle.s, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment took part, and did not miss a day from duty. He was not wounded nor a prisoner, and endured all the hardships of a soldier's life with fortitude. On a reconnaissance in the valley cam- paign, just before the Winchester fight, Mr. Phillips became separated from his comrades, who were firing at the enemy in a gulch. Mr. Phillips entered the gulch and discovered the rebels. He kept boldy on, and commanded them to surrender, saying, "Surrender, or I will fire." Much to his surprise, the colonel of a South Carolina regiment and the major of the same regiment rose up from the brush and surrendered — they being separated from their commands. They looked very sheepish when they found they had surrendered to but one Union soldier. Mr. Phillips took them to the lines and turned them over to his commander, Col. Purrington, and returned to the same gulch with comrade Milton Abby, of Akron, and captured a squad of rebels. On approach- ing, he told them so surrender, or he would bring up the guns and open fire. They threw down their arms and complied, and were taken to the Union, lines. Thus Mr. Phillips cap- tured, almost single handed, two officers and a full squad of Confederates, which is a splendid record for one soldier. After the war Mr. Phillips returned to Summit county and has been engaged in farming and butchering. He was a good soldier and is an equally good citizen. In politics he is a stanch republican. Jason Phillips, father of Loring J., was born in New York state, and came as a pioneer to Richfield township. Summit county, Ohio, in 181 1. He married Alvira E. Gillett, and 860 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD their children were Sylvia, Ida, Inez, Irving C, Loring J. and Bryan F. Mr. Phillips cleared up a farm, lived to be eighty-three years old, and died a highly-respected citizen. ,><^ ELSON W. FENN, of Tallmadge, I M Ohio, descends from one of the pio- J ^ neer families of Tallmadge township, Summit county, and is of sterling English ancestry. Benjamin Fenn, the first of the family of whom we have any trace, was born in 1612 in the parish of Whitdington, Buckinghamshire, England. He was a Puritan and came to America in 1639, a single man. He settled in Milford, New Haven county. Conn., and mar- ried Sarah Baldwin, who was born at Dun- bridge, England, a daughter of Sylvester and Sarah Baldwin, and of noble ancestry, having a coat of arms. Sarah Baldwin Fenn died in Milford, Conn., in April, 1663; Benjamin Fenn, died in 1672. He left a valuable landed estate in England, from which his heirs never re- ceived anything. In his will, admitted to pro- bate court in 1672, he fully describes this property and bequeathed it to his son Benja- min. His children, by his wife Sarah, were Benjamin, Joseph, Sarah, Mary and Martha. After the death of his first wife he married, March 12, 1865, at Milford, Conn., Sarah Wood, and the children by this wife were Sam- uel, Jamesand Susannah. Benjamin Fenn was elected deacon of the Congregational church at Milford in 1650 and held this office with but one interruption until his death. He was magistrate from 1656 to 1668 and again elect- ed in 1671, holding this office also until his death. His son, Benjamin, was born at Milford, in 1640, and there died in 1693; he had mar- ried, December 21, 1660, Mehitable Gunn, a daughter of Jasper Gunn, one of the first set- tlers, and they had seven children, viz: Ben- jamin, Samuel, Samuel (second), born Septem- ber 16, 1667, and died young; Susannah; Sam- uel (third), born July n, 1671 and died 1693; Mehitable and Hannah. Benjamin Fenn, third son of above, was born in 1661 at Mil- ford and died August 29, 1752, aged seventy - one 3'ears. He married Sarah Clark, who died May 26, 1727, aged si.\ty-four, leaving two children, Benjamin and Mehitable. Ben- jamin, third, was elected deacon of his church and made his will in July, 1727. Benjamin, fourth son of above, was born at Milford, in 1690; ne married Sarah Prince, and died in 1776, aged eighty-six years. The children were Benjamin and Hannah. Ben- jamin, fourth, was a ruling elder of the Pres- byterian church of Milford, and captain of a militia company. Benjamin Fenn, fifth, born 1720, died February 20, 1778, at Milford. He married Mary Peck, November 4, 1741, at Milford, and she died about 1800, quite aged. Benja- min Fenn, fifth, was captain of a militia com- pany from 1770 to 1774, and was then elected colonel, holding his commission until his death. His children were Benjamin, Nathan, Mary, Sarah and Samuel. Benjamin Fenn, sixth, born at Milford, Conn., died October 27,' 1780, in Milford. He married Sarah Treat, great-granddaughter of Gov. Robert Treat, twenty years governor of Connecticut. She died in Tallmadge, Ohio, August 12, 1838. aged ninety-three years. They were the par- ents of seven children, viz: Benjamin, Peck. Treat B., William, Sarah B., Clemence and Richard B. Benjamin, sixth, was appointed quartermaster of the Second regiment, Con- necticut cavalry, in October, 1756; in May, 1759, was appointed lieutenant of a troop of horse. Second regiment; in October, 1776, was made lieutenant-colonel. Sec- ond regiment of militia, and in Novem- RICHARD FENN. DECEASED. TREAT FENN . DECEASED. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 865 ber, 1776, was appointed ensign of the Sec- ond battalion, continental service, certified by Kitty F. Mclntyre — clerk in secretary of war's office, Washington, D. C. When the British entered New London, Conn., he was in a fight which occurred near the city, on the west. On the night of this day, a son (Rich- ard), was born (July 4, 1779), and he went from the iield of battle to the bedside of his wife, after the birth of his son. He died early in the fsith of the Lord, with consumption, during the Revolutionary war. His widow (nee Sarah Treat Fenn), married Maj. Ezra Fellows, October 20, 1797, of Shef- field, Mass., where he died July 7, 1806; she came to Ohio in 18 17, with Peck and Richard Fenn, her sons, and passed her remaining days at Tallmadge. She was left a goodly property by Maj. Fellows. In Revolutionary times, in Connecticut, her house was sur- rounded by tories, and she was kept under surveillance. She recognized one of the tories, and told him that she knew him as a neighbor, though he was masked, and called him by name. She told him that he would be remembered, and after that he was forced to leave the country, and went on board a Brit- ish vessel. Mrs. Fellows was a member of the Congregational church, and assisted in the establishment of the church at Tallmadge. She donated the communion service, which is still in use, and is very handsome. She de- lighted to relate her Revolutionary experi- ences to her grandchildren. Peck F"enn, son of Benjamin, was born February 28, [768, at Milford, Conn., and died at Tallmadge, Ohio, March 12, 1824, aged fifty-six years. He was a farmer, re- ceived a common education, and married in Milford, Conn., January 28, 1794, Urenia Durand, born in Milford, November 23, 1769, a daughter of John and Ann (Downs) Durand. John Durand was descended from John Du- 36 rand, a French Huguenot — exiled from France in 1630, and a settler in Connecticut. Peck Fenn died at Tallmadge, September 15, 1824. He was appointed deacon of the Congrega- tional church at .Milford, near Orange, in 1805, and held the office until he moved to Tallmadge in 1818. Peck and Richard Fenn came to Ohio and entered land in 1817, making the journey with a horse team. Peck entered 500 acres in different parts of the town- ship, north, northeast, and east. Richard entered 120 acres in the east part of the town- ship, and both returned to Connecticut. On August 9, both men, with their families, and the connections of their families, including Grandmother Sarah Fellows (aged seventy years), Benjamin Fenn. Dr. Philo Wright, son of Deacon Elizur Wright, a resident of Tall- madge, and a large landholder. Twenty-three persons in all, came back to Ohio. The jour- ney was made with vehicles drawn by horses and oxen. A two-horse wagon was used to carry the women and children, and an ox team for the effects. They came via Buffalo and Cleveland overland, camped out and slept in the wagons. The arrived at Tallmadge, Oc- tober 5, 1818, having been six weeks and six days en route. Peck Fenn settled one mile north of center of Tallmadge, on 105 acres of land — twenty acres partly cleared, and a log cabin built. He cleared up this farm and died in 1824. His children were Miranda, Will- iam, Miranda, second, Harvey, Joseph, Clar- inda, Eliza, Sereno, and Andrew A., all now deceased, except the last. Peck Fenn was a thrifty and substantial pioneer farmer, and left 500 acres of land in Tallmadge township. Richard Fenn, fifth son of Benjamin (sixth), was born July 4, 1779, at Milford, and came to Tallmadge in 18 17 or 18 18. He had married, in Milford, Mabel Piatt, born March i, 1781, in Milford, Conn., a daughter of Capt. Piatt. She died in Tallmadge Jan- 866 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD uary i8, 1855, aged seventy-four years. Rich- ard was a substantial farmer and a hatter by trade. His children were Dennis and Willis (twins), born February 14, 1803. Dennis died November 16, 1827, aged twenty-four years, and Willis died November 11, 1880, aged seventy-eight years; Treat, born Decem- ber 10, 1804, and died November 23, 1886; Mabel, born October 6, 1808, and died Octo- ber 21, 1826; Delia, born June 23, 1812, and died March 5, 1882, aged seventy years; Sallie, born June 3, 1815, and died November 29, 1886, aged seventy-one years; Martha, born May 22, 1817; Julia A., born in June, 1820. Mr. Fenn was superintendent of the Sunday- school and proved an excellent member. He lived to be eighty-nine years of age, and was active up to his last days and a much respected pioneer citizen. The foUoving is a copy of a letter of advice, written by Benjamin Fenn to his infant son, Richard Fenn. MiLFORD, Conn. Aug. 5, 1780 My Dear Son : Now an infant at the age of thirteen months, you are not now sensible of the value of earthly parents, and know not the loss you sustain, when they are taken from you. You are born into the world in a time of great fear and trembling — the enemy then having invaded New Haven, to oppose which your now departed father exposed his life in the field of battle, but the weapons of death were not permitted to hurt; my life was spared, and I am left to languish and waste away with a lingering consumption. I leave you these few lines as the choicest gift I can confer upon you. By this, you may know you had a father, though you may not remember him. These few lines I leave for your perusal and I entreat you, my dear son, not to forget the instruc- tions here given: Firstly — Let religion be your main study. See that you make your peace with God, that as you increase in years you may increase in grace, and in knowledge in things heavenly and divine; this will support and comfort you, under the trials of this militant state, by en- abling you to stay your mind on God, and make you appear lovely in the sight of man, and glorious in the sight of God, and cause 1 you to spend a glorious immortality at his \ right hand. Secondly — As you are deprived of the in- structions of a father, kindly receive the advice of your mother, pay due respect to her, com- fort her in affliction, obey her lawful com- mands, and conduct yourself toward her as becomes a dutiful son. Thirdly — Love your brothers and sisters, pay proper respect to persons of any denom- ination; shun evil of every kind, remembering that at the great day you must be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ for every thought, word and action; be diligent and zealous in the wor- ship of God, both public and private. Avoid all wicked and profane company, all quarrels and unnecessary disputes. Study the Holy Scriptures and make them the rule of your faith and practice. Strive for knowledge in things temporal and spiritual, that you may be a blessing to yourself, of service to mankind, and be made happy, eternally happy, here- after, with God in glory. Fourthly — Should God spare your life and make you capable of entering upon any par- ticular calling, be steady in it, remembering that slothfulness and negligence will clothe a man in rags. I advise you to learn some use- ful trade to get a livelihood with. Be kind and faithful to the master with whom you may live, and likewise one of his family. And to conclude, my dear child, prepare for death, and to stand before God, in judgment. Pre- pare to meet your Father in heaven, where I hope to spend my eternity, through my glori- ous Lord and Savior. Receive my instructions, remembering it is the advice of a dying father. Follow the ex- ample of Jesus Christ, that at last we may meet in heaven. May God grant this for Jesus Christ's sake. This, my dear son, is the prayer of your now departed father, Benjamin Fenn. This relic of parental affection and confi- dence in the covenant of faithfulness of God, written by my father, near the close of his life, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 867 and in the sure prospect of death, to me, Richard Fenn, when a babe of thirteen months, was dehvered to me according to the super- scription by his executor. It has been care- fully preserved, not merely as a legacy from a respected father, but as a token of the confi- dence with which he took hold of the Apostolic assurance — the promise is to you and your children. And now, at the age of seventy- eight years, not knowing how soon I may be called to my last account, I enclose in this form for preservation to my children and chil- dren's children, that they may see and under- stand the solicitude of Christian parents for their children. It exhibits the best desires and instructions that I can express for my posterity. Not riches, nor wordly honors, but sincere piety and devotion to God. Let me meet you at the right hand of Jesus Christ, our covenant head; this is my dying request. Richard Fenn. Tallmadge, Summit County, Ohio, July 4, 1857. Nelson W. Fenn, subject of this sketch, and one of the substantial farmers of Tallmadge township, was born October 23, 1847, in Tall- madge, on the farm where he now lives. He received a common-school education, and at- tended the academy at Tallmadge six years, and has an excellent education. He married November s. 1885, in Akron, Mary L. Gun- saulis, who was born in Perrysville, Allegheny county. Pa., August i, 1851, a daughter of John H. and Mary Ann E. (Eichor) Gunsaulis, and to Mr. and Mrs. Fenn was born Irene M., February 8, 1889. They have also an adopted son — Oliver Albert Fenn, a son of Mrs. Fenn's sister, Emeline. Mr. Fenn has a good farm of 135 acres, part of the original Richard Fenn farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fenn are members of the Congregational church, and Mr. Fenn is a man of marked ability and intelligence, and was one of the original mem- bers of the grange in his township. He stands high as a citizen, and has always been an in- dustrious, straightforward man. He is a son of Treat and Harriet (Bierce) Fenn, and Treat Fenn was a son of Richard and Mabel (Piatt) Fenn. Treat Fenn and wife were the parents of Curtis T. , Philo B., Frederick B., Emily A., Helen A., Harriet F. and Nelson W. Mrs. Treat Fenn died, and Mr. Fenn mar- ried Mrs. Rachel Baldwin (nee Fuller), and they had one child, Sarah E. Mrs. Baldwin was the widow of Stephen Baldwin, and they were the parents of Stephen and Ellen. Treat Fenn was born in Milford, Conn., December 10, 1804, and came with his par- ents in 1818, and settled on part of the Rich- ard Fenn homestead, and cleared up the farm where our subject now lives, in 1833. He was a member of the Congregational church, was an honorable citizen, and held the usual township offices. He lived to be eighty-two years old, and died November 23, 1886, on his farm. He was a man of excellent moral character, and a well-known pioneer. The Gunsaulis family is of sterling French ancestry, and came in early colonial times to Allegheny county. Pa., where they were pioneers. Mr. Gunsaulis, grandfather of subject, was a son of William and Delilah (Lucas) Gunsaulis, who were pioneers in Allegheny county, Pa., while the Indians were yet there. William Gun- saulis was a farmer, and cleared up a farm of 200 acres on Lowrey's Run, Kilbuck town- ship, and was a substatial farmer. His chil- dren were Delilah, John H., Margaret, Mary, William. Philip, Rachel and Sarah (twins). William Gunsaulis lived to be seventy years old, and died in 1862; his mother lived to be ninety-four years old. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and a much respected pioneer. John H. Gunsaulis was born in Allegheny county. Pa. , October 22, 1825. Hehadagood education for his day, and was a man of marked intelligence, and good mind. He was a wagon- maker by trade, and lived in Perrysville, Pa., 868 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD for some years, then moved to Beaver county, and settled on a farm, where he died two years later, January 9, 1861, at only thirty- seven years of age. He and wife were mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. The Gun- saulis family is of the same stock as the famous minister, Rev. Gunsaulis, of Chicago. The children of John H. are Mary L.. Mar- garet T. and John C. Treat Fenn married, November 5, 1861, for his third wife, in Ashtabula county, Ohio, Augusta F. Wright, born June 21, 1814, who still survives him, being now aged eighty-three years — she having lived with her husband twenty-five years. She is a daughter of Col. David (of the war of 181 2), and Laura (Knowl- ton) Wright. Laura Knowlton was one of a large family, and came with her parents to Ohio, from Winstead, Conn., in 1801-1802, and settled in Morgan township, Ashtabula county. Col. Stephen Knowlton, of Revolu- tionary fame, was of this stock. David Wright was born in Winstead coun- ty. Conn., and came to Ohio in 18 12, and settled as above. This is the same family as that which settled in Tallmadge. David Wright had three brothers who came out with their father, John Wright, to Ohio. Mrs. F"enn is a venerable lady of remarkable memory and intelligence, and has a fund of valuable facts at command. John, Amos and Alpha, sons of John Wright, settled in Tallmadge township. OSCAR F. REED, formerly of Boston township. Summit county, Ohio, but now manager of a cheese factory at Peninsula, and one of the ex-soldiers of the Civil war, springs from sturdy German stock. He was born in Wolcott, Wayne county, N. Y., April 17, 1844, a son of Otis and Harriet A. (Hickey) Reed, and came with his parents, in 1854, to Richfield, Ohio, and was here reared to farming. He enlisted at Rich- field, Ohio, August, 29, 1864, as a private of company H, Capt. Tracy, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer in- fantry, to serve one year or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Camp Cleve- land July 7, 1865, the war being closed. He was in the battles of the Cedars, at Murfrees- boro, but was taken sick with chronic diarrhea in January, 1865, and was confined in hospital at Camp Dennison, Ohio, until January 23, when he was transferred to Cleveland hospital and rejoined his regiment, the latter part of April, 1865, at Greensboro, N. C. Mr. Reed was always an active soldier and prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duties. He returned home, however, much debilitated, and for a long time was seriously troubled with his disorder, and to this day is a sufferer. On returning to Richfield, Mr. Reed worked at any kind of labor until he married, the first time, July 24, 1871, at Akron, Emma C. Dei- terlen, who was born in Germany, near Wur- temberg. She lost her father when fourteen years old, and then came to America with her mother, who had married Jacob Spredel. Mrs. Reed died without issue, and Mr. Reed married Mary J. Spencer, a widow of Wey- mouth, Medina county, born at Bordman, Ohio, a daughter of William C. and Belinda C. Streeter. She had been previously married to Nathan Spencer, and their children were Eveline, Ella and Jesse. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have no living children. Mr. Reed moved to South Akron in 1893, and has been engaged in the cheese factory since 1872, and has become a skillful cheese and butter maker. He is now managing the cheese factory at Peninsula and is a straight- forward and skillful man, and has always stood high for his integrity of character. He is a member of A. N. Goldwood post. No. 104, G. A. R., West Richfield, and has held the office OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 869 of chaplain and quartermaster five years. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln's second term as president of the United States. Otis Reed, father of O. F. Reed, was born in Massachusetts, was a shoemaker and mar- ried in Wolcott, Wayne county, N. Y., Har- riet \. Hickey. The Hickeys were of English descent, and to them were born Margaret, Cor- delia, Charles N., Edward B., Charlotte A., Oscar, F. and Minerva M. Mr. Reed came to Ohio and settled at Richfield in the fall of 1854 and followed his trade until his death. In politics he was an original republican, but for- merly an old-line whig, and lived to be seventy years old. He had two sons in the Civil war — Edward B. was in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, in the three years' service, and was on guard duty at Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, and was in many skirmishes with bush-whack- ers. Mr. Reed has always been a sober, in- dustrious and moral man, and is highly es- teemed wherever known. * » ^ ARRISON H. RICE, one of the re- »^^ spected citizens of Mantua township, M. . r an^i 3.11 ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in this township January 22, 1841, a son of Cyrus and Sarah (Nooney) Rice. He received a common education in the district schools and then for two years at- tended Hiram Eclectic institute, when James A. Garfield was its president. He next en- gaged in school-teaching in Portage, Franklin and Geauga counties, Ohio, meeting with much success. Mr. Rice enlisted at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States navy, August 30, 1864, and was assigned to service on the Mis- sissippi river, under Admiral Lee, of the gun- boat Argosy, for one year, but was honorably discharged June 30, 1865, at Carmi, 111., on account of the closing of the war, having been promoted for meritorious conduct to be quar- ter-gunner. September 12, 1863, he was commissioned first lieutenant of company C, Second regiment, O. M., in Geauga county, by Gov. David Tod. After the war Mr. Rice returned to Ohio, and taught school in Geauga county, at Au- burn, and then in Cass county, and in Jackson county. Mo. He married on October i, 1868, in Auburn, Geauga county, Ohio, Julia Mes- senger, who was born September 6, 1842, at Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, a daughter of Clement and Pleades (Skinner) Messenger. Clement Messenger was born in Massachusetts of old colonial stock. Major Messenger, father of Clement, came to Mantua township as a pioneer, and at first bought about 500 acres, but this land he sold, and bought a large farm near the line of Hiram township. Mr. Messenger married, in Massachusetts, Ruth Miller, and died in his 'sixties, a prominent and respected citizen. Clement Messenger, the father of Mrs. Rice, married, in Mantua, Pleades L. Skinner. He was a prosperous farmer, owning a good farm. of 250 acres. In politics he was a dem- ocrat, but voted for A. Lincoln on his second nomination, and was a strong Union man. He was a respected citizen, was township trustee, and a man of great industry and integrity. He died, aged eighty-three years, in 1891. After marriage, Harrison H. Rice settled near Ray- more, Cass county. Mo., where he bought 100 acres of land, and where Mr. and Mrs. Rice both taught school for a time, Mrs. Rice hav- ing received her education in the district schools at Auburn and at Burton, Ohio. The first school taught by Mr. Rice in Missouri was in 1867, in Jackson county. It was the first school taught under the new sys- tem of public taxation — the old method in Missouri and throughout the south, when they 870 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD had any schools, being by subscription. When he settled there it was directly after the Civil war, and the country was in a very unsettled condition. He settled about twelve miles from Harrisonville, Cass county, near the home of the famous guerrillas and border outlaws, the notorious Younger brothers, now confined in the penitentiary at Stillwater, Wis. The native Missourians nearly all went armed, carrying their revolvers in their belts; there were many fights growing out of the Civil war, as they were very bitter against the Yankees, yet Mr. Rice had no trouble, and was not molested in any way. Mr. and Mrs. Rice remained in Missouri twelve years, and then returned to Ohio, and settled at Burton in 1 88 1. Here Mr. Rice bought a farm of lOO acres and remained until 1887, when he moved to Hiram, where he resided two years, and then moved to Garrettsville, where he lived three years, and in the spring of 1893 bought his present farm near Mantua Station, which he has improved with a pleasant residence. In politics he was first a republican, but is now abi-metalist, and voted for W. J. Bryan. Mr. Rice held the office of township clerk in Au- burn, and is a well-read man, of much practice and experience in life, and stands high among the people. Cyrus Rice, the father of Harrison H., was of old New England ancestry, of English descent. Mr. Rice came to Mantua when he was about sixteen years old, in 1821, and bought fifty acres southwest of Mantua Center. He cleared up his land from the woods, and married Sarah Nooney, who was born in Massachusetts in 1807, a daughter of Capt. James and Sarah (Hawkins) Nooney. Capt. Nooney was a pioneer, and served in the war of 1 81 2, at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Rice cleared up his land, but afterward sold, and located in West Mantua, sold again and moved to Au- burn township, where he bought 100 acres and there died May 27, 1890, at eighty-four years of age; his wife died December 28, 1886, aged seventy-nine years. He was a substantial farmer. His children were Henriette, Sylves- ter C. , Harrison N., Cynthia and Austin. In politics he was a republican, and in religion was a member of the Methodist church, in younger days. He had two sons in the Civil war — Harrison H. and Sylvester C. , the latter enlisting August 30, 1862, and serving in bat- tery I, First Ohio volunteer artillery, for three years, and was in many battles, among them being Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; he was discharged June 30, 1865, at Chattanooga, Tenn., by order of the secretary of war. He was a good straightforward citizen, and much thought of. (D RS. LORENZO RILEY, of Twins- burg, Ohio, is the daughter of Israel and Lucinda (Parks) Cannon, was born at Blandford, Mass., April 13, 1822, and was eleven years of age when she came with her parents to Portage county, Ohio, in 1833. She received her education in the district school, in the academies at Aurora and Ravenna, and taught school at eighteen years of age at Twinsburg, at Ripley high-school, and one year on the Ohio river, where her sister and husband, William I-?issell, a graduate of Harvard college, were teaching. She was married at Twinsburg, where her father was then living, April 24, 1845, to Lo- renzo Riley, who was born October 19, 1820, at Aurora, a son of Eppy and Rebecca (Par- rish) Riley. Eppy Riley was born at Chester, Mass., a son of Julius Riley, a Revolutionary soldier for seven years. He was of old colonial Massachusetts stock, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and came to Aurora, Ohio, in 1807, when he was a young man, and walked back to Massa- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 871 chusetts after his wife, and then came out on horseback in 1808. He bought land at Au- rora, where his son, Gerdon Riley, now lives. He cleared up a good farm from the woods, and became a substantial farmer. His first wife was Rebecca Parrish, born at Chester, Mass., and their children were Olive, Orsmon, Lorenzo, Tallman and Betsy. His first wife died, and Eppy then married a sister of that lady, Diana (Boies), nee Parrish, and by this wife Gerdon was born. Eppy Riley was a member of the Congregational church, and lived to be between eighty and ninety years old, and died on his farm. He was a man of shrewd wit, and of rare intelligence. Lorenzo Riley received his education at the district school and attended the famous school of Samuel Bissell, at Twinsburg, three winter terms. He farmed and did business, and was a very enegetic and industrious young man, and began life with a horse, cow and 100 acres of swamp land in Twinsburg township. He married Sarah Melissa Cannon, of Twinsburg, April 24, 1845, and after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Riley settled in Twinsburg town- ship, and here he passed the rerriainder of his life — his land laying two and one-half miles northeast of Twinsburg Center; and he bought sixty acres adjoining the swamp land, and by hard, patient labor cleared up his land, drained it, and, aided by his faithful wife, made a good home. He was a shrewd business man, and accumulated property until he owned over 2,000 acres in Twinsburg and Aurora townships, was an excellent cattle and horse raiser, and was the largest landholder in Port- age and Summit counties. In politics he was a republican, and although frequently solicited to accept nominations, would refuse all public offices. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church, and was a man noted for his honest and straightforward character, and possessed a native ability as a business man. Mr. Riley died February 5. 1893, deeply mourned by his family and numerous friends. Mrs. Riley is now living in Twinsburg. She has an excellent memory of pioneer events, and remembers many of the earlier settlers. She is a member ot the Congregational church at Twinsburg, and has contributed largely to its maintenance. At her husband's request she has given the Congregational church, at Aurora, 180 acres of farm land, and the Con- gregational church, at Twinsburg, $35 per year, which is to be paid by Lewis Cochran, and has given a fine farm of 100 acres to said Lewis Cochran, a poor boy, whom Mr. and Mrs. Riley reared to manhood. Mrs. Riley also gave sixty acres of land to Charles Riley, who lived with them from the time he was eleven years old. He was a nephew of Mr. Riley, and he is to have a future bequest of eighty-seven acres. Mrs. Riley is a lady of marked intelligence, a woman of excellent business qualifications, and manages her large property with the assistance of her brother, Hon. Rueben P. Cannon. The following facts of the early history and genealogy of the Cannon family were gath- ered during a period of thirty years. Hon. R. P. Cannon spent a great deal of time and labor to obtain these facts, which are undoubtedly correct. The original name was Carnahan, and it is thought the change to Cannon came gradually through two generations. They were of Scotch-Irish descent, and came to America during the first quarter of the seven- teenth century, and their first settlement in America was at Hopkinton, twenty-nine miles west of Boston, now Landbury. There were two brothers and one sister, probably un- married, but the time of their settlement is not known. Hopkinton, and surrounding lands, were owned by Harvard college, and rented very cheaply — two or three cents per acre. The 872 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD town was built and peopled by a Scotch-Irish colony, that came in the year 1718, arriving August 4; five ships, with people of the same faith, came at this time. In after years, his- tory says, many more of the same faith joined them. It is a well-established fact, that the Cannons were among the early settlers of Hopkinton, and that some of the name, and relatives, remained in that town and vicinity for half a century after their settlement. From this place nine emigrated to the then territory of Tennessee in early times, and one was later governor there many years. Many years later, another large family went from Hopkinton to (ienesee county, N. Y., in its first settlement. With descendants of that branch, this writer has corresponded. An- other branch went from West Hopkinton to Blandford, Mass., first called Glasgow. That t(jwn was settled in 1736 by a colony of fifty families, receiving two si.xty-acre lots, and among those that followed were the Carna- hans or Cannons. That colony was made up at Hopkinton, their former residence, and again we find them, soon after settlement, oc- cupying two of the original lots — one of the first, and one of the second division. The first settler of the name in Blandford was William Carnahan. The time of settlement cannot be given, but his location was on first division. Town street. The next generation in the town was William and John, brothers, supposed sons of William, Sr. William, Jr., occupied the first division homestead, which the family held in descent for a century, and John (calling his name Cannon), occupied the second division, which the family held in de- scent for a century and more, two miles east of Blandford. In 1775, William was chosen to represent the town in the congress of the colonies, and he served also in the Revolution- ary war, in two enlistments. The founders of the family in America were two brothers and a sister, all probably unmar- ried, who came with the Scotch-Irish Presby- terian colony to Hopkinton, arriving August 4, 1718. Their names are unknown. The first name known is William Carnahan, believed to be a son of one of the two brothers, who was the original founder of the family, but William Carnahan may have been one of these broth- ers, as he settled at Blandford in 1736. His sons were John and William. From John Carnahan our subject descends, or, as he spelled the name. Cannon. He was a resident of Blandford, Mass., and a farmer. He mar- ried Rebecca Gibbs, and their children were Nathan, John, Isaac, Ezekiel and Rebecca. William Cannon died at Blanford, Mass., 1790. Nathan, his son, next in descent, was born at Blandford, Mass., December 2, 1759, and married April 5, 1785. Elizabeth Gilmore was born in 1760, in Chester, Mass., a daughter of James Gilmore, a Revolutionary soldier who enlisted twice. Nathan and wife were the parents of Israel, born April, 1796; Sylvester, born 1790; Na- than, born 1800; Sallie, born 1788; Artemesia, born 1793; Olive, born 1795; Salomie, born 1797, and Tryphena, born 1807. Nathan Cannon was a farmer, and a resident of Bland- ford, on the old homestead, all his life. He served three enlistments, of from three to six months each, in the Revolutionary war. His first enlistment was in Capt. Carpenter's com- pany, regiment of Col. Sheppard, for three months, stationed at Springfield, Mass. The third enlistment was in Capt. Samuel Sloper's company, for six months, and was mustered at Northampton. Of his second enlistment no record is held in Massachusetts, but he en- listed, with four others, from Blandford town- ship, viz: William Butler, John Taggert, Reuben Blair and William Knox, in Spring- field, Mass., served three months, and was discharged at Hartford, Conn., and paid off OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 873 with continental money and one ration. Bland- ford was forty-five miles distant. They ate their ration, and walked one da\'. They found they could buy no food for their conti- nental money, and it was not until they reached Westfield, Mass., where they were known, they obtained food. Their continental money was never redeemed. He held at one time the office of commissary in a regiment in Connecti- cut. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and died in 1846. Col. Israel Cannon, son of above, was the father of subject, was born May 2, 1786, at Blandford, on the old homestead of John Can- non. He received a common-school educa- tion, was a farmer, and married, in Blandford, Lucinda Parks, who was born October 21, 1786, in Russell township, Hampden county, Mass., a daughter of Reuben and Mary Parks. Mr. Cannon lived on the old farm until 1833. Here all the children were born, viz: Polly, born November 25, 1808; Betsy, March 2, 181 1 ; Franklin, October 10, 1813; Horace, April 8, 1817; Reuben, January 13, 1820; Melissa, April 13, 1822, and Lewis, August 7, 1827. Mr. Cannon was a prominent man in Blandford. In politics he was a whig. He represented his town in the state legislature in Boston in 1 828-1 831. He was minute man in the state militia during the war of 181 2, was a colonel in the Massachusetts state militia, and held the ofifice of justice of the peace many years; was also one of the board of selectmen, and held other offices. In 1833, having met with reverses by becoming surety for other parties, he came to Ohio, making the journey by canal to Buffalo, N. Y. , and then by water to Cleveland on the steam- boat Enterprise — the first steamer between Cleveland and Buffalo, and was twenty-four hours from port to port, and used wood for fuel. He came to Aurora with wagons and settled on a tract of land, and here he lived ten years, and then moved on iio acres in Twinsburg township, which he had bought the second year after he came. This was all in the woods, but Mr. Cannon cleared his land, improved it with good buildings, and made a substantial, comfortable home. In his old age he bought a house and lot in Twinsburg, where he died, aged eighty-one years, January 19, 1865, a strict member of the Congregational church, in politics a whig and republican, an honored citizen, and trustee of township and church. Hon. Reuben P. Cannon was born January 13, 1820, at Blandford, Mass. He attended common school in Massachusetts, and came with his parents to Aurora, in 1833, when he was thirteen years old. He attended the academy at Aurora three years and thus re- ceived a good education — to which he added by keeping up with the times and taking a great interest in politics. He was sent as a delegate to the whig congressional convention at Ravenna when he was but twenty-two years old, and in 1848 was elected clerk of the township unanimously, although it was a dem- ocratic township, and after that he held all the township offices. In 1867 he was elected to the state legislature and served two terms — four years — and during that time was chairman of the agricultural committee, and was the writer and promoter of the bill which gave Ohio the agricultural college, which now has become the state university of Ohio, and as a result of his labors he was elected to the state board of agriculture, and re-elected twice, served six years, and was one term, in 1875, its president. Hon. R. P. Cannon was elected justice of the peace in 1865, and has held the office of commissioner covering a period of twenty-five years, and during this time has done much legal business, and has settled a great many estates, acting as administrator, and has married many couples. He himself 874 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD married, October i8, 1843, Betsy Baldwin, born at Aurora, .Ohio, January 14, 1822, a daughter of Alonson and Ruth (Wallace) Bald- win. Alonson Baldwin was born March 28, 1799, in Danbury, Conn., a son of Samuel and Rachael Baldwin. Alonson Baldwin and wife were the parents of Betsy, Hannah, Melissa, Lucy, Lois, Alonson and Sophronia. Mr. Baldwin came to Aurora when he was about nine years old, with his parents. He married in Franklin township, and settled on a farm of 300 acres in Aurora. He was a prosperous pioneer, and was one of the early merchants in Aurora, in company with S. D. Kelly, under the firm name of Baldwin & Kelly. He was a member of the Disciples' church, and church trustee. In politics he was a democrat and a respected and honored man, and held the office of county commissioner several terms, and that of justice of the peace many years. He was also associated with Harvey Baldwin, Sr., in the cheese-shipping business, and in the pork-packing business, and was a well- known pioneer. He died, aged sixty years, in Aurora, November 9, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Cannon settled in Aurora, on the farm on which they lived two years, and then came to his present farm. Mr. Cannon has prospered by his industry and good man- agement, and has now 300 acres. He is a self-made man, and, assisted by his faithful wife, has succeeded. The children are Addie A., Mary Alice, Ella O. and Ruth L., members of the Disciples' church; in politics he is a republican. Mr. Cannon is a substantial citi- zen, and has always been a straightforward gentleman. ,>^ANDOLPH ROBINSON, a prosper- I /"^ ous farmer of Boston township, and M . P an old soldier of the Civil war, was born February 10, 1841, in Bath, Summit county, Ohio, a son of James and Ruth (Welker) Robinson. He received a com- mon district-school education, and was reared a farmer. He enlisted, aged twenty years, at Cleveland, Ohio, in an independent company, known as the Continental guards, in 1861, to serve three months, but was honorably dis- charged at Cincinnati, Ohio, after a service of two and one-half months; there being no arms, the company never reached the front. He then enlisted at Cincinnati, in June, 1861. in company H, Second regiment Kentucky volunteer infantry, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Covington, Ky., in June, 1864. His serv- ices were in what is now 'West 'Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama. Georgia and Mississipi, and he was always on active duty, and had no furlough home. Company H, Second regiment, Kentucky volunteer infantry, was organized at Camp Clay, Ohio, on May i, 1861, for the three months' service, and was mustered into the United States service, June 13, 1861, by Maj. Burbank, for three years, unless sooner dis- charged. On the 9th of July, the company was ordered to West Virginia; on the morn- ing of the iith, they disembarked at Guyan- dotte; on the 13th, the regiment attacked Col. Jenkines' guerrilla band at Barbersville, and after some fighting, succeeded in driving them from the crest of a large hill. The loss was two killed, and fourteen wounded. In the evening the regiment arrived at Camp Poco, in the Kanawha Valley, sixteen miles below Charleston. On the evening of the 17th, Col. Woodruff, Lieut. -Col. Neff and Capts. Neff, Austin and Hurd, were taken prisoners. The regiment remained in West Virginia until January 5, 1862, in the meantime participating in all the tedious marches and skirmisnes, during the Sewell mountain cam- paign. February 8, 1862, the regiment arrived at Jeffersonville, Ind., and went into Camp OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 875 Joe Holt; arrived at Bardstown, Ky. , January 20, 1862; February 14, they marched south- ward, and at the battle field of Shiloh, on the evening of April 6, and on the 7th of April, were actively engaged all day in this gceat battle. The regiment lost si.xteen killed, fifty- five wounded, and seven missing, and in the siege of Corinth, lost two killed, and fourteen wounded. The regiment was kept busily en- gaged, and nearly always in advance, through- out the campaign of 1862, and pursued Bragg's retreating forces, marching thirty miles through Cumberland Gap. At the battle of Stone River, the regiment displayed great gallantry, and did not retreat until over- whelmed by numbers. There the regiment lost eleven killed, fifty-seven wounded, and eleven missing. After the enemy retreated from Murfreesboro, the regiment went into camp at Cripple creek, eight miles east of Murfreesboro. The latter part of August, 1863, the regiment marched to Sequatchie valley — thence to the Tennessee river, and arrived at Shell Mount, September 19, 1863; then went to Chattanooga, was in both days' fight on the banks of the Chickamauga, and lost si.xteen killed, sevent3'-two wounded and six missing. Of the commissioned officers of this regiment, from its organization up to October I, 1863, three were killed, one died of disease, fourteen were wounded and four were trans- ferred; four were taken prisoners of war, twenty-three resigned, six were relieved for promotion, two were dismissed, and one was cashiered — a total of fifty-eight. Of the en- listed men, seventy-six were killed, thirty- seven died of disease, 182 were wounded, 1 10 discharged for disability, sixteen discharged for promotion, three discharged on account of minority, nineteen discharged to enter other regiments, and twenty-seven transferred ; eleven were missing in action, four were drowned and 166 deserted. Mr. Robinson was always an active s jldier, being a strong, hardy young man, and endured all the hard- ships and privations of a soldier's life with fortitude. He was sick in regimental hospital at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1861, for one month, and this is his entire hospital experience. After the war he returned to Ohio, but married in Michigan, at Ridgeway, Lenawee county. Miss Mary Point, who was born in Geauga county, Ohio, December 29, 184S, a daughter Elibbeous and Amanda (Gould) Point. Her mother's people were from Ver- mont, of German ancestry. Elibbeous Point was a farmer and old settler of Summit county, Ohio. His children were Mary, Henry, Anna, and Cornelia, all living. Mrs. Point died in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and he next married, in Michigan, Elizabeth Faust, and their chil- dren were Frank and Frances (twins), Na- thaniel, Lillie and William (twins), Emma and Amanda. Mr. Point moved to Buena Vista county, la., about 1877, had a large farm of 640 acres of land, and was a sub- stantial farmer and good citizen. After mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Robinson .settled on their present home farm, which he purchased in partnership with his brother William, and which then contained 297 acres, but they have since divided, and Randolph Robinson now owns 151 acres of fine land, on which he has made good improvements, building a good farm house and substantial barns. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are Cora M., Flora A., Henry and James. In politics he is a republican, cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and is a member of George L. Waterman post, No. 272, G. A. R., at Peninsula. Mr. Robinson is a much-respected citizen, and an industrious, hard-working man. James Robinson, father of subject, was born in England, and came from London when a boy of twelve years, working his way on a ship. He married in Chippewa, Ohio, and 876 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the children born to this union were WilHam, Elizabeth, Mahala, Randolph and Andrew. Three of the sons were in the Civil war — William, Andrew and Randolph. William and Andrew were in the Twenty-ninth Ohio infantry, three years' service, and were in sev- eral battles in the army of Virginia. James Robinson was a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived many years in Summit county, Ohio. He lived to be seventy-eight years old, and died in 1863, a hard-working, industrious citi- zen. Simon Gould, uncle of Mrs. Robinson, was a soldier in the Civil war. Ky^\ -^VID RITTERSBACH, a well-known I I and highly respected citizen of Akron, /^^^ Ohio, and a veteran of the late Civil war, in which he gallantly served from start to finish, was born in Canton, Ohio, October 2, 1839, a son of George and Elizabeth (Hess) Rittersbach, prominent residents of that city. David Rittersbach received a very good common-school education and had just begun learning the machinist's trade at Canton when the alarm of war was sounded, at which, early in the spring of iY*OHN A. MORGAN, a highly-respected ■ farmer of Paris township, Portage A J county, Ohio, was born on his present farm, September 16, 1845, a son of John and Sarah (Davis) Morgan, both natives of Wales. John Morgan, father of John A., was born in 1799, was reared to mining, and came to America in 1831. He lived six months in Palmyra township. Portage county, Ohio, and then removed to Paris township, of which he was the first Welsh settler. He here engaged in farming, having purchased a tract of land in the woods, on which he built a log cabin. He was married in July, 1834, to Miss Sarah Davis, in Hudson, Ohio, and his union was blessed with seven children, three of whom still survive, viz: Joseph, John A. (subject), and Sarah, wife of Joseph Leonard, of Cleve- land. The deceased were Lettie, who was married to David D. Jones, and died March 17, 1883, at the age of forty-four years; Mary, wife of Isaac D. Jones, died December 15, 1888, aged fifty-three years; Winnifred, mar- ried to William Lewis, died July 17, 1893, when fifty-three years old, and John died in infancy. In course of time Mr. Morgan de- 890 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD veloped a fine farm from the wilderness, and replaced his original log cabin with a com- modious residence, and also erected suitable substantial farm buildings. Mr. Morgan rose to considerable prominence in the township, was for years a justice of the peace, and also township trustee. He was a member of the Congregational church, in which he filled all the secular offices, and died in its faith, April 9, 1882, aged eighty-three years, his wife hav- ing passed away July 4, 1872, at the age of sixty-six years. Job Morgan, grandfather of John A. Mor- gan, came to America from Wales, also in 1832, but remained a short time only. He was a miner all his life, and had a family of five children, viz: A daughter who died in infancy; Miriam, wife of Squire David Johns; and Mary and Thomas, twins. Job Morgan died in May. 1864, at the age of ninety-four years, and Mary, his wife, died the same year and month, at ninety-one years of age. John A. Morgan was reared to farming, re- ceived a good common-school education, and remained with his father until 1865, when he went to Youngstown, Ohio, where he was em- ployed as a clerk in a general store for three years, and then returned to his farm. April 16, 1883, he married Miss Mary Evans, who was born in Cardigan, Wales, May 12, 1856, a daughter of John and Amelia (Molyneau.x) Evans. The father of Mrs. Morgan died in January, 1867, at the age of thirty-two years, and her mother in 1861, aged twenty-six, leaving two children — Mrs. Morgan and John, of Alliance, Ohio. To the marriage of John A. Morgan and wife have been born two chil- dren — Lettie Amelia and Homer Stanle}'. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are devoted members of the Congregational church at Wayland, of which Mr. Morgan has been clerk for several years. The family is one of the most respected in the township, and Mr. Morgan is individually esteemed for his strict integrity in all his trans- actions, and activity in his efforts to promote the public welfare. HE R.WENNA REPUBLICAN, one of the oldest county papers of the state of Ohio, was established, in 1830, as the Ohio Star. In 1854 it was known as the Portage County Democrat, being pub- lished by Hall, Herrick & Wadsworth. In 1859, the Democrat passed into the hands of L. W. Hall & Son, and was published by them until September, 1882, when the paper was purchased by the Republican-Democrat Pub- lishing company, with Arthur Mosley as editor. About three years afterward, John Meharg se- cured a controlling interest in the paper, then known as the Republican-Democrat, and be- came editor, changing the name to the Ra- venna Republican. August 22, 1895, The Republican was purchased from Mr. Meharg by C. W. S. Wilgus, who, two months previ- ously, had bought the Ravenna Graphic, which paper he consolidated with the Repub- ican. The Republican, under the management of Mr. Wilgus, has fully maintained its position as one of the leading county-seat weeklies of the Western Reserve, and is a bright, newsy journal, filled with local items of interest, as well as with all the important current events transpiring throughout the world. >nr'OHN ROPPEL, a respected citizen of M Tallmadge township. Summit county, /• 1 Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Bavaria, German\\ 1841, a son of Casper Roppel. His parents died when he was but an infant, and he was par- tially reared b\' his half-brother — John Wol- fert — his mother having been married to a Mr. Wolfert, father of John. John Wolfert, half- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 891 brother to our subject, was a married man, and our subject when twelve years old came with him and his family to America, sailing from Bremen in the good ship St. John. They were forty days on the voyage to Baltimore, where they arrived in the fall of 1852. They went thence to Pittsburg, where Mr. Wolfert was employed as a carpenter. Our subject began to work in the glass works when a small boy of thirteen or fourteen years old, and has supported himself since that time. He con- tinued in the glass works until he enlisted, in April, 1 861, at Liberty, near Pittsburg, Pa., for three months, in company I, Third Penn- sylvania volunteer infantry. He served out his term and was honorably discharged at Harris- burg, Pa., in July, 1861. His service was in Hagerstown, Md., guarding a railroad, his company being detailed for that purpose. Mr. Roppel was a good soldier, prompt and cheer- ful in the discharge of his duty. He suffered a good deal from e.xposure, however, and in- jured his left arm at the elbow by a fall in the evening, after dark, on the railroad, and the arm is still stiff and can be used but little. Mr. Roppel returned, after his service, to Pitts- burg, and again worked in the glass works. He married, in Pittsburg, April 26, 1864, Mary E. Meyer, who was born January 19, 1843, in Alsace, France, a daughter of Chris- tian and Mary E. Meyer. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Roppel lived in Pittsburg eleven years, where he continued to work in the glass works, and in 1874 came to Tallmadge and worked in Kent in a glass house for two years, but since that time has worked on the railroad and for farmers. Mr. Roppel bought a home, before he came to Tallmadge, of eleven and three-fourths acres. The children born to him and wife are Helen, Annie, Henry (died aged twenty-one years) John, Fannie and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Roppel are members of the Catholic church and are sincere Christians. Mr. Roppel has always been a hardworking, industrious man, straightforward and honest, and has reared an excellent family. Casper Roppel, father of subject, was a large farmer, owning land, and Casper was the only son. To the marriage of Mrs. Roppel, mother of our subject, to Mr. Wolfert, the following children were born: Julia, Mary, Maggie, John and George. m ILLIAM B. HOLCOMB, one of the most substantial farmers of Paris township. Portage county, Ohio, was here born October 4, 1828, and is a son of Harvey and Sallie (McArthur) Holcomb, the former of whom died March 16, 1897, at the age of ninety-four years, and the latter February 20, 1892, aged eighty-two years, two months and seventeen days, both in the faith of the Methodist church, in which the father had held all the offices; he had also been for twenty-five years, a constable of Paris township, as well as school director. William B. Holcomb was educated in the district school, was reared to farming, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-seven years of age. He married, February i, 1855, Miss Harriet Oviatt, a daughter of Samuel and Laura (Earl) Oviatt, and this union has been blessed with seven children, four of whom still survive, viz: Grant, born January 5, 1865; Dwight, July 21, 1872; Lulu, August 8, 1874 (wife of Edward Morris), and Hattie, born October 3, 1878. Miss Hattie is still unmar- ried, and has the reputation of being the best violinist in the county, is at present teaching music, and is the leader of the ladies" orches- tra at Newton Falls. The deceased children born to Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb were John W., born August 31, 1856, and died February 14, 1883; Lena, born August 14, 1869, and died September 21, 1883; Laura, born May 27, 892 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 1858, died January 9, 1888, the wife of Sydney Hudson. In 1 86 1 Mr. Holcomb relinquished farm- ing, and for eight years was engaged in the hotel business at Paris. He then exchanged his hotel property for a farm north of Paris, which he conducted until 1876. when he moved to his present place, which he has under a high state of cultivation, and. in connection with his agricultural pursuits, is largely engaged in the sale of organs and pianos, being himself an excellent musician. In politics he is a republican, and has served as constable, school director and supervisor of Paris township for many years. Mrs. Harriet i^Oviatt) Holcomb was born in Newton Falls. Ohio, October 22, 1835. Her father was a native of Connecticut and was a turner, and her mother of Massachu- setts, and in early life came to Ohio and set- tled in Newton Falls. To the marriage of the parents were born eight children, seven of whom are still living, viz: Electa, widow of Elijah Johnson; Mrs. Holcomb: Elmira, widow of Henry Tew; Clarissa, unmarried; Sylvanus, Homer and Clista, wife of Russell McEwin; the deceased was Malinda. who died at the age of sixty-five j-ears, the wife of Alonzo Win- nans, also deceased. Samuel Oviatt, grand- father of Mrs. Holcomb, came to Ohio in 1805, and was one of the heaviest men in Portage county, weighing 425 pounds. Harvey Holcomb, father of William B., was a son of Calvin and Eunice Holcomb, and was born Februarj- 1 1 , 1 803, in Granby, Conn. , and when twelve years old was brought to Ohio by his parents, who finally settled in what is now Paris township, in October, 1815. They endured all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, but eventually developed a comfortable home. After the marriage of Harvej- Hol- comb to Sallie McArthur. he settled in a cran- berry swamp, where he lived three years, and ' then moved to a sugar grove, where he lived in a log house twenty-five years, and later erected a frame dwelling, with suitable out- buildings. His family consisted of two boys and four girls, viz: William B., JohnC. Ca- selia. Annette, Eunice C, and an infant son who died unnamed — all now deceased with the exception of William B. Mr. Holcomb was a member of the local rifle company for a long time, was constable for twenty years, as has \ been mentioned — an office conferred upon him on account of his well-known integrity. After this venerable pioneer and hunter retired from the woods over thirty-five years ago he engaged in farming until about ten years since, when he bought a house and lot in Newton Falls, in order to secure better school advantages for I his grandchildren. eDWIN A. SEASON, a thrifty and prominent farmer of Hudson town- ship. Summit county, Ohio, and an old soldier in the Civil war and head of a respected family, was born October 21. ' 1837. in Leigh, Somersetshire. England, and came to America with his father and family in 1843, sailing from Bristol. England. He re- ceived a common-school education in Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio, where his father. James Season, settled on a farm. On arriving in this country, while yet a boy, Ed- win A. went to Minnesota and attended high school one winter. He lived with his uncle, John Season, in Goodhue county, that state, until his enlistment. May 23, 1861, in Capt. i William Colville's company F, First Minne- sota volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war. This was the first regiment I mustered into the United States service for three jears. Mr. Season was mustered out and honorably discharged January 2, 1863, at Washington, D. C, on account of disability. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 893 having served faithfully over two years. He was in the following battles: First battle of Bull Run. July 21, 1861: Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1 861; siege of Yorktown, April, 1862; West Point, May 7, 1863; Fair Oaks, May 30, and June i, 1862; Peach Orchard, June 27, 1862; Savage Station, in January, 1862; Elen- dale, January 30, 1862; White Oak, June 30, 1862; Malvern Hill, July i, 1862, and again at Malvern Hill, Augue.t 5, 1862; Vienna September 2, 1862 — all in Virginia — and An- tietam, Md., September 17, 1862. In the winter of 1861-62 he was taken sick in camp, with fever and went home on furlough for a month, but the day after the battle of Antie- tam he was taken severely sick with pneumo- nia, became unconscious, and was taken to hospital at Fredericksburg, but was soon after- ward removed to the hospital at the patent office in Washington, D. C, and remained there until discharged, when he returned to Ohio, much disabled. Mr. Season was always an active soldier, and, until disabled, was in all the battles, skirmishes, marches and cam- paigns in which his regiment took part, the battles themselves numbering fourteen. After the war, although suffering from rheumatism, he followed farming, and worked five years at Hudson, Ohio, in the depot, handling freight and express matter. Mr. Season married, January 4, 1866, in Stowe township. Miss Emma A. Call, born December 20, 1847, a daughter of Moses D. and Harriet M. (Starr) Call. Moses D. Call, father of Mrs. Season, was born July 12, 1815, near Warner, N. H., a son of Jerry and Lo- vina (Danforth) Call. Jerry Call was a farmer, and his ancestors came from England. His children were Moses D. , William, Jerry and O. H. Moses D. Call came when a young man to Ohio, in 1837. He studied medicine with Dr. Towne of Hudson, but did not com- plete his course, although he was a man of good education and had taught school many years. He was engaged in the cooper business at Darrowville for many years, and until i860 employed from ten to fifteen hands. He bought in i860 the Starr homestead in Stowe township, of 200 acres, and for the last fifteen years of his life he carried on a cheese factory. In politics he was first a whig, then a republic- an, and was justice of the peace from 1845 to his death, with the exception of one year. He was a captain in the state militia, was township trustee, a member of the school board, and was county commissioner for the six years end- ing in December, 1863. He died March 24, 1 89 1. His children were Mary L. . Emma A., Ellen J. and Charles A. He was a Uni- versalist in religion, was a liberal subscriber to the erection of the church at Kent and was one of its most liberal supporters. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Season set- tled on a farm of his father's, where they lived five years; then moved to Hudson, and lived five years, and then lived on a farm in Stowe township one year, and then lived in Darrow- ville three years, and then bought, in 1882, eighty-seven acres of their present farm, which they have greatly improved, and on which they built a beautiful residence in 1892, together with good barn and other buildings. Their children are Leora I., Grace E. , Edwin Herbert, Maude E. (killed by lightning at the age of fourteen years), and Archibald B. The eldest child, Leora I., was united in marriage June 27, 1888, with W. C. Ritchie, a native of Summit county, Ohio, and to this union has been born one child, Gertrude L. The second child, Grace E., is a graduate of the Hudson high school. Edwin H., also a graduate of the Hudson high school, attended the Western Re- serve academy some time, then taught school in Hudson two years, then took a course in Ham- mel's Business college, Akron, filled a position as bookkeeper for some time and is now a 894 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD student at the Western Reserve Medical col- lege at Cleveland. Archibald B. is a student at Cuyahoga Falls, and is making a specialty of the study of electricity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Season are members of the United Pres- byterian church at Metz. In politics he is a republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln, and is one of the old soldiers who have made a success in life and reared an excellent family. James Season, father of Edwin A. Season, was born in New York city, October 24, 1812, and was the son of George and Ann (Perkins) Season. George Season was born at Leigh, Somersetshire, England, where he was a land owner, and there married Ann Perkins. She also was born at Leigh, November 25, 1792, and was baptized January 5, 1795. Mr. Season and wife came to America to visit her mother, who, after the death of her husband, Mr. Perkins, had married, in 18 10, James Dodderell, of London, England, and had set- tled in New York. George Season returned to Somerset, England, but while he was in America his son James was born. The chil- dren were James, William Henry, George Ann and John. Mr. George Season was in some official position, and traveled extensively with his wife, and was in America during the war of 1 8 12. James Season married in Leigh, England, Hester Coles, and their children were Henry, who died in England, childless; Edwin A. ; Elizabeth; Henry, second, who died childless in Stowe township; James Season, a farmer who came to America in 1843 and set- tled in Stowe township in 1843, and became a substantial farmer. Mrs. Season, mother of our subject, died January 28, 1845, and Mr. Season afterward married Mrs. Lucinda (O'Brien) Stewart, June 5, 1846, and their children were: William, Martha, Ann, John C. , Wallace and Mary. This wife died Janu- ary 2, 1872, and he married, November 24, 1880, for his third wife, Mrs. Lorinda (Perkins) Russell. George Season, an uncle of Edwin A., was a soldier in the English army, and came when young with the family to America, his mother paying $500 for his release. He settled in Minnesota, where he became a suc- cessful agriculturist. James Season, father of Edwin A., the subject, died in Kent, Ohio, October 15, 1894, a member of the Methodist church, and in pol- itics a republican. He was an honored and greatly respected gentleman and of excellent moral habits. aONRAD SCHOCH, of Northfield township. Summit county, Ohio, an old soldier of the Civil war, was born October 12, 1835 in Baden, Ger- many, a son of Peter and Ursilla (Detrich) Schoch. Peter Schoch was the owner of a small farm, on which the family had lived for generations. He was a soldier in the German army and a body guard of the king, and meas- ured six feet two inches in height. His chil- dren were Julius, Anselm, Julia and Conrad. Peter Schoch died at forty years of age on his farm, a Catholic in religion. Conrad received a common-school education, and learned shoe- making of his brother Anselm. When twenty- two years of age, he sailed from Havre, France, February 18, 1858, and arrived in New York April 6, having been forty-seven days on the ocean, in a sailing vessel. He came to Cleveland, Ohio, and to Little York, where his brother Julius was living, and en- gaged in farm work until he enlisted, at Cleve- land, October 16, 1861, in Capt. James Hor- ner's company K, Forty-first regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or dur- ing the war, and was honorably discharged in Mississippi, by reason of re-enlistment in Jan- uary, 1863, in a marine brigade, company D, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and was honorably OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 895 discharged January i8, 1865, at Vicksburg, Miss., having served his country faithfully over three years. He was in the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862. He was wounded in the marine service near Vicksburg, Miss., in Mar- maduke's raid, and was in many minor engage- ments and skirmishes, which were very fre- quent. He was taken sick in May, 1862, while with the Forty-first regiment at Pittsburg Landing, with malarial fever, and was in hos- pital at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and remained until his re-enlistment. At the battle of Vicksburg, Miss., while on the Louisiana side, of the Mississippi river, he was shot in the head by a minie ball, and knocked senseless, but his comrades revived him with brandy and water after twenty-five minutes. This was about 10 A. M., and he was taken by ambulance about twenty miles in Louisiana and laid on the counter in a little store, over night, and then taken to the fleet in the Mississippi river opposite Vicks- burg, and transferred to the hospital at Vicks- burg, where he remained two months, then rejoined his regiment and served until dis- charged. He was promoted for meritorious service to duty-sergeant, having before been corporal. He endured all the hardships of a soldier's life with fortitude and cheerfulness, and was in all the battles and skirmishes in which his regiment took part. He returned to Ohio and engaged in farm work, and was married February 11, 1866, at Little York, Ohio, to Miss Lydia Leach, who was born August 22, 183 1, at Hudson, Ohio, a daugh- ter of George and Lydia (Wolcott) Leach. George Leach was born in Goshen, Conn., November 26, 1799, a son of William and Sallie (Gaylordj Leach. William Leach was a pioneer of Hudson, settling there in 1799 or 1800, and his son Henry was the first white male child born in that village. William moved later to Sandusky, Ohio, where he lived when the war of 181 2 broke out, in which he was a noted Indian fighter. He died in Sandusky, and was buried, with the British soldiers, where the city now stands. He was the father of George, Henry, Jonas and Elita. Mrs. Leach married after his death and had one son — Marvin. George Leach was but an infant when brought by his parents from Connecticut and carried the mail in 18 14, when peace was pro- claimed, from Sandusky to Cleveland. He married at Boston, Ohio, Lydia Wolcott, who was born at Boston, Ohio, daughter of Alfred and Margaret (Craig) Wolcott — Mr. Wolcott coming from New England. He was the sur- veyor of Boston township and also survej'ed much land elsewhere in Summit county. George Leach and wife were the parents of Clarissa, Eliza and Lydia. Mrs. Leach died, and he married Phila Wood, nee Cook, a widow. Mr. Leach settled at Little York in 1832, and cleared up a good farm. He owned 500 acres of land and built and ran a saw-mill in Hudson, and this was the first one he ever saw — which fact was rather remarkable. He was a well-known and prominent citizen, served for some years as township trustee, and was a man of great industry and energy. Mr. and Mrs. Schoch settled, after marriage, in Little York, where they have since lived. They have one daughter living — Avis Maude. In politics Mr. Schoch is a republican, and is a member of Royal Dunham post. No. 177, G. A. R., at Bedford. Mr. Schoch has always been an industrious and respected citizen and was a brave and gallant soldier. >^ACOB P. SHOEMAKER, a retired M farmer of Bath township, Summit coun- A 1 ty, Ohio, and one of its most respected citizens, was born in Jackson township, Stark county, April 3, 1832. 896 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD John Shoemaker, father of subject, was a native of Maryland, was born October 20, 1799, and was a son of Henry Shoemaker, a native of the same state, who came to Ohio in 1 8 1 2 and settled in Stark county. There John Shoemaker was reared to manhood, and No- vember 20, 1823, was married to Ann Brels- ford, who was born in Henrico county, Va., in 1799, a daughter of Barney and Naomi Brelsford. John Shoemaker, after marriage, continued his vocation of farmer in Stark county until 1834, when he sold his farm and came to Bath township, Summit county, and bought the farm on which Jacob P., the sub- ject of this article, now makes his home, and which he owns. John cleared up this land and erected a log cabin, in which he reared his family, advanced his fortunes, and died January 24, 1867, in comfortable circum- stances, a member of the Disciples' church. He was a generous, public-spirited citizen, a democrat in politics, and greatly respected by his neighbors and the community at large. His widow died August 11. 1873, equally re- spected with her husband. The six children constituting the family of John Shoemaker and wife were born and named in the following order: Henry H., December 20, 1824, and now a farmer in Kansas; Mahala, January 16, 1829, who was married to Jacob Peach, of Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, and died December 23, 1863; Rachel J., August 4, 1830. now the wife of George Kunkle, of Will- iams county, Ohio; Jacob P., the subject of this biography; Enoch J., born July 3, 1836, died July 10, 1837; Lavina A., born July i, 1838, is the wife of Benjamin Hartman, of Williams county, Ohio. Jacob P. Shoemaker, the subject, married, October 7, 1858, Miss Eleanor J. Harris, who was born in Wayne county, March 23, 1837, where her marriage took place. This lady is a daughter of Aaron and Eleanor (White) Harris, of whom a detailed record is made in the biography of Vincent G. Harris, on another page. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shoe- maker has been blessed with one child, Eben, who was born February 8, 1874, and married, October 29, 1895, Miss Lillian Miller, a na- tive of Bath township and a daughter of Mil- ton and Abbie (Hackett) Miller — Mr. Miller being a prominent and successful farmer of the township. Eben Shoemaker is now managing the old homestead, which his father had set- tled on years ago, and occupies the original dwelling. Jacob P. Shoemaker and wife re- side in a fine new house, built for their own use, and are passing awaj' the later years of their well-spent life in ease and comfort. The farm comprises 123 acres of well-cultivated land, and presents as fine an appearance as any farm of its size in Bath township. In politics Mr. Shoemaker is a democrat and has ever been forward in aiding the progress of his township and county, and enjoys the respect of all who know him. Mrs. Shoemaker is a pious member of the Evangelical church and is by all her neighbors esteemed as a good, charitable and christian member of society, while Eben and bis wife also come in for a full share of public esteem. aHARLES SKINNER, a respected farmer of Richfield township. Summit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, de- scends from colonial families of Mas- sachusetts and Vermont, and was born in Northfield, Ohio, September 3, 1842, a son of William and Diana (Lilly) Skinner. William Skinner was born near Boston. Mass., and was first married there, to which marriage were born one son and two daugh- ters. Mrs. Skinner died in the old Bay state, and subsequently Mr. Skinner came to Ohio, but left his children behind. He purchased a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 897 farm in Northfield township, Summit county, and Fiere married Miss Diana Lilly, and to this union were born Charles and John. Mr. Skinner lived to be si.\ty-seven years old, and died on his farm, fully possessed of the respect of all his neighbors. Charles Skinner received a good common- school education in his native village, and was reared on his father's farm. August 2, 1862, he enlisted, at Northfield, in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infan- try, to serve three years, if not sooner dis- charged on account of the cessation of hostil- ities, and for this reason was honorably dis- charged at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in July, 1865, and was mustered at Cleveland, Ohio, with the rank of corporal, having been promoted for meritorious conduct, and having served to within a few days of three years. The military service rendered by Mr. Skin- ner was in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi, and at one time was detailed for one year, with others of his regiment, to hunt guerrillas. He was in many severe skirmishes with Wheeler's famous cavalry at Murfrees- boro, Lavergn and elsewhere, and with For- rest, in Tennessee, and in pursuit of the pursuit of the notorious John Morgan and his raiders through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, capturing some of his men almost daily, and on the morning of Morgan's surrender cap- tured 300. Within nine months Mr. Skinner's detachment captured about 1,300 of these guerrillas — very dangerous and fatiguing work. He was himself once captured, but escaped the same night, which was very fortunate for him, as capture by these irregular troops meant, almost to a certainty, sure death. One of the most important events that happened to this detachment was the capture of Guerrilla Job, who had for years been a terror to the country, and who never gave quarter to his captives. A squad of twenty men, of whom 38 Mr. Skinner was one, had pursued him several days, and finally caught him asleep in the woods, his hiding place being pointed out by an old negro. When given his choice as to whether he should be hanged or shot, he was perfectly indifferent, and he was finally shot in the back by two soldiers, as the most mer- ciful way of ending his existence. The Con- federate general, Joe Wheeler, the cavalry- man, offered a reward of $10,060 for the executors of Job, and swore that he would remain in Tennessee until they were cap- tured, but the diminutive general was forced out of the state at a more rapid gait than he had entered it. Mr. Skinner was in all the marches and engagements in which his regi- ment took part, and was a brave and eflcient soldier, who was never wounded nor a pris- oner for more than one day, as has already been mentioned, but suffered, at one time, from a severe attack of chronic diarrhea, and was given a sick furlough home for thirty days, but was confined to his bed for four months. After the war Mr. Skinner returned to Northfield and married Miss Martha Irwin, who was born in Perrysburg, Ohio, in August, 1847, a daughter of William and Hermie (Wil- cox) Irwin. Mr. Irwin was the first marshal of the city of Cle\'eland, but removed to Per- rysburg, where he died of cholera in middle life, with two of his children, and leaving two, who yet survive — Julia and Martha. After marriage, Mr. Skinner engaged in farm work in several townships until [889, when he pur- chased his present farm of thirty-six acres in Boston township, which he has converted into a most pleasant home, and he also rents 100 acres adjoining, being a practical farmer and an energetic and honest man. There have been born to his marriage three children — Jo- sephine, died aged eleven years, Sumner and Hulda. In politics Mr. Skinner is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham 898 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Lincoln. He is a member of George L. Water- man post, G. A. R., No. 272, in which he has held the office of senior vice-commander and most of the other offices, and no man in the township is better known or more sincerely re- spected than Corporal Charles Skinner. HUGUSTUS P. SHUMAN, of the firm of Mendenhall & Shuman, well known furniture dealers and funeral directors of Atwater, was born in Portage coun- ty, Ohio, August I 5, 1 87 1, and is a son of John P. and Mary (Amick) Shuman, natives of Ger- many. In 1850, the parents of subject came to America and for a number of years lived in Rootstown, Portage county, Ohio, but finally moved to Randolph, in the same county, where the father carried on shoemaking, served as postmaster three years, filled the offices of town- ship treasurer and township trustee, and was also treasurer of the Randolph Mutual Fire In- surance company, but is now living on his farm of fifty acres in the neighborhood of the town. To their marriage were born live children, viz: Frank, Lewis, Augustus P. , Charles (deceased) and Curtis. Augustus P. Shuman was educated in the common and high schools of Randolph, then clerked in the dry-goods store of C. Elletts, of the same place, and later, in Atwater, clerked for a Mr. Jackson and E. S. Goodman until 1893, when he formed a partnership with W. T. Mendenhall under the present firm-style. This firm carry a large stock of household fur- niture, carpets, crockery, etc., and also con- duct an undertaking business, and in both branches their transactions take the lead in the township. The marriage of Mr. Shuman took place December 25, 1893, to Miss Lavinia Keller, who was born in Randolph, Ohio, November 22, 1873, a daughter of John and Susan Kel- ler, old-time residents of Portage county. In his fraternal relations, Mr. Shuman is a mem- ber of Atwater lodge, No. 649, Knights of Py- thias, of which he is the present vice-chancel- lor, and in which he has also filled the offices of outer-guard, master-at-arms and prelate. In politics he is a repubhcan, and during the presidential campaign of 1896 was president of the Atwater McKinley club. Although not identified with any religious organization, Mr. Shuman is a strictly moral man, and is greatly respected for his business integrity and his use- fulness as a citizen, as well as for his genial disposition and other praiseworthy attributes. >T^OHN B. SILVER, one of the mostsuc- M cessful agriculturists of Deerfield town- m J ship, Portage county, was born in Sandy township, Stark county, Ohio, December 18, 1851, a son of Alpheus and Catherine (Binkley) Silver. David Silver, paternal grandfather of John B., was a native of England, came to Ohio early in life, located in Stark county, where he followed farming all his life, and reared a fam- ily of eight children, viz : Martha, Ezekiel, Polly, John, Sarah, Arthur, David and Al- pheus. Felix Binkley, maternal grandfather of subject, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., was a farmer and married Catherine Graybill, and to this marriage there were born seven children, named as follows : Leah, Fannie, Felix, Graybill, Abraham, Catherine (Mrs. Silver) and John. Alpheus Silver, father of John B., was a native of Stark county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming all his life, with the excep- tion of about twelve years, during two years of which he served as justice of the peace, and for ten years was in the loan business. To his marriage with Miss Catherine Binkley, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 899 who was a native of Lancaster county, Pa., were born the following named children : Sarah, widow of Philip Van Voorhis; John B., the subject of this notice; Martha, deceased wife of James Faulk, and David, who died January 15, 1885, at the age of forty-four years. Alpheus Silver died September 4, 1885, at the age of sixty-eight years, and Mrs. Catherine Silver was called away July 8, 1887, aged sixty-nine years, both dying in the faith of the Methodist church. John B. Silver was reared to farming, and at the early age of thirteen years united with a brother-in-law in working the home place, his father granting them a share of the pro- ceeds. He attended school until seventeen years old, when not actively employed on the farm, and October 18, 1871, was first married, in Belleville, 111., to Miss Anna Bair, daughter of Jesse and Anna Eliza (Bonfield) Bair, and to this union were born four children, viz : Jesse F., August 8, 1872; James A., July 19, 1874; Ada H. and Homer T. Of these children Jesse F. was educated in the common schools and at Mount Union col- lege, and in 1892 began teaching school; he taught two successive terms, then for a year sold books, and, in 1895, entered the ministry. He preached for a short time in New Castle, Pa. , then went to Blairsville, in the same state, where he filled the pulpit until the fall of 1895, when he was assigned to a charge in Indiana county, where he preached two years. In October, 1897, he was ordained and as- signed to Greensburg, Pa. , and was there mar- ried to Miss Maggie George. James A. Silver was also educated in the common schools and at Mount Union college, attending the latter about three years, and since 1893 has been en- gaged in school-teaching. The mother of the above family passed from earth June 4, 1881, at the early age of thirty-one years, and July I, 1883, Mr. Silver married Miss Calista Kim- mel, daughter of Henry and Caroline (Wheed- ling) Kimmel, and this marriage has been blessed with three children — Henry M., Edwin R. and Rena. To the parents of Mrs. Anna Silver were born four children, viz: James, who is still living; Martin, a soldier, perished in the wreck of the steamer Sultana, in 1864, a; the age of thirty-three years; Victoria, who was married to John Votaw, and died the mother of seven children. Mrs". Anna Silver, after the death of her mother, was reared to womanhood by John and Sarah Greves, of Osnaburg township. Stark county, Ohio, with whom she remained until the winter of 1870. The following spring she went to Belleville, III., where her father resided, and there lived until married to Mr. Silver. After this event, Mr. and Mrs. Silver returned to Ohio, re- mained here until 1873, then went to Mont- gomery county, Kans. , intending to settle, but, disliking the country, returned to Belleville, III, where they lived until 1874, when they came back to Ohio, where Mr. Silver pur- chased his father's farm in Stark county, on which they lived until they came to Deerfield township, Portage county. The parents of the present Mrs. Silver, Henry and Caroline Kimmel, were both born in Stark county, Ohio, the father, August 7, 1826, and the mother, November 22, 1833, and were married December 4, 1852, the union resulting in the birth of three children — John, Mrs. Silver and Addis. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Kimmel has served as a deacon for many years, and he has also served as township trustee. David, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Silver, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio, where he married Susan Welker, who bore him six chil- dren, all still living, viz: Joseph; Nancy, wife of John Sickafoos; Henry; Michael; Susan, widow of Samuel Lutz, and Lydia, married to 900 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD William Howenstine. The grandfather died in 1857, at the age of ninety-one years, in the faith of the Methodist church. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Silver were natives of Alsace, German)', and were also early settlers in Stark county, Ohio. The grandfather had been a merchant until twenty-two years of age, and then began farming, a vocation he fol- lowed as long as he was able to work. To his marriage were born five children, three of whom still survive, viz: Caroline, Lewis and William; John died in the army, and Samuel died in civil life, at the age of forty- two years, and his wife in 1885, at seventy- five years of age, both in Stark county, and both in the faith of the Lutheran church. John B. Silver followed farming in Stark county until 1884, when became to Deerfield, Portage county, and purchased one of the finest farms in the township. He has served as supervisor and school director, and he and wife are devoted members of the Reformed Lutheran church, of which Mr. Silver has long been a trustee, and, for one year, superintendent of the Sunday-school. The family are all highly esteeemed in the community, and Mr. Silver has won many warm friends through his per- sonal merits. KARVEY D. SMALLEY, justice of the peace and retired school-teacher of Atwater, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Monroe county, N. Y., De- cember 25, 1825, a son of Donald and Betsey (Frost) Smalley. Donald Smalley was born April 3, 1782, in Randolph, Vt.. went to New York state when a young man, and in 181 3 married, in Monroe county, Betsey Frost, who was born in Berk- shire, Mass., in 1792. In 1836 Mr. Smalley came to Ohio, and bought a farm of 130 acres one and one-half miles south of Randolph Center, Portage county. There were born to him three children, viz: J. F., who died in 1853; E. J., who is president of the Smalley Manufacturing company, of Manitowoc, Mich., and H. D., our subject. The mother of these children died in March, 1846, and the father returned to New York state, where here-mar- ried, but died on his Ohio farm in December, 1859, an honored man. Harvej- D. Smalley was eleven years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents. He was educated in the common schools of Port- age county, and for two terms attended Lin- nean academy. In 1 843, at the age of eighteen years, he taught his first school, known as the Marshall district school, in Randolph — at $12 per month of twenty-four days: in 1850 he went to Sheboygan, Wis., taught during the summer terms, then returned to Ohio and taught in Stark county — including the public schools of Alliance for three years — and in 1 860 opened a private school in Randolph; in 1862 he was appointed superintendent of the Marl- boro union school, which position he held until the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in com- pany H, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, served in Kentucky until the expiration of his term of enlistment — 100 days — and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, with the rank of orderly sergeant. On his return to Randolph, Mr. Smalley opened his second private school; in 1866 he passed six months in Youngstown as editor of Mahoning Register, the editor proper, E. V. Smalley, being then in Washington, D. C. In 1876, the subject, H. D. Smalley, relin- quished his vocation of teacher and purchased a farm of twenty-eight acres, on which he re- sided until the spring of 1893, when he re- moved to Atwater, where he purchased his present dwelling. As a republican, Mr. Smal- ley filled the offices of township trustee and township clerk while in Randolph, and after OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 901 settling in Atwater was elected, in the spring of 1894, justice of the peace — an office he still conscientiously and satisfactorily exercises. March 26, 1846, Mr. Snialley was joined in wedlock with Miss Sophronia Cleverly, daughter of John and Minerva (Matton) Clev- erly, of Atwater, where Mrs. Smalley was born December 26, 1825. Her father, John Clev- erly, was a native of Connecticut, born Feb- ruary 14, 1800, and died in Atwater, Ohio, in 1886. To Mr. and Mrs. Smalley no children have been born. They are members of the Disciples' church of Randolph, of which Mr. Smalley is an elder, and has been secretary and treasurer for a year, and superintendent of Sunday-school live or si.x years. Mr. Smalley is a member of Hanford post. No. 647, G. A. R. , of Randolph, and his social relations are ele- vated, refined and enjoyable, he and wife min- gling in the best circles of Atwater township. eNOS CARLOMAN SMITH, president of the First National bank and the oldest merchant in Garrettsville, Port- age county, Ohio, and one of the sub- stantial and most highly respected citizens of the county, was born in Hart's Grove. Ashta- bula county, October 19, 1829, and is a son of Norman and Sallie M. (Hickok) Smith. The father, who was of Scotch extraction, was born in Sherburne, V't. , in 1801, and came to Ohio in 18 18; the mother was born in New York state, and came to Ohio in 1820, and were married in Ashtabula county. Soon after the birth of subject, the family removed to Parkman township, Geauga county, where Enos C. passed his boyhood and youth, receiv- ing such school advantages as were afforded by the district school and township academy; when not attending school, he assisted in till- ing the home farm. At the age of twenty he tried teaching school, for which he received $17 per month, and boarded with patrons of the school. His father died about this time (1849), and, Enos being the eldest of the children, the care of the family, to a certain extent, devolved upon him. For a time he worked on the farm, then clerked in a drug store. Gold having been discovered in California, he, like many others, concluded to go there and seek a fortune. He was without money, but he borrowed $350 and in December, 1851, left home. The journey was made via New York city and the isthmus of Panama, and on May 25, 1852, he reached San Francisco, having had a quick voyage. He soon was engaged in mining, but when winter came on, the snow was too deep to fol- low that pursuit, and so returned to San Fran- cisco, and through the exercise of considerable pluck secured the position of steward on the steamer Golden Gate, which plied between San Francisco and Panama. He subsequently filed a claim, paying $1,450, and one year later sold out for $2, 700. The same tract now furnishes the water supply for the city of Oak- land. Mr. Smith remained in California about five years, and on his return to Ohio, in Au- gust', 1857, he formed a partnership with A. A. Barber, and under the firm name of Barber & Smith succeeded Dr. O. Manley in the hard- ware trade in Garrettsville. This firm con- tinued until 1886, when C. C. Payne assumed Mr. Barber's interests, and the firm became Smith & Payne, which style continued six years, when Mr. Smith became sole proprietor. Mr. Smith early became identified with the financial interests of Portage county, and as far back as 1870 subscribed to the stock of the Farmer's Savings & Loan association, which was incorporated under the state law in 1871, with R. M. Hauk as president, Mr. Smith as vice-president, and James Norton as cashier. In 1872 this association was merged into the First National bank, No. 2034, at Garrettsville. 902 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD with a capital stock of $60,000, which was in- creased to $100,000 in 1874, and in 1880 re- duced to $80,000, its present capital. Of this bank Mr. Smith has been president since 1893, and still holds that honorable position. To the parents of Mr. Smith were born seven children, \\z: Enos C, our subject; Marsh H., a physician of Manchester, 111.; Ma lie Louise, who was first married to Edwin Moore and ne.xt to Harrison C. Crawford, and died in Garrettsville; Ellen J., wife of C. S. Bates, cabinet-maker at Clinton, Iowa; Mary Ann, widow of a Mr. Guthrie, of Raymond, 111., George D., of Garrettsville, and Sarah, married to Jeffrey McConnell, of Manchester, Ohio. August 27, 1857, Enos C. Smith married Marion B. McClintock, who was born July 4, 1829. in Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of William and Chloe (Ferry) McClintock, the former of whom was born in Whitehall, N. Y. , in 1793, and the latter in Brookfield, Orange county, Vt. , in 1 798. Mr. and Mrs. McClin- tock came to Ohio in 1832 and settled in Gar- rettsville, where Mr. McClintock died August 7, 1873, and his wife June 17, 1878, both in the faith of the Baptist church. No children have blessed the marriage of Mr. Smith and his wife. In politics Mr. Smith has always been a free-soiler or republican, and cast his first pres- idential ballot for John C. Fremont. He as sisted in organizing the first election board at Hesse's Crossing, Cal., and later seven times assisted in nominating James A. Garfield for congress, and was once himself candidate for the state legislature before the republican con- vention. He has served as mayor of Garretts- ville and as councilman, and has filled every trust with fidelity and ability. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason, and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star branch, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He en- joys the unbounded confidence of his fellow- citizens, and no one is more highly esteemed. George D. Smith, younger brother of Enos C. Smith, was born in \\'ooster, Ohio, January 28, 1843. He was educated in a common school and lived on the home farm until four- teen years old, then went to Manchester, 111., and further attended school until the outbreak of the late Civil war. In May, 1861, he en- listed in company F. Fourteenth Illinois vol- unteer infantry, and saw his first service in Missouri, under Gen. John C. Fremont; he later participated at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Farmington, Hatchie, Black River, siege of Vicksburg, in man)- skirmishes, receiving at different times wounds in the hands and head, which, though not serious, were rather "close calls. " For nine months during his service he had charge of the body guard of Gen. Crocker, and was finally discharged at Springfield, 111., in July, 1864, as a non-commissioned officer. After returning from the war, Mr. Smith married, in 1866, in Garrettsville, Ohio, Miss Emma A. Daniels, a native of Freedom town- ship, and a daughter of Norton J. and Marj' A. (Wight) Daniels, the father a carpenter by trade. For three years after marriage Mr. Smith lived in Manchester. 111., engaged in the stove and tinware trade, then returned to Gar- rettsville, where, since 1872, he has been en- gaged with his brother, Enos C, in the hard- ware trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born one daughter, Ethel, wife of C. O. Judd, of Garrettsville. In politics Mr. Smith is a strong republican, and under Harrison's administration was post- master of Garrettsville; he has also served as councilman and as treasurer of the board of education. Fraternally he was made a Mason in 1865, is past master of Garrettsville lodge, No. 246, and is high priest of Silver Creek chapter. No. 144, R. A. M. He is also a mem- ber of the G. A. R. In religion, he and wife OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 903 are members of the Congregational church, of which he is a deacon. He has built a pleas- ant dwelling on Smith street, were he and wife enjoy every social refinement and the esteem and respect of their neighbors. * w ^ ON. IRA P. SPERRY, of Tallmadge, ■''^m Ohio, and one of its representative M r and prominent citizens, descends from a long line of English Puritan ances- try, who were among the founders of the Con- necticut colony. Richard Sperry, who settled in New Haven, Conn., about 1640. was the sturdy Puritan who furnished aid, comfort and lodg- ing to the judges who condemmed King Charles to death, during the reign of Crom- well. His children were John, Mary, Rich- ard, Jr., Hester, Nathaniel, Thomas, Ebe- nezer, Daniel and Joseph. Richard Sperry was a Welshman, but his wife was an English lady. President Stiles, in his History of the Regicides, gives a very glowing account of the character, abilit}' and shrewdness of Richard Sperry, and his descendants have good cause to congratulate themselves on being members of the Sperry family. Ira P. Sperry the subject of this biography, is a son of Lyman and Lydia (Peck) Sperry. Lyman Sperry was born in Connecticut at Woodbury, and married there, the first time, Deborah Newton, also born in Connecticut, and by her he was the father of Asmodeus N., Mary Amonds,Phebe and Adna. Delorah died, and he married Lydia Peck, and their chil- dren were Lyman, Lydia, Elizabeth, Levinus, Lewis, Ira P., Samuel, Ebenezer and Dr. Willis. Lyman Sperry moved with his family to Ohio in 18 19, making the journey with horses and ox-teams — quite a party coming together. Mr. Sperry settled on the north line of Tall- madge township, a little east of Monroe Falls, and here bought a lot of 160 acres, which he cleared from the woods, aided by his sons. He and wife were both members of the Congrega- tional church. His first wife died in Con- necticut and he came to Ohio with his second wife and six of her children; three others were born in Ohio — Samuel, Ebenezer and Willis. He was a straightforward and respected pio- neer of Tallmadge township, was well known for his integrity of character, and in politics was a whig. Ira P. Sperry was born November 24, 18 1 7, at Waterbury, Conn., and was brought when an infant by his parents, in 18 19, to Tallmadge. He received a common-school education, and attended an academy a Cuyahoga Falls, learned when young the blacksmith trade and carriage business, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages, under the firm name of Oviatt & Sperry, and carried on an extensive business, the firm keeping a depository of carriages in Cincinnati for four- teen years. After this, Mr. Sperry engaged in the sewer pipe business for twenty years, the firm being changed several times, and do- ing. a successful business. In 1850 he crossed the plains to Colorado, being ninety days on the way, and remained one year in the gold mines, meeting with gratifying success. Mr. Sperry has, throughout his career, been one of the most enterprising business men of Sum- mit county. His carriage manufactory for many years was the most extensive in the west- ern country, and added greatly to the pros- perity of the county — -the firm of Oviatt & Sperry continuing for nearly a quarter of a century. In addition to supplying a consider- able portion of northern Ohio with fine car- riages, from $20,000 to $25,000 worth of fine carriages were yearly sold at their depository in Cincinnati. In 1850, with his brother. Dr. Willis Sperry, and Samuel J. Ritchie, he es- ^4 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD tablished extensive sewer-pipe works in Tall- madge, which in connection with his son, George P. Sperry, was successfully conducted for about twenty years, or until the death of George P. Sperry, November 17, 1892, at which time the father retired from business on a competence. Mr. Sperry was one of the original aboli- tionists of Tallmadge township and liberally assisted this cause with his means; he was also one of the original republicans of Summit county in the state legislature, having been elected in 1858 oh the republican ticket and serving only two years. September 27, 1841, Mr. Sperry married Miss Clarissa Carlton, of Portage county, a daughter of Peter and Clarissa (Ladd) Carlton. Their children were Willis C, born December 12, 1847. rio^^' -^ practicing physician; Charles O., who died in infancy; Mary A., who was born July 30, 1853, and died in Oberlin, Ohio, October 17, 1870, aged seventeen 3'ears; George P., born September 30, 1858, was a sewer pipe manufacturer of Tallmadge; Fran- cis L., born October 22, 1861, is a chemist, and Henry B. , who was formerly secretary and treasurer for the Sewer Pipe company at Huntington, Pa. Mrs. Sperry was a devout member of the Congregational church and died May 31, 1897, aged nearly seventy-seven ■years, a woman of many virtues and highly esteemed in the community. It is related of this branch of the Sperry family that when the regicides, Gough and Whaley, were in hiding on the Sperry farm, that a maternal grandmother, who was also a Miss Sperry, carried food to them when she was a young girl. It is also stated that the Sperry family came from England with the Deavenport colony. Ira P. Sperry is a member of the Congre- gational church, a man of great energy and integrity of character and a practical and suc- cessful business man. He is a fine specimen of the pioneer and splendidly preserved at the age of eighty years. Dr. Willis Sperry, brother of Ira P. Sperry, is one of the prominent physicians and hon- ored citizens of Summit county, Ohio. The doctor was born July 14, 1823, on the Sperry homestead near the north line of Tallmadge township. He received his early education at Twinsburg, Ohio, and attended the Cleveland medical college during the winter of 1850- 185 1, and immediately thereafter began the practice of medicine at Peoria, 111. ; the next year, 1852, he went to California via the isth- mus of Panama, practiced medicine ten years in Tuolumne county, and witnessed the early scenes in the palmy days of gold mining. In 1862 he returned to Tallmadge, and here has very successfully practiced medicine since. He has accumulated a valuable library during his long medical practice and is a patron of the leading medical reviews, both foreign and American. Fraternally, the doctor is a member of the Northeastern Ohio Medical association, and also of lodge No. 83, F. & A. M., Akron, Ohio. In politics he has been a republican ever since the organization of the party, and in religion a member of the Congregational church. The doctor was married May 27, 1855, in Sonora county, Cal., by the Rev. John Henry Brodt, to Hulda E. Carlton, who was born November 23, 1833, in Mantua township, Portage coun- ty, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Clarissa (Ladd) Carlton. Peter Carlton was of En- glish ancestry and came from Connecticut. His wife was from Massachusetts and both families were of old colonial stock. Dr. Sperry and wife were the parents of Willis P., born September 23, 1856, and Emily Carlton, born October 25, 1859, both in California; Erasmus Darwin, born January 5, 1864; Rosaline Ladd, born February 10, 1867; Mary Amelia, born OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 905 July 27, 1 87 1, all three in Tallmadge, the last named dying May 27, 1882. Mrs. Willis Sperry died April 18, 1896, and he ne.xt mar- ried, November 3, of the same year, Mrs. H. A. Sackett, nee Mabel Fenn, daughter of Willis Fenn. Dr. Sperry has one of the most attractive homes in Tallmadge. He is a gen- tleman of wide culture and is most favorably known throughout the county both as a scholar and a physician. >»j*AMES B. STAUFFER, the enterpris- M ing dairyman of Richfield township, A 1 Summit county, Ohio, was born in Salem, Columbiana county, October 9, 1847, a son of Abraham and Mary (Estry) Stauffer. The former was also a native of Co- lumbiana county, born September 12, 181 5, of German descent, married June 7, 1838, and died April 30, 1878. Mrs. Mary (Estry) Stauffer, also of German extraction, was born in Huntingdon county. Pa., October 16, 1820, and died in Columbiana county, Ohio, Decem- ber 27, 1894. The children of these parents were ail born in Columbiana county, in the order here given: William H., March 9, 1840; Elizabeth M.. June 22, 1844; James B., the subject; Celestia A., July 7, 1851; Sophia, De- cember 23, 1853 — died in California June 29, 1 891; Cary H., October 8, 1856; Laura F. , April 25, 1859; and Mary A., December 7, 1861. James B. Stauffer remained with his par- ents until eighteen years of age, and then be- gan business for himself by renting a coal bank, from which he mined and sold the min- eral, making a success of his undertaking. January i, 1867, he married Miss Sarah A. Buzby, who was born January 27, 1848, a daughter of Eleazer and Nancy (Grimes) Buz- by, natives, respectfully, of New Jersey and Ohio. Mr. Buzby was a Quaker and school- teacher, and to his marriage with Miss Grimes were born three children, viz : Daniel (de- ceased), William E. and Sarah A. (Mrs. Stauf- fer). Mr. Buzby died, and his widow married, for her second husband, J. B. English, a school-teacher of Mount Union, Stark county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. English are Methodists, and fraternally Mr. English is a Freemason. Mr. Stauffer continued his coal operations for two years and then bought a saw-mill, which, in conjunction with the lumber trade, he operated until 1884, when he went to Campbellsvilie, Ky. , and was there engaged in the lumber business until 1892, when here- turned to Ohio and bought a farm of 168 acres in Richfield township. Summit county, on which he erected new buildings; he next bought seventy-two additional acres, and, later, 266 acres in the same township, and engaged in farming until April i, 1897, when he rented out his land and engaged in the creamery busi- ness at Peninsula and West Richfield, Summit county. The Peninsula plant will be the larg- est of its kind in the state, with a daily capac- ity of 20,000 pounds of milk, and will be equipped with the latest improved machinery. Mr. Stauffer is a capable business man, has been very suscessful in his undertakings, and it is plain that his creameries are destined to take rank among the leading industries of Sum- mit county. He is generous of disposition and public spirited, being always ready to pro- mote all worthy public enterprises. He is prominent as a Mason, and is an active mem- ber of Pitman lodge. No. 224, in that order. To his happy marriage there have been born six children, viz: Delorma, Effie, Abraham, Josephine, Mary and Luster, each of whom has received an excellent education. The family stand high socially, and the people of Richfield may be congratulated upon the fact that Mr. Stauffer has made his permanent home in the township. 906 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OMAR C. STOCKING, of Hiram, Port- age county, Ohio, was born October 14, 1828, in Waterbury, Conn., and is a son of Anson and Flora (Coe) Stocking. When five years old his parents settled on a farm in Litchfield county, Conn., and he here remained until he was about seventeen years of age. He early learned the trade of a painter, and when he was twenty he became a worker in brass, and in the manu- facture of locks, in the works of the Russell & Irwin manufacturing company, of New Britain, Conn. He married, in Torrington, Litchfield county. Conn., Louisa M. Pierce, returned to New Britain and then to Torrington, about 1855, and worked on trunk locks, and after- ward worked in a melodeon manufactory for some years. He then went to Ansonia, Conn. , and worked at brass work on kerosene lamps. To Mr. and Mrs. Stocking were born Edwin C. and Albert P. Mr. Stocking enlisted at Ansonia, Conn., August 4, 1862, in Capt. Sanford H. Chaffie's company B, Twentieth regiment, Connecticut volunteer infantry, to serve three years, or during the war, and was honorably discharged near Washington, D. C. , at the end of his service, June 13, 1865, and was mustered out at New Haven, Conn. He was promoted, for meritorious conduct, to be corporal, from May S, 1864, having previously acted as corporal for nearly one year. He was in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mount- ain, Tracy City, Tenn. , and Boyd's Trail, and was on the famous Atlanta campaign. He was in the battles of Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Tunnel Hill, Rocky Faced Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Peach Tree Creek, Turner Ferry, siege and general assault on Atlanta, and was one of the first men to enter that city after its fall, he being on a reconnoitering ex- pedition, and fired at one of Wheeler's cavalry- men, engaged, with others, in the destruction of a drug store, and slightly injured him, as he rode off. The Confederate cavalrymen broke and destroyed everything they could find, but iled mostly on the entrance of the Union troops. He was then on Sherman's cele- brated march to the sea, and was in the battles of Savannah, Charleston, Silver Run, Averysborough and Bentonville, and was in many skirmishes, too numerous to mention, especially in the Kenesaw mountains. Mr. Stocking also was present and took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C. He thinks that he saw the hardest service in the Gettysburg campaign, when he marched with his company from Dumfries, Va. , thirty-five miles south of Fairfax Court House, making this march during a hot dry day in June, from 3 A. M. to 9 P. M., and thence to the battle field — twenty-four days on this forced march, and suffering greatly from rain, mud and hot weather. At night the tired soldier slept on his arms, with no shelter except a rubber blanket. He was in the battle of Gettysburg forty-eight hours, and kept his knapsack on his back all the time. He had nothing to eat except a little raw pork and hard tack. Mr. Stocking was not wounded but was struck with several spent balls, and at Chancellorsville one ball struck his knapsack and passed through the folds of his blanket, which saved his life. He was a good soldier and served his country faithfully. He is now much disabled from the exposure of sleeping on the ground, and is a sufferer from rheumatism. Mr. Stocking re- turned to Ansonia, Conn., and to his family. He had left his wife with two small boys, and during his long service he had received no furlough home. In August, 1865, Mr. Stocking came to Hiram, Ohio, where his wife's father, Rodney Pierce, Sr. , was then living. Here Mr. Stock- ing engaged in the small fruit business for twelve years and prospered, having now a OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 907 pleasant home and a few acres of land. He then started a hack and express line from Hiram to Garrettsville, which he ran for four- teen years, and two years ago retired from active business. In politics Mr. Stocking was first a whig and then a republican, casting his first presi- dential vote for Gen. Scott and then for John C. Fremont, and was one of the original re- publicans. Mr. Stocking has held the office of township trustee, and is a respected citizen. He is an honored member of the G. A. R., Mark Horton post, Garrettsville, and is an unaffiliating Odd Fellow. Mrs. Stocking is a member of the Congregational church. Edwin Stocking, son of Omar C, married Bell Crawford, and is a machinist in Chicago. They have two children, viz: Edwin B. and Leroy. Albert P. Stocking, the younger son, married Mary Jones. He is a railroad man and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. The Stocking family is of old English Pu- ritan stock, the founders of the family in Amer- ica settling in Connecticut on the foundation of the colony, and was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war. Anson Stocking, the father of Omar C. Stocking, was a cabinetmaker and painter, and also a farmer of Torrington, Conn. He was a respected citizen and one of the board of selectmen of his town and a justice of the peace. His children by his marriage to Miss Coe were Flora, Omar C, Fannie, Phila and Eber. To his first marriage, to Phila Miles, were born John, Samuel, Marcia and Anson. All of these children by the first wife are now deceased, and Mr. Stocking died at the age of seventy-four years. He had two sons in the Civil war. Eber served in the first call of 1 86 1 and was discharged on account of disability. Rodney Pierce, the father of Mrs. Stock- ing, was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Green) Pierce, was from an old colonial Connecticut family, of the same original stock as President Pierce. Mr. Pierce was three times married; the first time to Harriet Relsey, and their chil- dren were Louise, Elizabeth, Charles, George and Henry; the second wife was Jane Button, and their children were Henry, John, Harriet, Jane and Rodney. There were no children by his third wife, Elizabeth MulhoUand. Two of the sons were in the Civil war — Henry and George, both in the Nineteenth regiment Con- necticut volunteer infantry three years' service. Henry served out his time and was in several battles, his regiment having been formed into a battery of heavy artillery. George was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. Mr. Pierce was a carpenter and joiner, and owned a farm of 200 acres in Torrington township. Conn. He came, in 1864, to Hiram, Ohio, and bought a farm and here passed his remaining days. He was a member of the Congregational church, in which he was a deacon many years, and was an honored and industrious man of ster- ling worth. BRANK HALL SPIRES, druggist and storekeeper, in Atwater township, Portage county, Ohio, was born here January i, 1866, a son of Thomas and Josephine (Hiddleson) Spires, both natives of the Buckeye state. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and later for many years was his father's assistant in the lumber business and in stock raising, and also for some years clerked for him in a dry- goods and notion store. In February, 1890, he purchased from Walter McConnery the drug store which he now owns, in which he carries a full and well-selected line of drugs and chem- icals, as well as an assortment of groceries, tobacco, etc., and, being polite and affable, is doing an excellent trade. Mr. Spires was united in marriage Novem- 908 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ber 19, 1891, with Miss Addie Benjamin, wlio was born in Atwater township, January 12, 1868, a daughter of Piatt and Ellen Benjamin, the former of whom is a native of New York state and the latter of Rootstown, Ohio. Mrs. Spires was educated in the schools of Atwater and Ravenna, and after finishing her education, at the age of fifteen years, taught school her- self for several years at varions places through- out the county. Mr. Spires is a member of Atwater lodge, No. 649, Knights of Pythias, and also of the Portage county Gun club-, in which he has several times won the champion- ship medal, and has made a record, at trap- shooting, of forty-seven out of fifty birds. He is likewise an enthusiastic sportsman, owning two of the best bird-dogs in the county, and never misses a season to indulge in the hunt. He is very attentive to business, however; it is only on an occasion of a shoot going on that he takes a vacation. He and wife are great favorites in the social circles of the township and both are held in high estimation by all their neighbors and friends. HLBERT C. STOW is one of the most venerable and respected citizens of Summit county, Ohio, and the oldest native-born person living in Stowe township. He is from sterling English ances- try. The founders of the family came to New England in old colonial times and were among the founders of Connecticut. The grandfather of subject was a sea captain in the West India trade in early times, and it is believed that his 'name was William. Lord Thomas Stow, who recently died, leaving a large estate but no will, was of the same family. Rev. Dr. Stowe, hus- band of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the famous author, was of the same stock. William Stow was the father of Albert C, was born January 26, 1776, at Middleton, Conn., and of his brothers and sisters were Annie, Russell, Zebulon, Thomas are remem- bered. William Stow was a sea captain, fol- lowing the same vocation as his father. He married in Middletown, Conn., Peggie Gay- lord, who was born February 8, 1774, a daugh- ter of Jonathan. They were married at Mid- dletown, ("onn., April 10, 1795, by Rev. Gushom Buckley, and their children were William, born November 15, 1795; Thomas, October 31, 1797; Joseph, December 12, 1799; Zebulon, April 8, 1802; Maria, April 18, 1804; Abiah, May 3, 1808 — all born in Middletown, Conn. Albert C, born July 5, i8io;James, June 22, 1812; Margaret, February 22, 1814; Russell M., March 15, 18 16 — all born in Stowe township. Portage (now Summit county) Ohio. William Stow, the father, came to Ohio in June, 1809, making the journey with a yoke of oxen and one horse, and was over forty-one days on the journey. Jonathan and Thomas Gaylord also came with their families — all rela- tions. They cut their way through the wil- derness of western New York state and Penn- sylvania to Portage county, the families sleep- ing in their wagons at night. William Stow settled on 300 acres of land at Monroe Falls, Stowe township, in the woods — the land was covered with heavy timber. He bought his land of Judge Joshua Stowe — one of the original members of the Connecticut company, who owned the land on the Western Reserve. William Stow traded a vessel and house and lot in Middletown and other prop- erty, with Judge Stowe for his 300 acres. William Stow was a well-to-do man for his time, and left a well-settled country to be- come a pioneer in the Ohio wilderness. He built a log house on his land and cleared up a good farm. He sold 100 acres for $3 per acre to Squire Samuel Cheney, and retained 200 acres. Being a sailor, he was employed to rig the first vessel built at Cleveland in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 909 1812, sailed this schooner a year and carried provisions to Sackett's Harbor. He was not accustomed to the hard work of a pioneer, but he learned fast and did a large amount of clearing. He finally sold his land, or what remained after he had given much to his sons, and moved to Brimfield, Portage county, and bought several small farms. He sold out and returned to Stowe township three years later, in 1839, and here passed his remaining days on his farm. He was early a member of the Congregational church and in later life a member of the Christian church, and in poli- tics a whig. He died September 20, 1853, aged seventy-seven years and eight months. Mr. Stow was a man of sterling worth and the head of one of the most respected fam- ilies. He was a constable several years and a man ot strong and determined character. Albert C. Stow was born July 5, 18 10, near Monroe Falls in the log house near the present site of the paper-mill on the original Stow farm, and is the only living member of his father's family. He received the limited com- mon-school education of the district, was brought up a farmer, and at sixteen years went to work in a woolen-mill for one year, and then resumed farming on his father's farm. He married, at the age of twenty-four years, in Michigan, November 22, 1835, Almira Bar- ret, who was born January 23, 1818, at Wood- stock, Conn., a daughter of Simon and Lydia (Masscraft) Barret. The founder of the fam- ily in America came from England in old Puritan times. The family was mentioned in "Doomsday Book " and located in 1086. An- other mention is made in London "Knights," I 38 1, and after this many knights and county families are named, down to the present, as scattered all over England and the colonies. Perhaps the "Baret," as it is spelled in "Doomsday Book," was Sa.xon, and probably the first Barretts were Normans and kin to the Barretts or Barrets of France and Italy, and came to England with the conqueror. Several Barretts located in Virginia and Mas- sachusetts from 1620 to 1640 — one or more in Boston, and one on the Concord. One Thomas Barrett, aged si.Kteen years, sailed from London in the ship Increase in 1635; a Thomas B. Barrett, with his wife, Frances, in 1635. A Thomas Barrett with his wife, Frances, were settled in Chelmsford in 1630. It has been, so far, impossible to trace them to any other family or locality in either old or New England. Thomas and Frances Barrett of Chelms- ford had three children — Margaret, Moses B., and Mehitable. Moses Barrett married a Miss Smith of Dorchester, September 10, 1684 and had a son, Moses. Moses Barrett, Jr., mar- ried and had born in Chelmsford the follow- ing children: Daniel, Hannah, Oliver, Smith, Moses and Benjamin (twins). Moses Barrett moved to Woodstock, Conn., about 1722. Smith Barrett married Mary Spalding. His children, born in Woodstock, were Samuel, Hannah, Daniel, Priscilla, Thomas, Ephraim, Martha, Priscilla (second), Ephraim (second) and Mary. Daniel Barrett married, the first time, Hulda Elothrop, March 14, 1765, and for his second wife, Mary Manly, in 1774 or 1775, and for third wife a widow, Mrs. Mary Miles Dodge in 1778, and his fourth wife, Jemima (Inman) Benson, November 16, 1780. His children, born on the Woodstock home- stead, were, Smith, Anna, Daniel, Thomas Manly, Aldrich, Wiley, Edward Inman, Mary (Mrs. Nathan Barret), Simon and Andrew. Mrs. Jemima Benson, was a daughter of Ed- ward Inman, born December 14, 1748; she had four children, by her former marriage: Isaac, Joseph, John and Inman. She died February 7, 1827, Daniel Barret died July 22, 1887. Simon Barret, father of Mrs. Stow, was 910 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD born February 21, 1784, in Woodstock, Conn., received his education at the academy at Woodstock, and taught school twenty-one seasons in Connecticut, Canada and New York state. He married, in Woodstock, Conn. , October 12, 1809, Lydia, Masscraft, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Austin) Masscraft, both of New England ancestry. Lydia was born in Woodstock, Conn., November 11, 1787. Jacob Masscraft, her father, was a farmer of Connecticut stock and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died in Woodstock from consumption contracted by exposure in that war. The Austins were a Massachusetts family and seafaring people, and the great- grandfather of Mrs. Stow was captured by Algerine pirates and never returned. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Barret had the following children: Newton, Milton, Almira, Martha E., Simon G., William P., Sarah and Frances L. Simon Barret came to Stowe township. Summit county, Ohio, May 20, 1835, and remained three months, and September 20 went to Michigan and settled at Spring Port, where he died in 1837. He was a man of high char- acter, much respected by all. Mr. Stow's father was a second cousin to Judge Stowe, the owner of this township. Albert C. Stow, when he was a boy, lived in almost a wilderness, and after marriage, Mr. Stow, with his wife, lived in Brimfield about three years and worked on his father's land, and in 1839 settled on fifty acres which his father gave him in Stowe township; in 1856 he sold this land, which he had improved, and came to his present farm. Mr. Stow has al- ways been a hardworking and industrious man and prospered by his sterling thrift. When young he cleared a great deal of land and worked hard to make his home, assisted by his faithful wife. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stow have been members of the Christian church since 1846, and aided in founding and build- ing the Christian church at Stowe Corners. Mr. Stow has been a deacon many years. In politics he was first a whig and then a repub- lican. He has always been a man of undeni- able integrity of character and had the respect of all who knew him. To Mr. and Mrs. Stow two daughters have been born — Ellen E. and Emma A. , the latter having died at the age of forty years. Ellen E. married Rev. Francis M. Green, a minister of the Christian church in active ministry, and also a member of the state legislature two years. They have five children, viz: Lura A. , who married Edwin Wetmore; Fannie M., who married William Cox; Mary T. , who died, aged fourteen; Frank A. and Daisy. E ENRY P. STRAIGHT, a veteran of the Civil war, and a greatly re- spected citizen of Hudson township. Summit county, Ohio, was born in Erie county, N. Y., March 8, 1828, a son of Royal A. and Nancy (Dolph) Straight, and was brought to Ohio in 1835, by his parents, who settled in Rome, Ashtabula county. Henry Straight, paternal grandfather of Henry P., was born in Rhode Island, of En- glish descent, ran off from home when sixteen years old, enlisted, served all through the Revolutionary war, and also through the war of 1812, in which he was quartermaster of his regiment. He married Anna Powell, in Mas- sachusetts, and located at Charlotte, Chit- tenden county, Vt. , and there were born to him three children, viz: Henry P. , Royal A., and Anna Elizabeth. He came to Ohio, with his son, Royal A., and here died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Royal A. Straight, son of Henry, was born in Charlotte, Vt. , and when young, went to Newstead, Erie county, N. Y., where he bought a farm, and married Miss Nancy Dolph, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 911 who was born in Kinderhook, N. Y. , a daugh- ter of Aaron and Catherine (Delong) Dolph, and to this union were born six children — Henry P., Allen M., George H., EHzabeth, Ruth, and Anna. In the spring of 1835, Mr. Straight came from Erie county, N. Y. , to Ashtubula county, Ohio, and purchased 125 acres of partially cleared land, on which was a log house; this land he thoroughly cleared up, and converted into a comfortable home, and profitable farm. In 1857 he removed to White county, Tenn., and purchased an old plantation of 1,700 acres, but in 1861, being persecuted for not taking the oath of allegiance to the Confederate government, he was glad to sell it for $1,000 — not a tithe of its value. He then went to Marion county, 111., bought, and lived on eighty acres for a few years, and then moved to Kent county, Mich., where he passed the remainder of his life, dying March 2, 1876, at about seventy -six years of age, a member of the Baptist church. He was first a whig in politics, but became one of the orig- inal republicans, voted for John C. Fremont, its first candidate for the presidency, and was an ardent Union man, but too old, although he volunteered, to be accepted as a soldier; but he sent three sons — Henry P., Allen M. and George H. — to the defense of the Union, and also sent two sons-in-law — Edmond R. Allen and Charles Newman. Of these, Allen M. was in the One Hundred and Eleventh Illi- nois infantry, in the three-year service, was in the Atlanta campaign, and many battles be- side, was captured at Peach Tree Creek, and was fifteen months in the Andersonville and Florence prison pens, but finally reached home alive; Charles Newman, who served in the same regiment, died in prison at Florence, where he had been transferred from Anderson- ville. Edmond R. Allen was in the same regiment for three years; George H. Straight was in the three-year service, in the Fortieth I Illinois volunteer infantry, was severely wounded, and died at his home in Illinois a few months later. Henry P. Straight received a good common- school education and has always been a farmer. He married, September 25, 1849, at Hart's Grove, Ashtabula county, Ohio, Miss Mary J. Stevens, who was born April 20, 1831, at De- troit, Mich., a daughter of Weston and Eliza- beth (Suedekor) Stevens, the former of whom was born in Rochester, N. Y. , a son of Ebe- nezer and Hannah (Whaley) Stevens — the Stevenses being of English and the Whaleys of Scotch descent. The mother of Hannah Whaley was a daughter of Samuel Whaley, a Scotch peer, but she ran away from home, when young, to accompany a married sister to Rochester, N. Y. , and thus her property be- came alienated. Weston Stevens was a brick- mason by trade and died in Cleveland, Ohio, the father of the following children — Samuel W., Mary J., Caroline and Harriet. After marriage, Mr. Straight settled in Rome, Ashtabula county, Ohio, bought fifty acres of land, partly cleared, and the re- mainder he cleared himself. In 1857, he re- moved to \\'hite county, Tenn., with his fa- ther, settled about eighty miles east of Nash- ville, remained there about a year, but owing to troublous times returned to Ohio, and en- listed at Chardon, Geauga county, December 4, 1861, in battery G, First Ohio light artillery, for three years, veteranized for three years longer and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, August 31, 1863. Mr. Straight took an active part in the following battles: Pittsburg Landing, April 6-^7, 1862; Corinth, May i to 30, 1862; Franklin Pike, September 7, 1 862 ; Stone River, December 3 1 , 1862, to January 2. 1863; Tullahoma cam- paign, June 23 to 30, 1863; Dug Gap, Sep- tember II, 1863; Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863; Missionary Ridge, November 912 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 25, 1863; LaVergne, September i, 1864; Franklin, September 2, 1864; Cambellsville, September 5, 1864, Pulaski; September 27, 1864; Spring Hill, November 29, 1864; Frank- lin, November 30, 1864; and Nashville, De- cember 15 and 16, 1864. At Pittsburg Land- ing, he sustained a flesh wound in the neck, but did not go to the hospital; he was also in- jured by being thrown from his horse, the gun on its carriage being discharged without being unlimbered; at Stone River he received a slight bullet wound in his right knee, and at a review at Murfreesboro was thrown from his horse and knocked senseless, and for a short time was in hospital. At New Orleans he served as corporal of his company, and as such his name is inscribed on the soldiers' monument at Cleveland. He made a splendid military rec- ord, although his health was permanently wrecked by his exposure in the service. After the war, Mr. Straight returned to Portage county and rejoined his wife and five children. This number has now reached nine, viz: Mary E., Martha E., Earnest R., Carrie A., Charles H., Wills J., Lillian A., Estella May (who died at sixteen years), and Eva J. In 1867, Mr. Straight moved to Streets- boro township. Portage county, where he located on fifty-seven and one-half acres of land, where he lived until 1892, when became to Hudson, where he now lives in retirement. He and wife are members of the Congrega- tional church at Hudson and are consistent observers of its teachings. Mr. Straight was one of the original members of the republican party, and voted for its first nominee for the presidency of the United States — John C. Fre- mont; he was a guard at the state penitentiary of Ohio three years, and for many years was a member of his board of school directors in Streetsboro township. Portage county; he is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic and is past commander of William T. Sherman post. No. 68, of Hudson. He comes from a martial family, reaching down from the days of the Revolution to the present time — Col. A. D. Straight, celebrated for his daring escape from Libby prison, being from the original stock with himself. He is an up- right, straightforward man, and he and family are among the most respected of the residents of Hudson township. @EORGE G. STRIKER, a highly re- spected citizen of Mantua Station, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex- soldier of the Civil war, was born in Cleveland, March 23, 1840, a son of Cornelius and Nancy (Eddy) Striker, who were of sturdy Mohawk-Dutch descent. Cornelius Striker was born in Mohawk county, N. Y., and was a son of a well-to-do farmer, who had three sons in the Mexican war, of whom one was killed and two died of yellow-fever in New Orleans. Cornelius was a shoemaker by trade, and married Nancy Eddy, who was born in Connecticut, the daugh- ter of a life-long sea-captain, and to this union were born four sons and two daughters — George G.. Edgar, Alfred D., Eugene L., El- eanor and Amelia. After marriage, Cornelius came to Ohio, and settled in Cleveland. Al- though past military age, he enlisted in com- pany A, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years. All the sons likewise became soldiers, Edgar en- listing in the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio infantry for ninety days and taking part in the chase after the raider John Morgan; he died after the close of the war from the effects of army life. Eugene L. was a boy-fifer in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Ohio infantry, served three years and was promoted to fife major, having taken part in all his reg- iment's marches and engagements. Alfred L. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 913 served three years in company G, Forty-sec- ond Ohio infantry. The army record of George G. will be given further on. Of the daugh- ters, Eleanor, is married to Benjamin Lilly, of Cleveland, and Amelia is the wife of John Perry, who was a soldier in the Forty-second Ohio infantry. The parents passed their re- maining days in Cleveland, Mr. Striker being respected as a hard-working and useful citizen, and Mrs. Striker as an active member of the Disciples' church. George G. Striker was reared to farming when young, and at the age of twenty-one en- listed, October 22, 1861, at Cleveland, in company G, Forty-second Ohio volunteer in- fantry, to serve three years, if not sooner dis- charged on account of the war closing, but was honorably discharged October 15, 1863, at St. Louis, Mo., on account of wounds re- ceived in battle. He was an active partici- pant in many engagements and skirmishes, the more important of which were the following: Middle Creek, Ky., January i, 1862; Chicka- saw Bluffs, Miss., December 9, 1862; Arkan- sas Post, Ark., January 11, 1863; Grand Gulf, Miss., April 29, 1863, and Port Gibson, Miss., May I, 1863, and here his gallant career as a soldier met with a final check. A minie ball passed through the elbow of his left arm, and immediately afterward a one-and-one- quarter ounce ball, called a Memphis yeager, passed through the middle of the same mem- ber. For a time he was held in field hospital, his arm having been amputated in the field, but as soon as transportation became availa- ble he was taken to Grand Gulf, and thence to St. Louis, Mo., where he was placed in the improvised hospital at the new house of ref- uge, a Catholic reformatory building, where he was confined from July until October 15, 1863, his arm having been very badly shat- tered. Until wounded, he had taken part in all the engagements and skirmishes in which 39 his regiment had participated, with the excep- tion of the engagement at Cumberland Gap, when he was detailed on provost duty at Cin- cinnati, having charge of a company of men. On returning to Cleveland, Mr. Striker entered a commercial college, learned book- keeping and telegraphy, and was then em- ployed in the general ticket office of the At- lantic & Great Western Railroad company at Cleveland, as clerk, and also traveled for the company as advertising agent. Later he be- came telegrapher for the same company (now the New York, Lake Erie & Western), at Newburg, Solon, Youngstown, Girard, Leav- ittsburg, and finally at Mantua Station, having been an operator for this company seventeen years and for more than twenty years in its employ — a fact that speaks well for his effi- ciency, capability and integrity. Mr. Striker was united in marriage, in Mantua Station, April 14, 1870, with Miss Melissa A. Keyes, who was born here October 21, 1844, a daughter of B. F. and Nancy (Booth) Keyes — both families of English ori- gin, but of American birth. B. F. Keyes was born in Mantua, of an old Ohio pioneer fam- ily, was a carpenter by trade, and married in Mantua; Nancy Booth was born in Vermont, a daughter of Israel Booth. Besides Mrs. Striker they were the parents of four other children, viz: Marcellus A., Alice M., Elva and Hettie R. Mr. Keyes lived to be sixty- seven years of age, and was a temperate, industrious and much respected citizen. In politics Mr. Striker is a republican, and voted for Abraham Lincoln for president at each of his two nominations. He is a mem- ber of Bentley post, G. A. R. , No. 294, in which he held the offices of commander, vice- commander, secretary, etc., and is a member of Mantua lodge, No. 752, I. O. O. F., in which he has served as noble grand and filled the intermediate chairs. Mrs. Striker is a 914 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD member of the Disciples' church, and both are highly esteemed in Mantua, which has been their permanent home ever since marriage. aURTIS TAYLOR, one of the most prosperous native-born farmers of Deerfield township, Portage county, Ohio, and of the third generation of the family to occupy the present homestead, was born May 3, 1854, a son of Hiram and Jane (McConney) Taylor. George Taylor, paternal grandfather of Curtis Taylor, was a native of Washington county, Pa., born October 19, 1764, came to Ohio in 1799, and bought the farm in the southeast part of Deerfield township. Portage county, which has ever since been occupied by his descendants. April 14, 1800, Mr. Tay- lor settled on the new homestead and at once began the task of clearing — the work of im- proving and cultivating being carried on by his children until the present day, and it being now the most productive farm in the district. The marriage of George Taylor took place in Pennsylvania to Miss Elizabeth McConney, who was born October 9, 1762, the union re- sulting in the birth of the following children : Nancy, January 3, 1793; Matilda, December 10, 1794; John, November 27, 1796; Nellie, November 24, 1798; George, January 26, 1 80 1 (the last named being the first white male child to be born in Deerfield township); Leo- randa. May 9, 1803, and Hiram, September 18, 1805. George Taylor, the father of this family, attained considerable prominence in the township, was a justice of the peace for many years, and died on his farm, greatly re- spected. David McConney, maternal grandfather of Curtis Taylor, was also a native of Pennsyl- vania, of Irish parentage, came to Ohio in 1817, and settled in Deerfield township, where for many years he followed his vocation of miller, but later became a farmer. He reared a family of five children, of whom John re- sides in Alliance, Ohio; William, who was killed by a horse; Matilda, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Seth Tunkery, and Jane, de- ceased wife of Hiram Taylor and the mother of Curtis Taylor, the subject of this biography. Both grandparents were members of the Methodist church. Hiram Taylor was born on the homestead in Deerfield township September 18, 1805, and was reared a pioneer farmer. To his mar- riage, in 1835, with Jane McConney, were born nine children, five of whom survive, viz : Solomon, who lives in Indiana; Mary, wife of Addison Ferney; Samantha J., unmarried; Curtis, and Laura, wife of George Bundy. Of the deceased children, two died in infancy; Newton died November 3, 1864, at the age of twenty-four years, and Eliza, who was mar- ried to William Dramer, died May 3, 1879, when twenty-nine years old. Hiram Taylor, the father of these children, was greatly relied upon by his fellow-citizens, whom he served in various township offices, including those of school director and supervisor, for many years. He passed all his life on his native farm, and died September 18, 1883, aged seventy-seven years and seven months; his wife followed him to the grave May 4, 1891, in her seventy- seventh year, and both were consistent mem- bers of the Disciples' church. Curtis Taylor, the present honored occu- pant of the old homestead, remains a bachelor, his household being managed by his sister, Sa- mantha J. He is a thoroughly practical farm- er, and fully keeps up the reputation of the farm as being one of the best cultivated in the county; and here, in the enjoyment of the high esteem of their neighbors, as well as of the entire community, he and sister are peacefully passing the happy years away. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 915 >^ EPPERSON THOMAS, an ex-soldier M of the Civil war, and an honored citi- A 1 zen of Streetsboro township. Portage county, Ohio, where he was born July 4, 1843, descends from a colonial New York family of Welsh extraction. John Thomas, grandfather of Jefferson, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1 8 1 2, and, among his other services in that struggle, hauled the cannons that were used in the de- fense of Sackett's Harbor. After this war he came by ox-team to Portage county, Ohio, and cleared up a farm in Streetsboro township from the wild forest, and later, with the as- sistance of his son, Osman, hewed a road through the forest from embryo Streetsboro to embryo Hudson, these now populous towns being then nonentities. He succeeded in wringing from the bosom of the dense forest a farm that afforded his family a good and com- fortable home, but in his old age went to Con- necticut to pass his declining years with his son, William, and there passed away at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Osman Thomas, father of Jefferson Thomas, was also born in Adams, N. Y., and when twenty-one years old followed his father to Ohio, a year after the latter had settled here. He married, in Hiram township, Portage county, Lois J. Mathews, a school-teacher from Connecticut, and who came to Ohio with a foster brother. Osman Thomas, after mar- riage, settled on fifty acres of land in the woods of his township, but by hard work and good management increased his possessions to 343 acres, and at his death gave to each of his sons a farm of no diminutive dimensions. He was a deacon in the Baptist church for forty-five years, and as a whig and republican served twenty years as a justice of the peace, and filled, beside, other offices, such as mem- ber of the school board, township trustee. etc., and died, at the venerable age of eighty- two years, in Streetsboro, honored by all who knew him. Jefferson Thomas, with whose name this biographical notice is opened, is a son of Os- man and Lois J. (Mathews) Thomas, of whom mention has already been made. He received a good common-school education, was reared a farmer, and at the early age of eighteen years enlisted, at Streetsboro, November i, 1 86 1, in company K, Capt. C. R. Bow, Sixth Ohio cavalry, to serve throughout the war, or, at most, three years, but was honorably dis- charged, at Windmill Point, Va., February 6, 1863, on annount of disability. He was a brave and unflinching soldier and fought at New Franklin, Tenn., at Strawberry Plains, and with Sheridan in his raid through the Shenandoah valley in Virginia; was also at Cross Keys and at Stoughton Mountain and Centerville, Va., and in the second battle of Bull Run. He has suffered much from diar- rhea, which seized him at Camp Chase, Ohio, and afterward with typhoid fever, which con- fined him in regimental hospital near Fall's church, in Virginia, whence he was sent to Windmill Point, where he received his final discharge, weighing, at the time, but seventy- four pounds, having been reduced by chronic diarrhea from 194 pounds at the time of his enlistment, and it was a full year after his re- turn to his father's house in Streetsboro town- ship before he was able to perform any manual labor. The marriage of Mr. Thomas took place November 4, 1866, at Warren, Ohio, to Miss Martha E. Joy, daughter of Eben and Mary H. (Green) Joy, and a native of Southington, Trumbull county, Ohio, born February 8, 1864. Eben Joy is a native of Vermont, and is a farmer by calling, and owns a good farm of 120 acres in Trumbull county, of which he was an early settler. To his marriage with 916 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Mary Green were born Martha E. , Daniel and Mary E. , and he and family are among the most respected residents of Trumbull county. To Osman Thomas and wife were born Will- ard, Juliette, Jefferson, MillicentM. and Delos — the last named being now deceased. Daniel Joy, brother of Mrs. Martha E. Thomas, is a farmer at Southington, Ohio, and is married; Mary E. Joy, sister, was the wife of David Blackburn, and died at about thirty-eight years of age. Jefferson Thomas and wife, on marrying, settled on their present farm, then consisting of forty acres, which was given to him by his father, but which, by industry, thrift and saga- cious management, he has increased to ninety- three acres, all nicely improved and in an ex- cellent state of cultivation. Their marriage has been blessed with three children, born in the following order: Garrison, Mary J. (agrad- uate of the high school at Hudson), and Joy J. The parents are members of the Presby- terian church, and in politics Mr. Thomas is a republican and cast his first presidental vote in the ranks for Lincoln. He is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R., at Kent, and is an honorable, straightforward, industrious citizen. at 'ILLIAM THOMAS, of Palmyra township, Portage county, Ohio, was born November i, 1851, in the house still occupied by him. His father, David Thomas, was born November 12, 1802, in Chester county. Pa., a son of David Thomas, who moved back to Wales, whence he came when he was but a small child, and lived in a place called Llandyssul, until in the early 'thirties he came to America, and worked at his trade of carpenter in Pennsylvania, and later near and at Youngstown, Ohio. David, father of ' subject, was married at Ravenna, Ohio, by 'Squire David John, to Miss Margaret Jones, a native of Tregaron, Wales, and lived for a short time at Newport, now Wayland, Ohio, then moved to the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where they reared a family of four children: Hannah (Mrs. Lloyd); Elizabeth (^Mrs. J. E. Griffith, de- ceased); Sarah (Mrs. William D. Williams) and William Thomas. David Thomas, the father, traced his ancestry back to a landowner of Wales. William Thomas, the subject of this sketch, received his early education in the district school until fourteen years of age, when he attended a select school taught by Dr. Cyrus Turnbull, of Edinburg, and later attended Mount Union College, the winter he was six- teen. At seventeen he taught school at Edin- burg, two miles north of Center, attending Alliance college in the intervals of teaching, and when that institution closed, prepared to attend and take a course at Michigan university at Ann Arbor, Mich., which he entered in Sep- tember, 1871, graduating June 23, 1875, with the degree of B. S. The year following, 1875- 6, he taught as principal of the high school at Bucyrus. Ohio. The following year, after a short period at the university, he accepted the position of superintendent of schools at Holly, Mich., and remained there until the summer after his father died in 1878. The next posi- tion secured was that of principal of the high school at Kent, Ohio, which position he held for two years. The winter of 188 1-2 he taught at Randolph, and the following winter was spent at home, where he devoted some time to vocal music. The next two years he taught at Mantua station. Mr. Thomas married, in July, 1884, Miss Ada E. Farnsworth. of Oakdale, Wis., the youngest daughter of Henry Holden and Elmina (Cooley) Farnsworth. He was elected town- ship trustee in Palmyra in the early 'eighties, also held the office of school director under the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 917 first term of Workman law, acting as president of the school board during his term of office. In 1896 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which office he still holds. In the spring of 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas moved to Center of Palmyra, where they lived until March i, 1893, when they moved to the farm now occupied by him. While living at Palmyra two sons were born to them: Vin- cent Cooley, August 4, 1886, and Carl Farns- worth, August I, 1890. Mrs. Thomas's birth- day was July 4, 1859, and his own birthday was November i , making a coincidence with the birthdays of the children. The first year after moving to Palmyra, Mr. Thomas taught as principal of schools of the special district — this being the last school work done by him. He was quite extensively engaged in buying and shipping wheat, and later potatoes, etc. While at Palmyra Center, in the spring of 1892, their house was entered on the night of May 30, entrance being gained through the pantry window, one slat being broken in the shutter, and the thieves came into the bed- room where they were sleeping, taking the purse out of the pocket of his pantaloons, which were on a chair at the foot of the bed, a light being left on the stand in the room, as was customary when the children were small. On the night of December 17, 1893, about two o'clock Sunday morning, eight masked men, having walked all the way from Leavitts- burg, Ohio, a distance of twelve miles, broke in the door with a bar post, and at the point of drawn revolvers demanded their money. After ransacking the house for an hour or more and securing all the money (about $18) and his clothing — one whole suit — boots and shoes, razor and watch, they left, leaving a guard until they returned from the other houses in the vicinity, which was about five o'clock in the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Thom- as and Vincent were bound hand and foot, and left in that condition, but they soon extricated themselves, Mrs. Thomas being the first to get loose and Vincent the next. Neighbors were soon aroused and a party started in pur- suit, but the trail was lost at Leavittsburg. This affected Mrs. Thomas' health, and within a month she became seriously prostrated and was in feeble health all summer. In the fall of 1894 the barn took fire, and all adjoining buildings were burned on Octo- ber 19. This, adding to the shock already received, unbalanced Mrs. Thomas' mind, and the following January 22, 1895, she started west to visit her father, taking with her the youngest son, Carl. While there, about the latter part of February, she became violently insane and was taken to Mendota. In the course of a week or ten days she rallied and was brought home by her husband, who had sought her side on first hearing of her condi- tion. She had not been home a month before her condition became serious again, and she was taken to the state hospital at Cleveland, where she died August 26, 1895, and was buried August 28, at Palmyra, Ohio. The November following, his sister, Mrs. Lloyd, having lost her husband the 6th of August previous, came to keep house for him. The past two winters he has been teaching vocal music in the schools and lays claim to the honor of being the first to secure the adoption of the study of vocal music in the country schools in his immediate section, having se- cured its adoption in Newton, the first town- ship in Trumbull county, in June, 1897, and in Paris township. Portage county, in Janu- ary, 1898, the second township in Portage county. Mrs. Thomas was born at Black Creek, Allegany county, N. Y. , July 4, 1859. Her father, Henry H., and his father, Holden, served in the war of 18 12, and were of En- glish descent, tracing back to Sir Holden 918 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Farnsworth. Her mother was Elmina Cooley, a sister of Judge Thomas M. Cooley, of Michi- gan. Her mother was named Rachel, and she was the daughter of Major Hubbard of Revo- lutionary fame. She married, at eighteen, Thomas Cooley, a widower with two children, and became the mother of thirteen children, among whom are the two above named. The grandmother of David Thomas was the daughter of a landowner named Jones and was disinherited for marrying contrary to her father's will. Her name was Mary, and she lived to be 105 years old. U/^ OBERT W. THOMPSON, one of the I /^^ substantial and reliable citizens of M . P Hudson, Ohio, descends from the pioneers of the Western Reserve and from the old colonial Massachusetts family of that name. Isaac Thompson, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Berkshire county. Massachu- setts, December 10, 1774. He was a farmer and married in Berkshire county, Mass. , Polly Campbell, of Scotch ancestry. She was a sis- ter of Ely Campbell, a pioneer banker of Ra- venna. Another brother was Gen. Campbell, of Campbellsport, Portage county, Ohio — the founder of that town; a sister, Sarah Camp- bell, married Col. Frazier of Ravenna. The Thompsons were of sterling English ancestry and descended from the old Puritan family of colonial times in Massachusetts. In pioneer times murders were almost unknown on the Western Reserve. The first murder at Ra- venna was that of a peddler by a man named Unks, who fled. The citizens were horror- struck and a meeting was immediately called, and as a result Gen. Campbell and another citizen of Ravenna, started horseback after the murderer in hot haste. Unks had a good start, but they followed him patiently and crossed the Alleghany mountains, where they caught the murderer, tied him to a horse and brought him back to Ravenna. They were gone so long that their friends believed them to have been killed. Upon reaching Ravenna Unks made his escape, but being tied to his horse and handcuffed, he could not well guide the animal, and was stopped -by Isaac Thomp- son and finally executed. This was the first white man ever executed in Portage county. Isaac Thompson and wife were the par- ents of the following children, viz: Eliza, who married Dr. Swift, of Ravenna, a prom- inent pioneer physician; Harry C. ; and Rev. Oren C, who married Alice Thompson of Hudson. Rev. Thompson was a graduate of the Western Reserve college — a missionary to Detroit at an early day, where he preached many years, and the church in which he preached in Detroit, bears his name. The daughter, Mary, married Dr. Sabine, of Mich- igan; Richard and Robert were twins; then there were Charles, and Charlotte who mar- ried Timothy Carnahan. of Ravenna. Isaac Thompson was a farmer of Berk- shire township, Berkshire county, Mass. , and in the spring of 1808 he moved with his fam- ily to Ohio, making the journey with an ox- team with a horse in the lead, which was rid- den by Harry C. Thompson, then a boy of seven years of age. When the pioneer family neared the town of Campbellsport, Ohio, they met Gen. Campbell, the founder of the town. Mr. Thompson had just taken his son, Harry C. , into the bushes for some boyish misde- meanor, and applied a hickory sprout in the vigorous manner of the olden days, and was much abashed that Gen. Campbell should witness the loud effects. Mr. Thompson bought 200 acres of land on which a little had been cleared and a large two-story frame house had been built, and in which was held the first court in Portage county, which house OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 919 is still standing in Ravenna. Mr. Thompson lived in this house until his death. This property is still in the hands of one of his de- scendants — Mrs. Julia Hall, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Thompson cleared up this farm from the wilderness, and here made a good home; the Mahoning river runs directly through the land. Mr. Thompson was a substantial farmer and one of the earliest settlers of Ra- venna and a member of the old-school Pres- byterian church. Politically he was a whig and one of the founders of the republican party. He lived to be a venerable man of over eighty years, and was noted for his straight- forward and honest character and for his hos- pitality. He was a fine example of the early pioneers of the Western Reserve. Harry C. Thompson, son of above, was the father of our subject. He was born in Berk- shire county, Mass., November 24, 1801, and came with his father to Ohio, in 1808. He re- ceived the usnal common-school education of his day in Ravenna, Ohio, and, when he was young, learned the tailor's trade in Ravenna, which he perfected in New York city. He was one of the earliest and at one time the only tailor in Portage county, and was in this business twenty years. He married, in Hud- son, Ohio, January 7, 1830, Harriet A. Ells- worth, born in Hudson, Ohio, November 23, 1809, daughter of Capt. Elisha and Betsey (Oviatt) Ellsworth. Betsey Oviatt was born April 23, 1786. Elisha Ellsworth was born at Torrington, Conn., November 22, 1785. Mr. Ellsworth was a pioneer of Hudson town- ship. He cleared up his farm and made a' good home one and a half miles north of Hudson on the old Cleveland road. He was a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and well known as Capt. Ellsworth, being a member of the old Ohio State militia. He was an hon- ored citizen and a prominent man and died September 13, 1859. Harry C. Thompson and wife settled in Ravenna, Ohio, where he fol- lowed his trade. In 1839 he settled on a farm of I 18 acres in Hudson township, now owned by his son — Robert W. Mr. Thompson lived on his farm until 1853, and then moved to the home where our subject now lives and here passed his remaining days. He was an ex- cellent business man, clear headed, of sound judgment and of strictest honesty of character. He was an honored citizen, acted as justice of the peace for a long time and was also assess- or. He was consulted by the people in trans- acting legal business — the administrator of many estates and the trusted guardian of chil- dren, and in the transaction of all his legal business in settling estates out of which law- suits frequently sprang, he acted as his own lawyer. Among the estates which he settled was that of Owen Brown, father of the famous abolitionist. For many years he made a busi- ness of loaning money and his charges were always fair and reasonable. He had one rule, which he always followed, and that was six per cent, per annum and the taxes, as he usually loaned on real-estate security. He and wife were both members of the Presbyte- rian church. Politically he was an old-line whig and later a republican. He stood very high throughout the county as one of the most honorable business men of his day. He reached the age of seventy-six years, and died December 19, 1877, very suddenly, at his resi- dence in Hudson. His children are Robert W., and Elisha, born March 30, 1842, and died September 6, 1853. aged about thirteen years. Robert W. Thompson was born in Raven- na, Ohio, August 10, 1833, received a district- school education and came with his father to Summit county, Ohio, when he was six years old, in 1829, and learned farming when young, and when about sixteen years old engaged in 920 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the business of furnishing steamships at De- troit, Mich., for several years. He married at Twinsburg. Ohio, November i8, 1852, Eunice Turner, born at Blandford, Mass. , Feb- ruary 28, 1830, daughter of Rev. Charles A. and Mary (Bailey) Turner. Rev. Charles A. Turner was born at Groton, Conn., May 20, 1796, son of Stephen and Lucretia (Wight- man) Turner. Both the Turners and Baileys were of old colonial Puritan ancestry from England. To this marriage were born the following children: Hattie A., wife of Leo- nard C. Wallace, of Northfield, Summit coun- ty; he is a prosperous farmer. They have two children — Arthur W. and Mable E. Beside receiving a good common-school education she was educated in music. Oren H., a prac- tical farmer, who married Miss Mary Cady, a native of Portage county. They have only one child. Bertha B. Mary E. is the wife of Horace A. Chamberlain, of Northfield, Ohio. He is a farmer by occupation. They have only one son, Walter, who is a student of the Macedonia school. Charles R. is married to Miss Mathilda Whapham, a native of England. They reside on the old homestead and have two daughters — Florence and Irene. He is one of the most prosperous farmers in Hudson township. The youngest is Edwin B., who resides. with his parents at Hudson, Ohio. In Rev. Turner's times one of the Bailey women, a great-aunt of Mrs. Thompson's, when Benedict Arnold and the British made the attack on New London, Conn., the colonial troops becoming short of cartridges, tore up her red flannel petticoat for material with which to make cartridges. The Baileys were sea-faring men, and in the whaling busi- ness from New London. They were captains of whalers for generations. Capt. Giles Bailey, while pursuing a whale, had his leg smashed by the whale, which struck the boat with its tai'. His leg was afterward amputated. Mrs. Thompson's father was the eldest of a family of children born unto Stephen and Lucretia ( Wightman ) Turner. Lucretia \\'ightman was a daughter of Isaac and Lu- cretia (Parker) Wightman. Isaac Wightman was a grandson of Valentine Wightman, the founder of the first Baptist church in Groton, Conn., it being also the first in the state. Lucretia Parker's mother was Hannah Avery, a descendant of the Avery who was one of the first settlers of Groton. Stephen Turner's father's name was Amos Turner, who married Prudence Allyn, June i, 1770. Humphrey Turner, a farmer, was born in England in 1593, and, with his wife, Lydia Garner, and eldest son, John (and perhaps other children), came to Plymouth, Mass., in 1628. A few years afterward he moved to Scituate, Mass., and was one of the founders of a church there in 1635. His eldest son, John, born in Eng- land, married, November 12, 1645, Mary Brewster, a granddaughter of Elder William Brewster, who crossed the Atlantic in the the historic Mayflower. They had several children; among them was Ezekiel, born Jan- uary 7, 165 1. He married, in New London, Conn., December 26, 1678, Susannah, daugh- ter of John Keeney. He died January 16, 1703 or 1704, and left one son, Ezekiel, and ten daughters. This son, Ezekiel, married Boradil Denison, and settled in Groton. Bor- adil Denison, daughter of Joseph and Prudence (Minor) Denison, was born February 14, 1 71 2, and was married to Young Brewster May 12, 1729. They lived in Groton, Conn., and had the following children, viz: Theo- dore, born August 14, 1730; Prudence, born March 8, 1732 (and married Moses Palmer); Ezekiel, born January 27, 1734; Eunice, born July 22, 1740; Amos, born September i, 1744. Amos Turner was the great-grand- father, who married Prudence Allyn in 1770. The children of Stephen and Lucretia (Wight- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 921 man) Turner were: Charles A., born May 20, 1796; Alfred, June 4, 1798; Melinda, October 24, 1801; Isaac Wightman, June 13, 1805; Jane Emeline, October 21, 18 10, and James Monroe, December 23, 18 16. The children of Amos and Prudence (Allyn) Turner were: Stephen, Rufus, Betsey, David, Eunice and Young. The Wightmans claim descent from Edward Wightman, the last of the martyrs by fire in England. Rev. Charles A. Turner was married to Mary Bailey, in Groton, Conn., March 8, 18 1 8, by Ralph Hurlbuth, J. P., the Turners being of English descent. Rev. Turner was a Baptist minister. He lived for some time at Groton, Conn., and at Blanford, Mass. Rev. Turner later bought land in Twinsburg town- ship, and cleared his farm from the woods, and here he remained until his death. Serv- ices were held in the school-houses and at their homes throughout the surrounding town- ships of Twinsburg, Aurora, Streetsboro, Hudson, Northampton, Stowe, and Boston. The pioneer Baptists were poor, and Rev. Turner never had a salary for his work. He supported his large family by his labor on the farm and gave all his children an excellent education at the famous pioneer academy of Rev. Bissell, of Twinsburg. Rev. Turner was one of the faithful pioneer ministers who preached the gospel in the wilderness without money and without price. His children were Mary A. , who married Rev. Williams, a Bap- tist minister; Joel, who died in California; Lucy; Charles, attorney-at-law, who served throughout the Civil war, entering as captain and coming out as brigadier-general, afterward judge of court of common pleas at Pekin, Ills., where he died. Then there were Emel- ine, Eunice, Jerusha, whe died young, Elisha, attorney-at-law, and Alcalde, of Jackson, Cal., who was shot in the court house while making a political speech. Then Reuben, who died aged sixteen years; Cordelia, and Daniel, who served in the Civil war. Rev. Turner reared a remarkable and excellent family, his sons becoming prominent men. He died at Twins- burg, October 5, 1874, aged seventy-eight years. He was early a democrat, a strong anti-slavery man, and became a republican on the outbreak of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, our subjects, settled on the Thompson homestead and lived there until they moved to Hudson in 1884. Their son, Charles, lives on the old home- stead, and is a practical, prosperous farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born Rosa, who died aged two years; Hattie A., Oren H., Mary E., Charles R., and Edwin B — all married except the last, who lives at home. Politically he is a republican. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Baptist church at Twinsburg. Mr. Thompson is a well-known citizen and has prospered by his thrift and practical business ability. He owns about 500 acres of land and is engaged in loaning money and looking after his farms. He is a straightforward man. Mrs. Thompson's moth- er lived to be ninety-three years old. -^nr* M. THORP, D. D. S., of Bath, Sum- m mit county, Ohio, was born in Ontario a1 county, N. Y., November 25, 1833, and is a son of Manville B. and Fanny W. (Clark) Thorp, early settlers of Summit county. Manville B. Thorp was a son of Jeremiah Thorp, a soldier of the war of 18 12, and a son of Nathan Thorp, who served in the war of the Revolution. Jeremiah had a family of nine children, viz: Manville B., born Febru- ary 7, 1808; Lucien R. , born in 18 10 — died in 1863, a fife-major in the Sixty-seventh Ohio, at Hilton Head, S. C. ; Maria L., born De- cember 6, 1812 — died July 29, 1871; Junius 922 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD F. , born Maj' 19, 18 16 — died September 19, 1882; Emily E. , born April 14, 1819; Eunice H., born December 8, 1821 — died May 18, 1886; Manda G., born January i, 1828, and Mary J., born April 7, 1832 — died in October, 1896. The father, Jeremiah, died October 12, 1869, aged eighty-three years, four months and seventeen days. November 3, 1832, Manville B. Thorp married in Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y. , Miss Fanny W. Clark, a native of Massa- chusetts, born March 7, 181 1. Two years after marriage, Manville and wife and child came to Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, settled on an unimproved farm, became the parents of five children, and here died — the mother, March 16, 1886, and the father, March 9, 1891. J. M. Thorp, whose name opens this rec- ord, was reared a farmer, and during his youth- ful days was educated in the common schools. May 24, 1857, he married Miss Vashti M. Shaw, who was born in Bath township, Sum- mit county, Ohio, August 30, 1834, a daughter of Sylvester and Harriet (Parsons) Shaw. Her father, Sylvester Shaw, was born in Bris- tol, Ontario county, N. Y. , March 5, 1806, and her mother, Harriet (Parsons) Shaw, was born in the same county August 11, 1809. They were married in their native state, Oc- tober 16, 1828, and in 1832 left New York and came to Ohio, making the trip in large wagons drawn by oxen and reaching Bath township, Summit county, November 18, of the same year. They built a small log cabin, and in this they lived several years; but Mr. Shaw was energetic and industrious, and at his death, which occurred November 17, 1875, was in very comfortable circumstancs, as far as this world's goods are concerned, and was a greatly respected citizen. His widow, who was a very intelligent lady, survived him several years. Their children were eight iif number and were named Harriet C, Sylvester P., \'ashti M., Samuel, Marietta, William, Sibyl B. and Constant. To J. M. Thorp and wife have been born the following-named children: Clar- ence E., May 8, 1866, a farmer and saw-mill I owner, of Bath township; Warren S., April 29, 1869; Ayers C, January 8. 1872, both farmers of Bath township, and Maynard B., born October 15, 1874. In 1863, Mr. Thorp began the study of dental surgery, and after due preparation began practice in Akron, to which city, and to Rich- field and Bath townships, his professional du- ties have been confined, his dexterity and skill having secured him a patronage that keeps him constantly employed. Although unas- suming in manner, he possesses the confidence of all the inhabitants of the district to which he confines his practice, and is as much es- teemed as a gentleman as he is for his profes- sional ability. aHARLES P. TOWNSEND. of West Richfield, Summit count}', Ohio, and one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citizen, springs from sterling English ancestry of old Puritan, Massachusetts stock. William Townsend, founder of the family in America, came to Boston, Mass., in 1630 or 1640, and was of the same family as the councillor, Charles Townshend, as the name was then spelled. James, son of the founder, was the second in descent. Capt. ^^^illiam Townsend, the great- grandfather of our subject, was a Revolution- ary soldier, and commanded a company at Bunker Hill. He lived many years at either Bolton or Lancaster, Mass. Levi Townsend, grandfather of subject, was born at Lancaster, Mass., and was called out in Shay's rebellion with the militia. He was married to Mehitable Chandler, daughter OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 923 of 'Squire Joel Chandler, of Alstead, Cheshire county, N. H., and of English descent. She was born in Connecticut. Levi was a farmer and died in Alstead, aged eighty-five years. His children were Joel, James, Charles and Abel. Levi Townsend was a much respected citizen and well-to-do. His son, Lieut. Joel Townsend, was a graduate of West Point and died at twenty-one years of age. James set- tled in Lowell, Mass., where he was a promi- nent man and superintendent of the Merrimac Cotton works for rriany years. He was com- mander of the Lowell guards and served in the Civil war three months. Charles Townsend, father of subject, was born in Alstead, N. H. , and married in Lowell, Mass. , where he went when a young man. His children were Charles P., Edwin J. and Emma E. His wife died and he married Lu- cinda M. Messer, and the children were Eliza and James. Mr. Townsend was a farmer of Alstead, N. H., where he had been one of the first set- tlers. The homestead consisted of about 600 acres and was cleared up from the woods by Joel Chandler. It originally consisted of 1,000 acres. When a young man Mr. Townsend had been an overseer in one of the large cotton mills of Lowell, Mass. He became a pros- perous farmer and lived to be seventy-eight years old and died on his farm a member and firm supporter of the Universalist church. In politics he was a democrat and held the office of selectman, or trustee, in his town. Charles P. Townsend received an academic education at the Alstead Normal school, and was reared to farming when a young man; he had earned an excellent reputation as a school- teacher at Alstead, N. H., where he taught three years, and after coming to Ohio taught three years in West Richfield, Summit county; and in Medina county, four years — a total of fifteen years. He married at Westmoreland, N. H., November 20, 1856, Roena M. Wilber, who was born January i, 1836, at Westmore- land, N. H., a daughter of Nelson and Mary J. (Burt) Wilber. In 1858 Mr. Townsend came to West Richfield, and engaged in farming un- til his enlistment, July, 1864, in company H, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve one year or during the war, and was honorably discharged July 6, 1865, the war having closed. He was in the battles of Franklin, Tenn., at the Cedars, on the old Stone River battle ground,, and at Shelbyville Pike, Tenn. ; he was then transferred to Fort Fisher, N. C. , and was in the storming of Fort Anderson, at the capture of Wilmington, N. C. , and the battle of Kings- ton; at the capture of Goldsboro, and the cap- ture of Raleigh, N. C, and afterward did gar- rison duty at Greensboro, N. C, to the end of the war. Mr. Townsend was sick in hospital with typhoid fever and rheumatism at Raleigh, N. C, and came near death, partially recovered and was sent home on a furlough of thirty days; he rejoined his regiment at Cleveland, Ohio, but at that time the war had closed. Mr. Townsend was always an active soldier and was in all the battles, campaigns, skirm- ishes and marches in which his regiment was engaged, and was always prompt and cheerful in the discharge of his duties. He was pro- moted for meritorious service to be duty ser- geant, and afterward to be orderly sergeant. Mr. Townsend, in one of his engagements, was slightly struck with spent buckshot, and a minie ball grazed his right temple in the action of Shelbyville Pike, Tenn. Mr. Townsend, on returning to West Rich- field, engaged in carriage painting and wagon- making and formed a partnership with Levi Carr, under the firm name of Carr & Town- send. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend's children are Cora, Mary and Emma. In politics he is a re- 924 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD publican and is a member of A. N. Goldwood post, No. 104, G. A. R., in which he has held the offices of adjutant and senior vice-com- mander. He has been a township trustee six years, clerk of election board twenty-five years, a justice of the peace nine years, and is a no- tary public. He is a non-affiliating member of Meridian Sun lodge, F. & A. M., at West Richfield, and has been senior warden. Mr. Townsend is a well-known citizen and has al- ways stood high in the esteem of his imme- diate community. at R. TOWNSEND, a highly-respected citizen of Richfield township, Sum- mit county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, is a son of Eli and Sarah (Kenyon) Townsend, and was born in West Richfield May 15, 1839. Eli Townsend was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. , was taught shoemaking, served as a soldier in the war of 18 12, and was mar- ried in his native state. In 1833 or 1834 he brought his family to Summit county, Ohio, and for some years lived in Richfield township; he then moved to Columbus, and later to Put- nam county, Ohio, where he was murdered about 1846. W. R. Townsend received a good common- school education and was cast hither and yon Until about seventeen years of age, when he went to Iowa, where he worked on a farm, and then engaged in rafting and steamboating on the Mississippi river two years, then in other lines of business, and, while in Illinois, had his hip dislocated. This was never prop- erly set, but while young and strong it did not discommode him, but he now feels some in- convenience from the injury. Returning to Ohio, he enlisted. May 17, 1861, at Warren, Trumbull county, as wagoner in company F, Twenty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until honorably discharged, June 17, 1864. He was in the battles of Lewisburg and Cheat Mountain, W. Va., Shiloh, first siege of Corinth and Stone River. His right foot and ankle were crushed by a wagon dur- ing a stampede at Stone River, and he was confined in hospital from January, 1863, until September, when he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps. To Mr. Townsend is given the credit of saving Stewart's Creek bridge, at Stone River, on an occasion when a Union ammunition wagon was stalled. The rebels, aware of the difficulty, made an effort to fire the bridge, but Mr. Townsend shot three dead from a pile of stones; but the fire from the rebels became very rapid, yet he was pro- tected from the severe fire, being across a gorge; nevertheless, he saved the bridge and the ammunition. Among his other experi- ences, although he enlisted as a wagoner, Mr. Townsend frequently served in the ranks; at one time, in 1 861, he was detailed as team- master in Virginia; was detailed in charge of ambulances and medical wagons in his regi- ment at another, of which he had charge when mustered, and while confined with his wound in hospital served a portion of the time as cook, and was always a true and faithful soldier. After his return to Richfield, Mr. Townsend was variously employed, and May 18, 1865, married Miss Frances E. Chapman, a native of Richfield, and a daughter of Francis E. and Eleanor (Farnam) Chapman, the union result- ing in the birth of four children, viz: Eleanor R. , Walter P. , Perry W. and Percy F. Mrs. Frances E. Townsend was called from earth March 13, 1873, and Mr. Townsend's second marriage took place June 10, 1876, to Mrs. Mary E. McBride, and to this marriage has been born one daughter, Grace E. Mrs. Mary E. Townsend was born July 6, 1833, in Wyoming county, N. Y. , a daughter OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 925 of William and Sarah (Rudgers) Barr. Will- iam Barr was a native of Vermont, born April 12, 1805, was a farmer, and married, in the state of New York, Sarah Rudgers, who was born in the Empire state, a daughter of John and Nancy (Purdy) Rudgers, and to this union were born nine children, viz: Nancy L. , Sarah, Mary E. (Mrs. Townsend), Daniel, Henry T. ; Jane E., Maria A., James A. and Julia H. In 1834, Mr. Barr came to Ohio, and settled on 160 acres of wild land in Brecksville, Cuya- hoga county, and cleared up a comfortable home. Two of his sons, Henry and James A., enlisted for three years, in the Civil war, in battery A, First Ohio light artillery. James A., who was but seventeen years old when he entered the service, afterward veteranized and was promoted corporal. He took part at Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, and in the At- lanta campaign, and served through the entire struggle. Mr. Barr died at the age of sixty- four years, in 1 87 1, a respected and substan- tial farmer, a member of the Methodist church, and in politics a republican. His daughter, Mary E., was first married to Francis Mc- Bride, a gold miner. The wedding took place in California, whither she had gone with her brother Daniel and sister Sarah, and the lat- ter's husband, John Aram. To her marriage with Mr. McBride, who died in California, Mrs. Mary E. McBride bore four children — Melissa A., Judson W., Mary E. and Francis G. — all grown to maturity. Three brothers of Mr. McBride served in the Civil war, of whom one was killed, and Mr. Townsend had three nephews in the same strife — Robert, Richard and Charles — children of William and Cynthia (Townsend) Tunwell. Robert and Richard were in company G, Eighteenth United States regulars, and Richard died in hospital; Charles was in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was killed by bushwhackers near Murfreesboro, Tenn. E. B. Reed, a brother-in-law, who married Mary Townsend, served in company G, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio infantry, was in prison at Andersonville fourteen months, and died from the effects June 27, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Townsend are mem- bers of the Christian church, in which he is a trustee; in politics he is a republican, and has filled the offices of township trustee and super- visor. He was one of the organizers of the Goldwood post, G. A. R. , at West Richfield, was its first junior vice-commander, and has held the office of commander. He and family stand in the best social circles of Richfield, and are highly respected wherever known. Mr. Townsend is a member of Meridian Sun, F. & A. M., No. 266, at West Richfield, and was made a member in 1865. He has served as deacon, junior and senior warden, and is now the present incumbent of the office of senior warden. aHARLES T. TRUESDALL, proprie- tor of the first livery barn established in Garrettsville, was born in Nelson township. Portage county, Ohio, Oc- tober 20, 1837, a son of Charles Merritt and Betsey (Smith) Truesdall, also natives of the Buckeye state. Asa Truesdall, grandfather of the subject, was a native of N-&w^^^^?ei?k state, came to Ohio when a young man, settled in Nelson town- ship', Portage county, and here married Miss Katie Stowe. He served through the war of 1812 as a substitute, and passed the remainder of his life in farming. He and wife both died in Nelson township, the parents of the follow- ing children : Mary, who married Alanson Morris, a carpenter, and died in Geauga coun- ty; Betsey became Mrs. Bell, and died in Iowa; Jane was married to a Mr. Wannemaker, and died at Albert Lea, Minn.; Charles M. , father y 926 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of subject; Jeremiah died in Walworth county, Wis. ; Alexander died at some point unknown, and Sherburn sought a home in the west. Charles M. Truesdall, father of subject, was born in Nelson township in February, about the year 1810, was here married, farmed all his life, and died, at the early age of forty- four years, May 8, 1854, an honored man and a substantial citizen. To him and wife were born five children, viz : Catherine, who died in infancy; Lydia Jane, who met with the same fate; William; Charles T. , the subject of this notice, and Mason, who died at the age of six years. After the death of Mr. Truesdall his widow was married to J. H. Kelsey, removed to Austinburg, Ohio, and there died without further issue, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Charles T. Truesdall was educated in a country school and remained on his father's farm until the death of the latter, when he went to the home of his maternal uncle, Timo- thy Smith, with whom he lived until he reached his majoriry. He then began dealing in live stock, and during the Civil war was largely engaged in purchasing horses for gov- ernment use. Later he took a thorough course at Eastman's Business college, after which he engaged in the livery business; although prices at that time were exceedingly high, his first buggy costing him $285, and the value of an ordinary livery rig being estimated at $500. From that time until the present, with the ex- ception of a few short intervals, devoted to live-stock speculation, his livery business has been his chief care, and, as he is fully posted in this particular line, success has naturally at- tended his efforts. September 13, 1870, Mr. Truesdall mar- ried Miss Elma E. Dunn, daughter of James Dunn, and their only child, Carl, died at the age of fifteen years. In politics Mr. Truesdall is a republican, and has served as assessor for Garrettsville many years, and also has filled the office of United States deputy marshal. With his wife, he is a member of the Baptist church, and has his home on his own property in Garretts- ville. He is polite and accommodating with his patrons, and is strictly upright in all his transactions. HURELIUS TUCKER, a native of Twinsburg, Ohio, and one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, was born June I, 1842, on his father's farm. His grandfather was born in Connecticut, and Orrin Tucker, father of Aurelius, was born November 11, 1796, at Saybrook, in the same state. The name was originally spelled Tooker, and the old deeds in the possession of the family are made out with that spelling. He married, in Connecticut, September 2, i8'20, Deborah Post, who was born April 24, 1800, a daughter of Joshua Post, both fam- ilies being of English stock. Orrin Tucker moved to Ohio, and settled in Twinsburg township, as a pioneer, and cleared up a farm from the woods, on the Tinker's creek. Joshua Post settled, in 1820, in Northfield township, and partly cleared up a farm, but died in 1822, leaving thirteen chil- dren, two sons and eleven daughters. Mrs. Post lived to be eighty-nine years old. Orrin Tucker disposed of his original farm, moved to and cleared up another, consisting of fifty- six acres, but his title was worthless, and he paid for his land twice. He died August 4, 1866, a member of the Congregationalist church, and in politics a republican. His children were Joshua W., Erastus M., Ann P., Chloe A., LaFayette H., Pliny, Aurelia F. and Aurelius. Mr. Tucker was a soldier in the war of 18 12. He was one of our respected pioneers, and had two sons in the Civil war, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 927 Aurelius and Pliny H. Pliny H. enlisted in the First Iowa cavalry for three years, and served until the close of the war and was hon- orably discharged in 1865. He was pro- moted to orderly sergeant, and was in many battles. Aurelius Tucker was reared a farmer, and enlisted, August 6, 1864, in company H, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. Samuel Tracy, for one year, and served until honorably discharged at Washington, D. C, June 3, 1865, the war having come to a close, and he having taken part in the following battles: Powers Creek, Murfreesboro, the Cedars, Shelby ville Pike, all in Tennessee; Sugar Loaf Battery, Federal Point, the night expedition above Fort Fisher, Fort Anderson, Town Creek, Wilmington, Kingston, Goldsboro, all in North Carolina, and was at Johnston's sur- render. At one time he was detailed to the ordnance department by command of Maj.- Gen. Milroy. He was taken sick in 1864, and was in hospital in Washington, D. C, for about one month, and from there discharged. He was always an active soldier and e.xcept his small hospital record, he was always on active duty. His hardest battle was at Mur- Murfreesboro and the worst march was one of ten days from Nashville to Clifton, Tenn. After the war he returned to Twinsburg and married, December 27, 1866, Miss Amanda M. Crawford, whowas born in Twinsburg township, February 22, 1848, a daughter of Alexander and Sophronia (Wallace) Crawford. Alexander Crawford was born August 14, 1 801. was a pioneer of Aurora, Ohio, having come when a young man, and married in Kent, Ohio, May 6, 1829, Sophronia Wallace. The children born to this union were Wallace, Cadwallader, Laura, Alanson, Almira, Betsy, Amanda M. and Robb. Alexander Crawford became a prosperous farmer, owning at one time 500 acres of land. He was a well edu- cated man and many years a school-teacher on the Western Reserve, and a man of great in- telligence, and died August 27, 1870. Solomon Crawford, father of Alexander Crawford, was born February 14, 1772, and married Ann Crawford March 13, 1800. Al- though both bore the same surname they were in no manner related to each other. Their children were Alexander, Cadwallader and Isa- bel. Joseph Wallace, the maternal grandfa- ther, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker settled, at their mar- riage, on their present farm of fifty-six acres. Their children are Bert G. and Ora M. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church at Twinsburg, and Mr. Tucker is a member of Royal Dunham post, No. 177, G. A. R., of Bedford, Ohio. In politics he is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln. He is an hon- ored citizen, and is at present assessor of his township, and has held the office of trustee and constable. BRANK M. UDALL, a native of Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, which is still his place of residence, was born December 20, 1838, a son of George and Malinda (Hutchings) Udall, whose genealogy will be traced backward to the grandparents of Frank M. in lines which will follow this paragraph. Frank M. Udall received a very good edu- cation in his youthful days, it being commenced in the district schools and concluded in the Western Reserve Eclectic institute at Hiram. September 20, 1861, he enlisted in company A, Forty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, which had been organized by Col. (afterward President) James A. Garfield, and was ap- pointed drummer-boy of the regimental band. 928 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD The company was principally made up from students of Hiram college and took part in numerous battles, Mr. Udall being present at that of Middle Creek, Ky. , but was shortly afterward seLzed with fever and was confined in a hospital at Louisville, Ky. , a month or more, and at Camp Dennison, Ohio, nearly four months, and received an honorable dis- charge, November 8, 1862. On his return from the war to the old homestead, Mr. Udall rested awhile, and then was united in marriage, December 12, 1864, at Cleveland, to Miss Clara Adelia Bishop, who was born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, January 2, 1847, ^ daughter of Elijah and Olivia (Webster) Bishop. The father of Miss Bishop was of French ancestry and came to America in 1847, landing in Nova Scotia, and coming thence to Ohio in the same year, but died in Cleveland a few days after his arrival. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop were born the follow- ing children; Nancy, Dawson, Elizabeth, Andrew, Albert, Irene, Clara and Louvisa, and, of these, Andrew served four years in the Civil war, in the Second Ohio cavalry, and was wounded, and Albert served three years in the Nineteenth Ohio battery. After marriage Mr. Udall settled on the old homestead, of which he inherited a por- tion, and later purchased the interests of the other heirs thereto. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Udall were Morton, who died at six and a half years of age; George P.; Jessie, who died at the age of ten years; Alevia; and Don B., who died in infancy. George Udall, father of Frank M., was born in Vermont, a son of Samuel and Anna (Bruce) Udall, and shortly after his marriage to Ma- linda Hutchings came to Ohio, in 18 18, with his parents and his own wife. He settled in the southwestern part of Hiram township, Portage county, but four years later moved to the homestead of 146 acres now occupied by his son, Frank M., and became a substantial and prominent citizen. His children were Eveline, Amanda, Roselle, George P., Louisa M. and DeLos A. He lived to be sixty-two years of age, and died one of the most re- spected residents of the township. Samuel Udall, grandfather of Frank M., built the first dwelling — a log cabin — on the present homestead, but some years later moved to the northeastern part of the town- ship. He cleared up several farms in the early days, became very wealthy, and, at his death, a venerable man, bequeathed to each of his children a farm of fair proportions. His children were named George, James, Samuel, Rufus, John, Alvah, Sarah, Nancy, Mary and Lucinda. Frank M. Udall is a most substantial citi- zen and in politics is a republican, and has filled the offices of township clerk and trustee; he is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, being commander of Mark Horton post at Garrettsville, in which he has also filled the position of officer of the day. He is a mem- ber of the Soldiers' Relief County commission, and in religion is a member of the Disciples' or Christian church. His success in life has been unvarying and he deserves the credit of having made it almost entirely through his own personal efforts. <>^ UFUS P. UPSON, one of the prom- I /^r inent citizens of Tallmadge township, J , P descends from Thomas Upson, who came from England and settled at an early day at Hartford, Conn., where he had the right to get wood and keep his cows on the common. He was also an original proprietor and settler of Farmington about 1638, and married Elizabeth Fuller in 1646. He died July 19, 1655, and his widow married Ed- mund Scott. The children were Thomas, who OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 9ii9 moved to Saybrook and died there; Stephen; Mary; Hannah and Eliza — both of whom died July 20, 1655. Stephen, the second son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fuller) Upson, mar- ried December 29, 1682, Mary, daughter of John Lee, Sr. , of Famington, Conn., and died in 1735. aged eighty-five years. His wife died February 15, 1715-16. He removed to Wa- terbury before his marriage and became pro- prietor December 29, 1679, to the amount of fifty pounds. He signed sixty pounds agree- ment with Mr. Peck, and was one of the com- mittee to settle bonds with Woodbury in April, 1702. He was surveyor, school committee- man, grand juror, often "townsman," and three times deputy to the general court — in May 1 7 10, October, 171 2, and October, 1729. He was a sergeant in 171 5, and in 1829 he had a seat with the \eterans in the new meeting house. His children were Mary, born Novem- ber 5, 1683, and married Richard Welton, son of John; Stephen, born September 30, 1686; Elizabeth, born February 14, 1689; Hannah, born about March 16, 1695, and married, the first time, to Thomas Richards, and the sec- ond time to John Bronson. and was living, a widow, in 1751; Tabetha, born March 16, 1698, and married to John Scoville, second; John, born December 13, 1702; Thankful, born March 14, 1706 or 1707, and married to James Blakesley. Thomas Upson, of the third American generation, was a son of Stephen and Mary (Lee) Upson; he married Rachael, daughter of Thomas Judd. They lived on Cole street near East Main, Waterbury, but he sold this home and removed in 1732-33 to Farmington and afterward to Southington, where he died, respected and esteemed, leav- ing a numerous family name. His wife, Ra- chael, died July 13, 1750, aged fifty-six years, and he died September 29, 1769, aged sixty- eight years. Their children were Thomas, born December 20, 1719; Mary and John 40 (twins), born January 21, 1721 — Mary mar- ried Josiah Newell, of Southington; John died in 1741; Josiah, born January 28, 1724, died in 1725; Asa, born November 30, 1728; T.W., born October 8, 1731; Amos, born March 17, 1734; Samuel, born n March, 1737; Free- man, born July 24, 1739 — died in 1750. Thomas Upson, son of Thomas and Rachael (Judd) Upson, married Hannah, daughter of Capt. Timothy Hopkins of Waterburj', May 28, 1749, and he settled one mile north of Wolcott Center, where his son, 'Squire Charles, afterward lived. He died in 1798, aged seventy-nine years. His wife, Hannah, died June 6, 1757. Their children were Be- noni, born February 14, 1750; Charles, born March 8, 1752; Sylvia, born June 7, 1756, and died in 1764. 'Squire Charles Upson, son of Thomas and Hannah (Hopkins) Upson, mar- ried Wealthy Hopkins May 26, 1773. She died December 28, 1783, and he married a widow, Mary Moulthrop, November 24, 1784. He resided on the homestead and was a man of large influence in the community, and in 1805 had the largest tax list of any man in the society and subscribed the largest sum for the settlement of Rev. Mr. \\'oodward in 1792. He was a justice of the peace many years and was spoken of mostly as 'Squire Charles Up- son. He was accidentally killled in New Haven, by hitting his head against a beam while riding in a barn on a load of hay, April 29, 1809, aged fifty-seven years. His widow died March 30, 1826, aged seventy-six years. His children, by his first wife, were Washing- ton, born September 2, 1775; Lee. born May 7, 1778, and Gates, born July 18, 1780. By his second wife were born Thomas, Septem- ber 23, 1785; Charles Hopkins, July 17, 1788, Mark, October 24, 1790; Wealthy H., April 18, 1794, and married March 30, 1817. Dr. Lee Upson, son of Charles and Wealthy (Hop- kins) Upson, married Roxana Lewis, and their 930 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD children were Anson, Sarah, Israel and Olivia. Lee Upson was a farmer of Wolcott, Conn. , was a member of the Congregational church and died in Connecticut. All of his children remained in Connecticut except Anson, father of subject, who came to Ohio. He died June II, 1823. Anson Upson, was born December 21, 1 80 1 , at Wolcott, Conn., became a farmer and came to Tallmadge township. Summit county, Ohio, in 1825, a single man, and remained two years, when he returned to Connecticut and worked in a cotton factory for Seth Thomas, the fa- mous clockmaker. In 1832 he returned to Ohio, and married, in 1833, in Tallmadge, Polly Upson, who was born June 9, 1800, in Waterbury, Conn. , a daughter of Reuben and Hannah (Richardson) Upson. Reuben Upson was descended from a very distant branch of the same stock — so far back the relationship has never been traced. Anson Upson settled in Tallmadge township, buying a farm of sev- enty-two acres in the northwest corner, all in the woods, and cleared up the farm and lived here until his death on February 7, 1851, at forty-nine years of age. His children were Rufus P., born November 23, 1834; Maria P., born September 30, 1838; Helen L. and Har- riet H. (twins), born October 18, 1842. An- son Upson was a member of the Congrega- tional church and a trustee thereof at the time of his death. In politics he was first a whig and later an abolitionist. He was a very hard- working man and respected for his honesty of character. Rufus P. Upson, the subject of this mem- oir, received a common-school education and became a farmer. He married, October 22, 1 86 1, Mary Upson, of Tallmadge, daughter of Edwin and Betsy (Blakesley) Upson. Mary Upson was born May 20, 1836, in Tallmadge. Edwin Upson, father of Mrs. Upson, was born May 21, 1804, in Waterbury, Conn., a son of Horatio and Hannah (Cook) Upson. Horatio was a son of John, the grandfather of Julius Upson, a distant relative. After marriage Mrs. Upson settled on the homestead of his father. He prospered by his steady thrift and industry and now owns two good farms. He moved, in 1891, to his pres- ent excellent farm, which consists of 100 acres well improved with good buildings. Mrs. Up- son is a member of the Congregational church, and Mr. Upson, in politics, was one of the original republicans, voting for Abraham Lin- coln on his first nomination for the presidency of the United States, and has served as town- ship trustee for nine years. He has always been a straightforward citizen, well known for integrity of character. He and wife are the parents of Addie M., Amelia A., Edward A., Henry S. , George L. , and Bessie L. Edwin Upson, father of Mrs. Upson, came to Tallmadge township, a single man, aged eighteen years, in 1822. He came with his uncle Reuben, Calvin Treat and Abraham Hine. This party footed it from Connecticut, arriving in Buffalo, N. Y., in eighteen days. Edwin returned to Connecticut and married, and moved with his family to Tallmadge in 1833 and settled in the north part of the town- ship, on land partly improved with a log house, and with fifteen acres cleared of a total of 107 acres. The remainder he cleared up and im- proved with good dwellings and had a good home. His parents, Horatio and Hannah (Cook) Upson, came with him and lived with him until their deaths. Edwin Upson and wife were members of the Congregational church, in which faith he lived to be eighty-one years old and died May i, 1885. His widow is now aged eighty-four years and reads with- out glasses and does fine sewing and embroid- ery and is very active mentally and physically. The children were Mary M., Jacob E., who died at five years of age, and Joseph E. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 931 aHARILAUS VAIL, one of the de- deceased soldiers of the Civil war, who died many years after its close from his wounds, was born Decem- ber 9, 1833, at Twinsburg, Summit county, Ohio, a son of Homer G. and Ann (Post) Vail, the former of whom was a pioneer of Twins- burg, was born in New York state, of English descent, and was the father of Julia, Julius and Charilaus. Charilaus Vail received a good common education, was a painter by trade and married, November 25, 1855, in Peninsula, Ohio, Maria Carpenter, born January 30, 1 84 1 , at Twinsburg, Ohio, daughter of Aaron and Tirsa (Drake) Carpenter. Aaron Carpenter was born and reared in New York state and came when a young man to Ohio. His children were Malinda, Luna, Elijah, Mattie, Mary, Cynthia, Dorcas, Doro- thea, Maria, Benajer, George and Comfort. Aaron Carpenter lived in Twinsburg for some years, then moved to Northfield township and bought a farm of 160 acres, where he lived until his death, at about forty-nine years of age, a member of the Methodist church. One son, Benajer, was in the Second Ohio cavalry, and re-enlisted in the Twelfth Ohio cavalry. He was in the battle of Mt. Sterling and one other battle, and was taken prisoner at Lex- ington, Ky. , but escaped. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Charilaus Vail settled in Twinsburg, where he enlisted, October 11, 1863, as a pri- vate of company E, Twelfth regiment Ohio cavalry, and was promoted to corporal for meritorious services. He served until honor- ably discharged, October 1 1, 1864, an account of wounds received in battle. He was in the battle of Mt. Sterling, Ky. , June 19, 1864, and while in pursuit of the raider, John Mor- gan, was shot, the ball entering the right side, just above the hip, and coming out on the left side, taking off the ear of his comrade's horse. Mr. Vail laid on the battle field from nine o'clock A. M. to five o'clock P. M., three attempts be- ing made to carry him off the field, but failing, his comrades being frightened by false alarms that the rebels were coming. He lay behind a stump and once the rebels took him prisoner, but were driven off. He was finally laid in a fence corner and covered with a blanket, a Union man, who lived on the place, giving him some milk. Being out of sight, the amublances missed him, and he was not taken to field hospital until five P. M. This was but one- half mile distant. The surgeon drew a silk handkerchief through his wound to cleanse it, and he was taken three weeks later to Lexing- ton, Ky., hospital. It was expected he would die on the way. He was sent home October 1 1, where he arrived October 13, 1864. From this nearly fatal wound he was lame the re- mainder of his life, and it finally caused his death, October 13, 1895. After partial re- covery he followed his trade as a painter as best he could, but was always disabled. In politics he was a republican, and served as constable of Northfield two terms; he was an honored member of George L. Waterman post, G. A. R. , at Peninsula, in which he held sev- eral" offices. To Mr. and Mrs. Vail were born Mary, Allen, Clarence, Harry, Frankie and Cora. Mr. Vail was always an industrious, straightforward man, much respected for his honest character and sterling worth, and his widow and children share the high regard in which he was held. ^~V*AMUEL R. VAN NOSTRAN, a well- •^^^kT known carpenter and dairyman of h<^ Aurora township, Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Jefferson township, Tuscara- was county, Ohio, on his father's farm, De- cember 6, 1843, a son of John and Charity (Ridgway) Van Nostran, of whom mention 932 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD will be further made toward the close of this memoir. Samuel R. Van Nostran received the usual farmer-lad education, and learned all he could of agriculture until his enlistment, August 25, 1862, at New Philadelphia, Ohio, in Capt. John Robinson's company C, Eightieth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, provided the war should not sooner come to a close, which so happened, and he was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C. , May 25, 1865, under Capt. Christian Dies. He took an active part in the battles of Raymond, Jackson, Miss.; siege of Vicksburg; engage- ments at Missionary Ridge, Resaca, and marched through to North Carolina, where he fought at Wise's Cross Roads. At Beaver Dam, Ala., while he and a comrade were en- gaged in repairing a trestle of a bridge some twenty-live feet high, the rebels burned out two other trestles, which weakened the bridge and caused its fall, precipitating Mr. Van Nos- tran and a comrade into the debris beneath. For several days Mr. Van Nostran lay sense- less, and during this time was robbed of all his money — $30. On being rescued from the wreck, it was discovered that his collar-bone was brok- en, his left arm broken, his left ankle fractured and that his left hip had also suffered a frac- ture. He was placed in a hospital at Hunts- ville, Ala., where he remained five months. But this serious mishap did not prevent his sharing in the battles of Resaca and Wise's Cross Road, which were subsequent events. The consequence of his injuries, however, will attend him to the grave. After the war, Mr. Van Nostran returned to his home in Tuscarawas county, and there learned the carpenter's trade. In that county, also, he was married, November 23, 1871, to Miss Mollie A. Mizer, who was born in the county, June 8, 1850, in Buck township, a daughter of John and Rachel (Morol) Mizer, of whom, also, further mention will be made. At marriage, the young couple located in Bakersville, Coshocton county, where Mr. Van Nostran worked at his trade until 1891, which year was passed in Canton, Ohio, and he then settled, in 1892, on his present place, where he still follows contracting and carpenter work, and conducts, beside, a dairy of thirty cows. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Van Nostran have been born five children, viz. ; Albert, John Edwin (who died in infancy), Charles R., Lulu E. D. and Beatrice D. The parents are members of the Disciples' church, at Au- rora, and Mr. Van Nostran is a non-affiliating Knight of Pythias. In politics he is a repub- lican, and cast his first vote for A. Lincoln, while in the ranks. John Van Nostran, father of Samuel R., was a son of John, a pioneer of Stark county, Ohio, who descended from a Dutch settler of Pennsyl- vania. John, father of subject, on settling in Tuscarawas county, cleared up a farm of 152 acres, and became a substantial farmer. To his marriage with Miss Charity Ridgway were born the following children: Sarah A., Sam- uel R. , Benjamin F., George H., Eliza A., Mary, Annetta, John H., Hattie, David, Mar- tha, Eva, and an infant that died unnamed, and of these Samuel R., Benjamin F. and George H. served in the Civil war, the last two named in the one year service, with the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. John Van Nostran lived to be si.xty- five years old, when he was suddenly stricken with death while cradling oats. He was a member of the Methodist church, a pious Christian and a hardworking farmer. John Mizer, father of Mrs. Mollie A. Van Nostran, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, about 1825, a son of Jacob and Maria (Smith) Mizer, the former of whom was a pioneer from Pennsylvania, owned a farm of 400 acres and lived to be eighty years OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 933 of age. John Mizer now owns ii8 acres of the homestead, and is a prosperous tiller of the soil. To his marriage with Miss Morol have been born the following-named children: Malinda J., Sarah A., Mollie A., Catherine E., David L. , Lydia E., Samatha E., John W. and Carrie E. Mr. and Mrs. Mizer are members of the Lutheran church at Evans Creek, Ohio, in which he is a deacon, and in politics Mr. Mizer is a democrat, under the auspices of which party he has for five years been a justice of this place. David Mizer, a brother of John, was a soldier in the Civil war, was shot on board a gunboat, and his body buried in the Mississippi river. Samuel R. Van Nostran is one of the most respected citizens of Aurora township, was a brave and faithful soldier, and endured the hardships of war with cheerful fortitude, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is -universally held. Mr. and Mrs. VanNostran's grandfathers were both active participants in the Revolutionarv war. ^■^ MITH ELMER WADSWORTH, the •^^^kT genial proprietor of the Wadsworth K^^ House, at Garrettsville, has con- ducted this establishment for sixteen years, it being the only hotel in the village. He is a native of Windham township, Portage county, Ohio, was born October 15, 1848, and is a son of Elmer Dwight and Wealthy Eme- line (Smith) Wadsworth, natives, respectively, of Portage county, and Becket, Mass. Xenophon Wadsworth, grandfather of sub- ject, was a native of Massachusetts and a pio- neer of Windham township, where he owned a farm, on which he died at the age of forty- five years, his widow surviving him some years. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, of whom seven reached mature years, Elmer Dwight, father of subject, being the eldest. Elmer Dwight Wadsworth was born in 1820, was reared a farmer, and on leaving the farm located in Garrettsville, where he first conducted a meat market, and later engaged in the hotel business. He died in 1888, in the faith of the Congregational church. To his marriage with Miss Smith were born five chil- dren, viz: Smith E. , the subject; Arthur D., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Alida and Xenophon, who reside in Garretts- ville, and Treasure Hattie, who was married to Dr. John Dixon, and died in Ashtabula, Ohio, in January, 1896. Smith E. Wadsworth, the subject of this memoir, was educatad primarily in the district school and then attended Oberlin college two years, after which he taught school in winter and followed agricultural pursuits in summer for three years, when his health became im- Pfiired, and, under the advice of his physicians, he engaged in the meat business with his father and brother for some time time, but during this period embarked in hotel keeping. Be- side his meat and hotel business Mr. Wads- worth has furnished ice to the residents of Garrettsville for a number of years, and for twenty years has handled nearly all the hides, pelts and tallow of the town — sometimes at the rate of $5,000 a year. In 1875 he married Miss Hannah L. Stiles, who was born in Paris township, Portage county, a daughter of James Stiles, and to this union have been born two children — Arthur J. and Nellie. Smith E. Wadsworth is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a republican. He is a member of Garretts- ville lodge. No. 246, F. & A. M., and has passed all the chairs in Portage lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F. He has made his own way through the world at all times, now owns his 934 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD hotel property, and through his courteous manners and accommodating disposition has gained hosts of friends, who hold him in the highest esteem. KIRAM DENNIS WALKER, of Man- tua Station, Portage county, Ohio, is a veteran of the Civil war, who lost an arm in the battle of Petersburg, Va., is a son of John and Sarah (Cline) Walker, and was born near Salem, Colum- biana county, Ohio. Alexander Walker, grandfather of Hiram D., was a farmer of considerable means in Lancaster county. Pa., was a Lutheran in reli- gion, and passed all his life in his native state. His son, John Walker, was born in Lancaster county January 8, 1788, was a farmer and early came to Ohio. He married in Canfield, Mahoning bounty, Miss Sarah Cline, their union resulting in the birth of Mary S., Hettie, Annie, Lovina, Melissa, Rhynear, William, Frederick and Hiram D. On settling in Co- lumbiana county he followed milling as a voca- tion, and there passed the remainder of his life, dying a member of the United Brethren church August 31, 1853, having come to the state when about twenty-one years of age, in 1809. Of his four sons, two, Frederick and Hiram D. , were in the Civil war — Frederick serving three years in company F, Seventh Ohio vol- unteer infantry. Peter Cline, father of Mrs. Sarah Walker, was born in Lancaster county. Pa., January II, 1792, was a farmer, and came to Ohio, a young man, about 1809, and here passed most of his life as a farmer, but lived several years in Ravenna. He was first married to a Miss Haynes, who bore him five children — William, John, Ossie, Elizabeth and Susan. By a second marriage, with Miss Catherine Beard, were born Henry, Nancy and Mary. Mrs. Walker was also born to the last marriage. Mr. Cline died in Newton Falls, Trumbull county. May 21, 1854, a greatly respected citizen, as he had served in the war of 18 12,. and had suffered many hardships in the lake regions. One of his sons, John Cline, also became a soldier, and served in the Civil war for three years in a battery of Ohio artillery. Hiram D. Walker, at the age of four years, was placed by his parents in charge of a Quaker, Daniel Bolton, of Salem, who sent him to the district school, taught him his own trade of machinist, and also had him instructed in the trades of blacksmithing and carpenter- ing. In 1847 he went to Newton Falls, Ohio, to work as a blacksmith, and at the age of about twenty-one years, was married. May g, 1848, at that place, to Miss Nancy Walker, who was born July i, 1827, at Albany, Colum- biana county, a daughter of Peter and Cather- ine (Beard) Cline, both families being of Penn- sylvania-Dutch stock. Mr. and Mrs. Walker, some years after marriage, removed from New- ton Falls to Paris, Portage county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade from 1856 un- til the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted, August 22, 1861, in the Second Ohio cavalry, under Col. Robert Ratcliff and Capt. Henry L. Burnett, for three years, but was honorably discharged, on account of disability, October 2, 1862, having been injured in as- sisting to build a military bridge at Fort Scott, Kans. He then returned to Paris, Ohio, and having recovered from his injuries, re-enlisted as a veteran. May 9, 1864, in company K, One Hundred and Tenth Ohio volunteer infantry, Lieut. Traub having command of the company. During his two enlistments, ending with his second honorable discharge, July 3, 1865, on account of the close of the war, he took part in the battle of Sarcoxie, Mo., and in many shirmishes with bushwhackers in the same OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 935 state — extra-dangerous there as elsewhere; was through the Shenandoah valley with Sher- idan; fought at Winchester, and at Opequan Creek, Cedar Creek, Berryville, Va., Monoc- acy Creek, Md., and at the siege and fall of Petersburg, Va., where he was shot through the upper part of his left arm by a minie ball March 29, 1865. His arm was amputated the same night at field hospital, whence he was taken to City Point, Va., where he lay ten days, and was then transferred to Baltimore, Md., remaining there in hospital three days, then in hospital at Washington, D. C, two months; then in Chester Hill hospital. Pa., three weeks, whence he was transferred, via Pittsburg, to Camp Chase hospital, Columbus, Ohio, where he was finally mustered out, with the rank of sergeant, having been promoted for brave and meritorious conduct on the field, in the face of the enemy. Mr. Walker arrived at his home in Paris, July 3, 1865, but has never been able to do anything in the way of labor, excepting in the superintendence of a few irregular jobs, now and again, as circumstances permit and his sufferings allow. In 1 890 he moved with his family to Mantua Station, where he enjoys the deserved respect which every patriot who has been disabled in the service of his country is entitled to from great or small. He has been blessed with four children — Sarah E., EllaM., Eva A. and Ida A., all of whom are happily married and well settled in life. Mr. Walker is a republican in politics; is a member of Bentley post. No. 294, G. A. R. , at Mantua Station, of which he is chaplain, and is also a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and have fully lived up to its precepts, which, it may well be borne in mind, ever lead to the straight and narrow way that finds its end in eternal rest and bliss. <>^^ M. WANAMAKER, a rising young I /^r lawyer of Akron, is a native of North J . P Jackson, Mahoning county, Ohio, was born August 2, 1866, and is a son of Daniel and Laura (Schoenberger) Wanamaker, of German descent. The father is now a resi- dent of Akron, but the mother is deceased, and of their four children the subject is the eldest. Of the remaining three, Mamie was married to John A. Campbell, but is now de- ceased; Charles S. is assistant cashier for the Standard Oil company at Cleveland, and Ger- trude C, a stenographer, resides with her brother, the subject of this review. R. M. Wanamaker was born and reared on a farm and received his elementary education in the common schools. Farm work engaged his attention during vacations; work in a flax- mill and baling hay were a source of income with which he defrayed his college expenses during his first term at the Ohio Normal uni- versity, at Ada, Ohio; after this term he began teaching, at the age of sixteen, and alternated his time between teaching and attending school until twenty-one years of age, when he became principal of the high school at Ada; a year later he removed to Lima (1888), where, for three years, he was principal of the public schools on the west side, superintending fifteen rooms; he was then re-elected by the board the fourth year, but resigned in order to be more fully able to prosecute his study of the law under Ridenour & Halfhill, of Lima, and in the fall of 1 89 1 entered the law department at Ada university, from which he graduated in the spring of 1893, and in March of the same year was admitted to the bar. In September, 1893, he came to Akron, and on October i the firm of Young & Wanamaker was established, and which still obtains. He at once entered upon a vigorous campaign to conquer a client- age, and at the same time to do all the work he could for the republican party. He was 936 • PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD soon recognized as a 3'oung attorney of abil- ity, both by the general public and his party. His first case as an attorney was the charge of a murder trial and he also conducted the prosecution in the Cotell murder case, which attracted a great deal of public attention at the time. In 1895 Mr. Wanamaker was placed in nomination by his party for the office of pros- ecuting attorney of Summit county ( having two contestants for the nomination) and at the ensuing election ran far ahead of his ticket — an indication of his popularity. As an orator he is choice in his language, logical in his de- ductions and convincing in argument, while his legal knowledge is highly creditable for one so lately admitted to the bar. He is a mem- ber of the State Bar association; of McPherson lodge, No. 63, K. of P. ; of Akron lodge. No. 547, I. O. O. F. ; Tiptop tent, K. of M. ; also of the tribe of Ben Hur, and of the Akron club. Mr. Wanamaker was most happily united in marriage, April 7, 1889, at Ada, Ohio, with Miss Fannie Snow, daughter of F. E. and Mary Snow, and this union has been blessed with two children — Mary Laurine and Walter Blaine. The parents are members of the First Congregational church and stand very high socially. Their residence is at No. 1078 South Main street, and Mr. Wanamaker's office is at No. 182 South Main street, in the Harter block. m 'ILLIAM A. WARNER, a highly re- spectable farmer of Coventry town- ship, is a native of Green township, Summit county, Ohio, was born October 5, 1845, and is of English descent. John Warner, great-grandfather of subject, while still a young man, came from his native England and located in Maryland, where he was married and shortly afterward came to Ohio, lived for a short time in Stark county, and then permanently settled on a tract of land in Coventry township, Summit county, among the Indians of the primeval forest, be- ing one of the county's earliest pioneers. His son, Henry Warner, grandfather of subject, was born in Maryland, married Catherine Kep- ler, and had a family of eight children, viz : John, Adam (deceased), Jacob, William, Ann, Abraham, Solomon, and Daniel — the last named also deceased. Henry Warner was also a pioneer of Coventry township. Summit county, Ohio, where he cleared up from the forest a farm of 105 acres, and became thoroughly identified with the development of the township, becoming a charter member of the East Liberty church, and a leader in local politics, being, himself, a Jackson democrat. John Warner, son of Henry and father of subject, was born in Coventry township in March, 1821, on the farm on which subject still resides, and in 1844 married Elizabeth Weaver, who was born in 1824, a daughter of James P. Weaver. To Mr. and Mrs. Warner have been born six children, in the following order: William A., Henry, Samuel. John J., Adam, and Mary (the last named deceased). For many years the parents continued to re- side in Coventry township, but finally removed to Norton township, generously presenting to each of the children a good farm and other- wise aiding them, and retaining for themselves only sufficient to sustain themselves in their old age. Mr. Warner has of late espoused the cause of the prohibition party, but was formerly a democrat and held many of the township offices of Coventry, as well as sev- eral offices in the Methodist Episcopal church of New Portage. He has been generous in his aid to this as well as to all the other churches of the neighborhood. He is still hale and hearty and is highly respected as an old settler, and for his charitable disposition, which has OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 937 for years been made manifest in the county for miles around. William A. Warner received a good com- mon-school education and was reared to man- hood on his father's farm. He married, Feb- ruary 1 8, 1866, Miss Sarah Spittler, who was born in Springfield township, Summit county, April 14, 1843, a daughter of Christian and Barbara (Weyrickj Spittler. Her parents were natives of Union township, Union county. Pa., were there married, and there had born to them four of their ten children, the others having been born in Ohio. They were named, in order of birth, as follows: Jacob, John, Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Sprigler), Catherine (Mrs. Fred Easier"), Mary (Mrs. J. A. Van Vermer), Sarah (Mrs. Warner), George (de- ceased from effects of army life), Jacob (de- ceased) and Henry ist, and Henry 2nd (both deceased). Mr. Spittler was a carpenter by trade and died in Plymouth, Ind., in 1877; his widow died in Munroe Falls, Ohio, De- cember 31, 1891 — both members of the En- glish Reformed church. To Mr. and Mrs. William A. Warner have been born two chil- dren: William J., born July 22, 1868 — died in December, 1868, and Mary E., born De- cember II, 1869. The latter was married, December 12, 1889, to William J. Farriss, a native of New York, and has had three chil- dren, viz: Lottie M., who died in 1890, in infancy, Sarah E. and Willie A. Mr. Warner's farm consists of 100 acres, twenty-five of which were originally part of his father's homestead, and seventy-five of which have been the result of his own industry and frugality. He has improved his place with a modern house and barn, at a cost of $3,000, and has one of the most pleasant homesteads in the township. He and wife are members of the Pleasant "Valley Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. W^arner is a trustee. In politics Mr. Warner has chiefly voted with the democratic party, and by this party was elected township treasurer in 1880, which office he still continues to fill. He is respected wherever known, both as a liberal and public-spirited citizen and as a gentleman of strictly moral character. HARON E. WARNER, the enterpris- ing young blacksmith of Manchester, was born in East Liberty, Summit county, Ohio, March 11, 1871, and is of the third generation of the Summit county family bearing his name. Adam Warner, grandfather of subject and a native of the county, married Elizabeth Reminger, and owned a farm in Coventry township; he was a substantial and highly- respected citizen, in politics was a democrat, and with his wife a consistent member of the United Brethren church. His son, Henry R. Warner, the father of subject, was born on the Coventry township farm, on which he lived until twentj'-one years of age, when he began learning the blacksmith's trade. His educa- tional facilities were somewhat limited, but by self-, instruction he mastered the common En- glish branches of learning. He married Miss E. Bower, a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth Bower, and this union resulted in the birth of the following children: Aaron E. (subject), Ida E. (wife of William Richard), Homer E., Earl B., Ora B., Lillian M., and Stanley B., all still living to bless the declining years of the parents, who have lived in East Liberty for the past twenty-seven years, where Mr. Warner, by his industry, has secured a comfortable home. In his politics Mr. W^arner was a democrat up to the fall of 1896, when he voted for McKinley for president of the United States, believing the republican party to be sound on the questions of tariff and finance. He has reared his family in respect- 938 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ability, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of all who know them. Aaron E. Warner received a good common- school education, notwithstanding the fact that he began learning his trade with his fa- ther at the early age of twelve years, and that he remained with him until two years ago, when he located in Manchester. April lo, 1895, Mr. Warner married Miss Ella Warner, daughter of J. J. and Sarah (Kreigham) Warner. J. J. Warnerisa citizen of East Liberty and is the owner of a sixty- acre farm, but is beside a dealer in buggies, to which trade he chieflj' devotes his attention; in politics he is a democrat, and he and wife are active members of the Evangelical church, and both are greatly respected by their neigh- bors. The marriage of Aaron E. Warner has been blessed with one child — Grace A. Aaron E. Warner has a good shop and tools — far bet- ter than the ordinary run — and is rapidly build- ing up an excellent trade. Beside his shop he owns the lot adjoining, on which he has a neat village cottage, and is altogether a thrifty and prosperous young man. In politics he is a democrat, and during his brief residence in Manchester has gained a host of warm friends. ^"^IMON B. WEARY, the well-known •^^^k* lumber manufacturer of Akron, Ohio, ^ J was born in Marlborough township. Stark county, July 29. 1823, a son of Samuel and Mary M. (Smith) Weary, natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Ohio, who first located in Canfield, Mahoning county, in 1817, but in 1823 removed to Marlborough township, Stark county, where the father was engaged in farming until his death, in 184O, at the age of forty-eight years, his widow surviv- ing until 1884, when she died at the age of ninety. Samuel Weary came of German stock, and had served in the war of 1812; the father of Mrs. Weary was a soldier prior to the Revolution, and was at the capture of Fort Duquesne (Fort Pitt), now Pittsburg, Pa. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Weary were born twelve children, of whom eleven reached the years of maturity, viz: Margaret, now Mrs. Rue; Catherine, wife of Amos Johnson; John, killed by a falling tree, at the age of eighteen years; Sarah, wife of John P. Smith; Simon B., our subject; Daniel, Jacob, Henry; Mary, married to George Cook; Elizabeth; Benjamin, who was killed while on. a scout during the late war, the day after Lee's sur- render. The maternal great-grandfather of Mr. Weary was George Smith, who was born in France of German parentage and came to America in 1764, when the maternal grand- father of Mr. Weary was about eight years of age, and settled in what is now known as Perry county, Pa. Simon B. Weary grew to manhood in Stark county, received a fair common-school education in the frontier log school-house, and in the spring of 1841 began a three-year ap- prenticeship at the carpenter's trade, at the completion of which he worked in Stark county as a journeyman until the fall of 1847, when he came to Akron and worked until the spring of 1848; the next three years he fol- lowed his trade in Sheboygan, Wis., and in 185 1 returned to Akron and worked as a jour- neyman until 1853, when he purchased an in- terest in a door, sash and blind factory, which interest he held for three years; he next alter- nated as journeyman and proprietor until January, 1864, when the firm of Weary, Snyder & Co. was organized, and a successful lumber manufacture, especially in the way of doors, sashes and blinds, was carried on until 1894, when a disastrous fire destroyed the plant, since which time the members of the firm have been engaged in settling up their business affairs. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 939 In politics Mr. Weary has always been identified with the cause of freedom, having cast his first vote with the liberty party, espousing the abolition cause, and finally be- coming a republican. He is a public-spirited citizen, and has always been industrious, thrifty and enterprising, and well deserves the great respect in which he is held by his fellow- men of all conditions. In 1847 Mr. Weary was united in marriage, and as a result of this union three children are living, viz: Frank O., Flora C. (now Mrs. James Moore), and Edwin D., now a resident of Chicago. aHARLES B. WEBB, proprietor of the Garrettsville Journal, was born in Freedom township, Portage coun- ty, Ohio, May 28, 1848, and is a son of Dr. James Webb, deceased, of whom full mention is made in the biography of Rollin S. Webb, on another page. Charles Bushnell Webb, our subject, was educated in the common schools of Freedom and at Hiram college, and for two winters taught school. He then chose the trade of printer for his life-work, with a view to jour- nalism, and began learning the trade in the office of the Journal in Garrettsville, and later worked in the office of the Leader, in Cleve- land, where he remained until 1873, when he returned to Garrettsville and purchased the Journal plant, "out and out." The Garrettsville Journal was founded July I, 1865, by Warren Peirce, who conducted it until purchased by Mr. Webb. It is one of the oldest papers in the county, and has never contained objectionable reading matter of any kind, either in its news, literary or advertising columns. It is a six-column eight-page paper, devoted to the interests of Garrettsville and surrounding country, and since Mr. W'ebb has been its owner has had the full confidence of the public, and has thus met with continuous success. Mr. Webb was married, January 6, 1875, to Miss Ella McHenry, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and a daughter of Reuben and Adaline (Chase) McHenry. The father was a native of Virginia, who came early to Ohio, became a farmer of more than ordinary ex- tent in Tuscarawas county; later resided in Canton, Stark county, and died at the home of his daughter in Sandyville township, in the county first named. The mother of Mrs. Webb was a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Josiah Chase, who was a relative of the late Salmom P. Chase, chief justice of the su- preme court of the United States. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry were the parents of eleven children, of whom nine reached mature years, viz: Nancy, wife of William Fox, of Charles- ton township. Portage county; Eliza, married to William Minnis, of Tuscarawas county; Al- bert D., a Methodist clergyman, who was a missionary to India for eight years, and is now a member of the East Ohio conference; Mar- tin, a resident of Colorado Springs and super- intendent of a mine at Cripple Creek, Colo. ; Josiah C. , a railway conductor, residing in Allegheny City, Pa. ; William, who was a first lieutenant of the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and killed at Atlanta, Ga. ; James A., an attorney of Howard, Kans. ; Alden, of Springfield, 111., and Ella, now Mrs. Webb. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Webb has been blessed with four children, viz: Estella, Ger- trude, Lawrence and Helen, all at home, and all reared, or being reared, in the faith of the Congregational church, of which the parents are consistent members, and of which Mr. Webb is chairman of the board of trustees. In politics Mr. Webb is of republican pro- clivities, but has never been an office-seeker, nor does he obtrude his personal political views y40 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD upon the readers of the Journal, although he is a member of the James A. Garfield club, of the old Nineteenth congressional district of Ohio. Fraternally, Mr. Webb is an Odd Fel- low, and his wife and one daughter are mem- bers of the Rebekah degree of that order. Mr. Webb has been very successful in his management of the Journal, and not only owns his place of business, but his newly-built dwelling on High street. Like all the other members of this old family, he stands very high in the esteem of the public. M 'ILLIAM H. WEIR. M. D.. of Edin- burg township. Portage county. Ohio, was born in Hamilton count}" November 20. 1838, a son of Dr. Elias W. and Mary G. (Ufford) Weir. Dr. Elias W. Weir was a native of \\'ash- ington county. Pa., was born in January. 1812. and when a boy was brought by his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, where his elementary education was acquired in the district schools. After due preparation he began the study of medicine, and after graduation began practice in southern Illinois, where he followed his profession until his death. In 1830 he mar- ried Miss Marv G. Ufford, who was born in Middletown, Conn., and who died in Novem- ber, 1863. Dr. E. W. Weir served through- out the war of the Rebellion in the Eleventh Missouri volunteer infantry, and three of his sons also served through the same war. in the Forty-eighth Illinois, Seventh Ohio and Sixth Indiana regiments. At the time of his death, in 1880, the doctor was one of the oldest Odd Fellows in the United States, being a charter member of lodge No. i, of Cincinnati, and also charter member of Mahoning lodge. No. 29, at Warren, Ohio, and few men were more generally and highly esteemed, both profes- sionally and fraternally. Dr. William H. Weir was educated pri- marily in the public schools of Warren, Ohio, and later attended one term of school at West Farmington, where he was a classmate of Lieut. -Gov. Jones. In 1855 he read medicine with Profs. William Paine and Judson Davis, at Warren, and then attended the Eclectic Medical college, at Philadelphia, Pa. After graduating, he practiced one year in New Wil- mington, Pa., and in 1859 removed to Xenia, 111., where he remained until the spring of ! 1 86 1, when he went to ElLzabethtown, Bar- tholomew county. Ind., meeting with success in his profession in both places. He entered the Union army in September. 1861, went to the front with company G, Sixth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, and served three years and one month as surgeon's steward and acting-as- I sistant surgeon, and was with his regiment from the battle of Shiloh to the fall of Atlanta. After the battle of Chickamauga, he received, in. recognition of his meritorious services, a recommendation from the officers of his regi- ment, to the governor of the state, a copy of which document concludes this iirticle. After his return from the army, the doctor came direct to Edinburg, Portage county, Ohio, in November. 1864, where he held a lucrative practice until the fall of 1876, when he re- moved to Stark county, Ind., where he re- mained until the spring of 1886. when he finally returned to Edinburg. Ohio, where his success has induced him to remain ever since. The marriage of Dr. Weir took place Sep- tember 23, i860, to Miss Mary J. Force, daughter of Isaac and Mary Force, and to this union have been born two children — Elton G. (deceased) and William W. The father of ' Mrs. Weir, Isaac Force, was a native of New- ton, N. J., and died in Trumbull county. Ohio, April 23, 1865, having lived in the county over seventy-seven years: his wife, Mary (Mains) Force, of Sparta, N. J., died April 17, 1867. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 941 Dr. Weir is a member of Douthitt post, No. 177, G. A. R., of Edinburg, of which he was commander one year; of the National Union, Ravenna council. No. 188; of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, No. 198, of Edinburg; of Atwater lodge, No. 649, Knights of Pythias, at Atwater; of Buckeye division, No. 97, uniform rank. Knights of Pythias, of Ravenna. He is a republican in politics and has served his party and his fellow- citizens as coroner of Portage county two years, and is now trustee of his township. He stands very high in the esteem of the com- munity both as a physician and citizen, and the following credentials or recommendations, alluded to in a former paragraph, will show that this esteem is well deserved: To his Excellency, Oliver P. Morton, Gov- ernor of the State of Indiana: Governor — We, the officers of the Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, take great pleasure in recommending to your favor- able notice Dr. W. H. Weir, as a man in every way worthy of your confidence. The doctor desires an appointment as assistant sur- geon in one of the new regiments now being raised in the state, and should your excellency think proper to give him an appointment, we feel satisfied that the doctor will fill the posi- tion with credit to himself and government. Silas D. Huckleberry, captain of company I; Daniel W. Conner, lieutenant of company I; Oscar F. Rodamel, captain of company E; Henry E. Van Tress, lieutenant of company E; Chas. C. Briant, lieutenant of company K; James F. Simpson, lieutenant of company H; Chas. Neal, captain of company H; S. T. Finney, captain of company G; A. F. Conner, first lieutenant of company D; W. P. Dillon, second lieutenant of company D; D. Kav- anaugh, captain of company A; W. N. Will- iams, first lieutenant of company G; A. W. Prather, captain of company C; Chas. A. May, lieutenant of company C; Geo. B. Green, first lieutenant of company K; Jos. J. Siddall, adjutant: C D. Campbell, major commanding. It is but a duty to me to add my recom- mendation to those of the principal officers of the Sixth, our regiment, of Dr. W. H. Weir, for promotion. He has in reality, during my absence from the regiment on detailed duty, more then any other person, attended to the wants of the sick in the regiment. He was present and with the regiment in all the battles in which it was engaged, constantly active, energetic and efficient. Of temperate habits, and well versed in his profession, he deserves a preferment, although I consider it as a loss to the regiment. Chas. Schussler, Surgeon Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, at present acting medical director. Second division. Twentieth army corps. <>^ OLLIN S. WEBB, an eminent attor- I ^^ ney of Garrettsville, was born in M - F Freedom township. Portage county, Ohio, January 4, 1844, and is a son of James and Eliza (Landfear) Webb, natives respectively of Corfu, Genesee county, N. Y. , and Hartford, Conn. John Webb, grandfather of Rollin S., was the founder of the family in the United States, having early settled in Genesee county, N. Y., where he owned one of the largest and most valuable farms in the county. He had a fam- ily of eleven children and lived to reach the great age of ninety-four years. James Webb, father of subject, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., in 1799. His early youth was passed on the farm, but, not being favored with robust health, he later gave more attention to study than to farm labor. His preparatory education was secured at Batavia, N. Y. ; later he studied and graduated in medi- cine, practiced for some years in Holley, N. Y. , and about 1840 came to Ohio, and settled in Freedom township, Portage county, where he bought a small farm and also owned a drug store, but his medical practice was very exten- 942 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD sive and claimed almost his exclusive attention until his death, which occurred in 1852. His widow subsequently removed to Garrettsville, where her death took place. To these parents were born ten children, viz: Cornelia, who is married to James Scott Reilley, of Bay City, Mich.; Warren J. was a member of the law firm of Davis, Wingate & Webb, of St. Louis, Mo., and died in 1858; Eliza J. is the wife of Dr. A. H. Tidball, of Garrettsville, Ohio; Caroline is married to W. S. Wight, also of Garrettsville; Sarah M. died in Freedom and was unmarried; Mervin F., a member of the Fifteenth Ohio battery, died at Natchez, Miss. ; Rollin Samuel is the subject of this biography; Helen M. was married to Warren Peirce and died in Garretsville; Charles B. re- sides in Garrettsville, and Mary is the wife of Charles Roberts, of Trumbull county, Ohio. The parents of this family were members of the Congregational church, and in politics the father was a democrat. Rollin Samuel Webb received a common- school and academical education, and at the age of eighteen years went to Youngstown, where he clerked a year, and next taught school one year in Ravenna; he then clerked a year in Garrettsville, after which he went to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he studied dentistry, and for a few years practiced that profession in Garrettsville. He next studied law, was admitted to the bar by the supreme court at Columbus, in 1880, and was also ad- mitted to the Portage county bar in the same year, since when he has been in active prac- tice, and has steadily risen to prominence. He has an office in Garrettsville and one in Ravenna; is attorney for the Western Union Telegraph company; for the R. G. Dun com- pany, and for many years has been attorney for the First National bank of Garrettsville, and has a large general practice in the state and United States courts, having also been admitted to the bar of the latter — his practice being about equally divided between the two. Mr. Webb was united in marriage, in 1871, with Miss Vine F. Gilson, a native of Mid- dlefield, Ohio, and a daughter of William H. Gilson. This union has been blessed with one child — Roscoe J. , who is a student at Hiram college. In politics Mr. Webb is a republican and has served as city solicitor many years under the auspices of his party. He is a member of the Garfield club and is an ardent worker for the success of republicanism at each and every campaign. Fraternally, he is a royal arch Mason, and is a past member of Garrettsville lodge. No. 246, F. & A. M. HDAM WENKLER, a thriving farmer, and respected citizen of Rootstown township, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Darmstadt, Germany, July 4, 1829, a son of John and Catherine (Yountzer) Wenkler, the former of whom was a musician, and died August, 1839, at the age thirty-nine years, the latter having passed away in 1834 — both in the Catholic faith, and the parents of three children, viz: Adam, George, and one who died in infancy, unnamed. In 1840, Adam Wenkler came to Ohio with an uncle. Being a poor boy of eleven years of age, and left to his own resources, he sought employment on the canal, where he worked a short time, then secured a position on the railroad, and also worked in different capacities among the farmers until he had saved sufficient means to buy a place for him- self. He was first married, October 6, 1850, to Miss Catherine Gauer, daughter of John and Margaret (Rice) Gauer, and to this union were born seven children, viz: John; Valentine W. ; Catherine, wife of Joseph Husler; Frank; Elizabeth, wife of Orlando Bosserman; Mar- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 943 garet, wife of John Jordan, and Charles. The mother of these children died February 6, 1870, at the age of forty years, and on the 12th day of November, 1873, Mr. Wenkler was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Zer- mer, and to this union was born one child — Kate, the wife of Henry E. Frank. Mrs. Mary A. Wenkler was called from earth April 14, 1878, aged thirty-two years, and for the third time Mr. Wenkler was joined in matri- mony, October 7, 1882, marrying Mrs. Reid- inger, a daughter of Michael and Barbara (Flowers) Rose, but to this marriage no chil- dren have born, although Mrs. Wenkler was the mother, by her former husband, Henry Reidinger, of three children, two of whom still survive, viz: Barbara, wife of William Wenk- ler, the son of our subject, and John; Mar- garet died December 6, 1895, at the age of thirty years, the wife of Daniel Morgan. The parents of Mrs. Wenkler were natives of Lo- benstein, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where Mrs. Wenkler was herself born, September 28, 1838. The father was a farmer, and died in Germany in 1867, at the age of fifty-three years, and the mother in 1881, aged sixty- seven, both members of the Catholic church, and the parents of nine children, viz: Mrs. W'enkler; Michael; Barbara, the wife of Charles Carl, and Jacob, all still living, and John Adam, Philip, Christine and Valentine, all de- ceased. In 1882, Mrs. W'enkler (then Mrs. Reidinger), brought her two children to America, coming to Rootstown township, where she met and married our subject, as re- lated above. In 1879, Adam Wenkler made a trip to Germany, where he remained four months, and on his return engaged in farming in Roots- town township, of which he has made a com- plete success. In politics he is a democrat, and has filled various township offices, includ- ing that of school director, in which latter capacity he has served the past nine years, He has been a steward in the Catholic church for twenty years, and is greatly respected as one of the most industrious and useful citizens of Rootstown, and is regarded as among its most prosperous and substantial farmers. BRANCIS SALMON WESTON, one of the most prosperous farmers of Springfield township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, is a native of this county and was born January 11, 1857, and is a son of Salmon N. and Mary J. (Force) Weston. He received his education in the district school and was reared on his father's farm until sev- enteen years of age, when he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits on his own account. May 27, 1880, he was united in marriage with Miss Cora J. Elliott, daughter of James and Lu- cinda (Norton) Elliott, and this union has been blessed with six children, viz: Nellie V., who was born December 11, 1882, and died in September, 1883; Cynthia B., born March 10, 1885; Howard S., December 17. 1886; Leora A., June 6, 1889; Mary L., June 26, 1892; and King, September 21, 1896. Mrs. Cora J. (Elliott) Weston was born in Springfield township. May 27, 1859, her par- ents being also natives of this place. King J. Elliott was an extensive farmer, in connection with which vocation he was for many years engaged in threshing, and was likewise a breeder of throughbred horses, owning, among others, the well-known trotting stallion. North Light, which he purchased in Kentucky. To his marriage with Miss Lucinda Norton were born three children, two of whom are still liv- ing — Mrs. Weston and Frederick K. ; a daugh- ter, who was married to Mr. White, was called from earth December 7, 1891, at the age of thirty-four years. In politics, Mr. Elliott was very prominent as a republican, 944 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and served for a number of }ears as county commissoner, for over twenty years as a mem- ber of the school board, and for a long time was township treasurer. Fraternally, he was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Knights of Honor, and died, a greatly honored citizen, November 22, 1896, having been preceded to the grave by his wife, who died September 4 of the same \ear. Francis S. Weston, our subject, in connec- tion with general farming, was for about eleven years engaged in dairying, and also in raising live-stock, breeding from North Light, mentioned abo\'e, and which was eventually sold for $4,000. In politics, Mr. Weston is an active and influential democrat, and has served his fellow-citizens as township super- visor, as school director for ten years, and in 1897 was elected township treasurer, an office he still retains. He is prominent as a citizen, and his reputation as a farmer and live-stock breeder is not confined to his immediate local- ity, his name being most favorably known throughout Summit and adjacent counties. His integrity' has never been impugned, and he and family are honored and respectfully alluded to wherever the name of Weston is known. '^-t'ACOB WERSTLER, a prosperous M farmer and highly-respected citizen of A 1 Suffield township. Portage county, Ohio, was born January 21, 1839, in Lake township. Stark county, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Harley) Werstler, the former of whom was a native of Maryland and the latter of Stark county, Ohio. The father was but six years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Stark county, where he was reared on a farm. He was twice mar- ried, his last wife being Miss Harley, daughter of John Harley, and to this union were born nine children, of whom six are still living, viz: John, Jacob, Benjamin, Sarah (wife of Jonas Heiser), William and Allen. The deceased were named Daniel, Christine (wife of John Eicholtz) and Lewis. In politics the father was a democrat, and served as school director and supervisor; in religion he was a Lutheran, and died in this faith in July, 1866, at the age of sixty-five years, a highly- respected citizen. The Harley family is of German origin, the grandfather of Mrs. Sarah W' erstler being the first of this immediate branch to come to America. Jacob Werstler, the subject of this biog- raphy, was reared on his father's farm in Stark county, and was educated in the district school. At the age of twenty-two years he left the home place and engaged in farming on his own account, and, March 5, 1865, formed his first matrimonial alliance, which was with Miss Rebecca Gingerich, daughter of Christian and Mary (Bernheisel) Gingerich, and to this union were born three children, viz: Mary E. (wife of Jacob Bear), Zachariah and Harvey, ^[rs. Rebecca Werstler was called from earth August 30, 1878, at thirty-four years of age, and Mr. Werstler chose for his second helpmate Miss Hannah Shafer, to whom he was united Jan- uary 30, 1879, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz: Richard Earl, Thomas F. and Salvia Ruth. Mrs. Hannah Werstler was born in Marlborough township. Stark county, Ohio, January 9, 185 1, and is a daugh- ter of Jacob and Elizabeth (^Snyder) Shafer. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio in early life and here married Miss Snyder, the result of the union being eight children, three of whom died in infancy, the survivors being Christe Ann, wife of Joseph Bitterman; George; Mrs. Werstler, and Ann, wife of Wesley Wise; Gadilia, who was mar- ried to Solomon Snyder, and died in 1 89 1 . The father was a tailor by trade, but his later years OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 945 were passed in farming. He was a member of the United Brethren church and passed away in this faith at the age of sixty-six years, his wife dying in March, 1878, aged seventy-two, also in the same faith. Jacob Werstler, the subject of this memoir, first followed agricultural pursuits in Portage county after marrying, but shortly afterward returned to Lake township. Stark county, where he followed the same calling until 1875, when he came back to Portage county and purchased his present place in Suffield town- ship, which has since been his permanent home. He is industrious and thoroughly prac- tical and well knows how to make his farm profitable. In politics he is a democrat, and has served as school director three years. He and family are consistent members of the Lutheran church, and are greatly respected by the entire community in which they live. OSCAR BOSLEY, an old soldier, and for many years engaged in the lum- ber business and saw-milling in Gar- rettsville, was born in Farmington, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 15,1 846, a son of Elisha and Elvira (Griffith) Bosley, of an old New York state family, and early settlers in Ohio. Elisha, the father of Oscar, was born in Ohio, and was a carpenter. He married, in Trumbull county, Elvira Griffith, and the fam- ily moved to Illinois about 1848, and located first at Poplar Grove, and shortly afterward settled in Whiteside county and worked at his trade in Morrison and Portland. His children were Oscar, Annie, George, Carrie, Mary (who died aged about twenty-eight or thirty years) and Flora, who died a married woman aged about thirty-two years. Elisha Bosley en- listed, in 1 861, in company K, Thirty-fourth regiment Illinois volunteer infantry, for three 41 years or during the war, served three years and three months, and was honorably dis- charged at Springfield, Ills. He was in many battles, and in the great Atlanta campaign. In his last battle his company suffered fear- fully and had but few men left. He was sick with rheumatism in hospital and was greatly disabled by his services, and died about 1883, from the effects of his army life, at Garretts- ville, Ohio, aged about sixty-one years. He and wife were both members of the Disciples' church and later in life became members of the Baptist church. Mr. Bosley was a very straight and active man and a respected citizen. Oscar Bosley received a common education in Illinois, where he was taken by his parents when but a child. He enlisted, at the age of about seventeen years, at Eaglesville, Ashta- bula county, Ohio, April 9, 1865, in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, the same regiment in which President McKinley served as a private ten months before he was promoted to be second lieutenant. Mr. Bos- ley enlisted for three years or during the war, and was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1865, on account of the closing of the war. He was an active soldier and on duty with his regiment at Strasburg, and Staunton, Va. He returned to Eagles- ville, Ohio, but later engaged in saw-milling at Cory, Pa. He worked at the transfer station, near Sharon, Pa. , and then came to Warren, Ohio, where he worked in a rolling mill for about eighteen years, as weighmaster and shearer — a good position. He next engaged in the hotel business for two years in Warren, and came to Garrettsville in March, 1880, and engaged in teaming. He then entered the employ of O. Collings in his saw-mill and rake factory, and worked until the death of Mr. Collings, and then, in company with Nelson Steele, bought the mill property and has since done a good business, and is well known as a 946 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD straightforward business man. Mr. Bosley married, October 7, 1866, in Warren county, Ohio, Catherine Meesmer, of Champion, Ohio. She was born in Mercer county, Pa. , daughter of Jacob and Cassie Meesmer, of sturd}' Penn- sylvania-Dutch stock. To Mr. and Mrs. Bos- ley have been born Frank, Nellie I. and Ger- trude. In politics Mr. Bosley is a republican, is a member of Mark Horton post, G. A. R. , at Garrettsville, and has held the offices of junior vice-commander and chaplain. Mr. Bosley is an excellent citizen and stands high for his integrity of character. Mrs. Bosley had two brothers in the Civil war — Jacob in the Sixth Ohio cavalry, who veteran- ized; David was in the Ohio infantry, enlisting in the three years' service. ISAAC CORNELL, of Garrettsville, Ohio, is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and an honored citizen. He was born in Orleans county, N. Y. , August 6, 1844. He enlisted, September 6, 1862, at Barre, N. Y., as a sharpshooter in Bowen's independent rifles, when he was but eighteen years old, but the company was mus- tered as company A, One Hundred and Fifty- first New York volunteer infantry, Capt. H. Bowen, for three years or during the war, and served until honorably discharged at Washing- ton, D. C, June 26, 1865. He was in the following battles: Wilderness. Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, second, Cold Harbor, third, Petersburg, Monocacy, Charlestown, Winches- ter, Opequon, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg, and Sailor's Creek, the last battle of any consequence of the war, and was also in many skirmishes. Mr. Cornell was always an active soldier, except three months, when he was in hospital with typhoid pneumonia at Washington and Central Park, N. J. He was in all the campaigns, marches, battles and skirmishes, except the battle at Locust Grove, Va., while he was sick in hospital. He considers the battle of the Wilderness to be the hardest in which he was engaged, last- ing thirty days. His hardest march was on July 4, from Frederick City, Md. , to South Mount- ain Gap, eighteen miles, through a very heavy thunder storm. At one time he marched twenty-five miles in six hours, and carried his knapsack and accouterments, weighing sixty pounds, and was one of five comrades of his company who came into camp. This march the boys made with light hearts, as the war was over and they were on the return home in 1865. He had received, when young, a common- school education, and attended the academy at Albion, N. Y. , one term, and one week on the second term, when he enlisted from purely patriotic motives. On his return to Orleans county, N. Y., he engaged in farming on his father's farm, and remained until 1873. He married, in Orleans county, October 2, 1867, Sarah Axtell, daughter of Charles and Phebe (House) Axtell. Mr. Cornell moved to Garrettsville in 1873, and here he has since lived, and for nearly twenty-five years has been employed in the Pail factory, in which he owned a one-quarter in- terest when he came to Garrettsville, but since has sold out. His first wife died November 12, 1874, at Garrettsville, and he next mar- ried, September 2, 1875, near Garrettsville, Sarah Linton, who was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, May 23, 18^4, a daughter of Charles and Charity Linton. Mr. Linton and wife were from Somersetshire, England. He was a farmer, and settled in Ashtabula coun- ty, Ohio, early in the 'forties, and was. a re- spected citizen. His children were Elizabeth, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, Jennie and Urich. He lived to be seventy-four years old, and died in Ashtabula county, a member of the Methodist OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 947 church, and an industrious and straightforward citizen. The Cornell family is of sturdy Holland- Dutch ancestry, and early settlers of the old Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Peter Cornell, the father of Isaac, was born on the Hudson river, and became a sub- stantial farmer. His father, Cornelius Cor- nell, was a large landowner of Dutchess county, N. Y. and owned 600 acres of land. Peter Cornell, the father of subject, owned a farm of 300 acres in Orleans county, N. Y. His first wife, the mother of subject, was Amanda Hall. The maternal grandfather was impressed in England, and forced into the British army, and came to America to fight for the cause of his king in the war of the Revolution, but deserted and joined the cause of the colonies. His father, Gen. S. G. Hall, was a soldier in the war of 18 12. Peter Cor- nell and wife had three children who lived to maturity, viz: Cornelius A., Amanda J., and Isaac. Mr. Cornell lived to be about sixty years old, and died on his farm a much re- spected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Cornell are the parents of Charles E. and William G. In politics he is a republican. Fraternally he is a member of Portage lodge, No 456, I. O. O. F., at Garrettsville, and of James A. Garfield court, No. 684. Mr. Cornell was a good soldier, has been an industrious citizen and is much re- spected in the community in which he has passed so many years of his useful life. >^OHN M. BISSELL, a well-known busi- M ness man of Garrettsville, Portage coun- A 1 ty, Ohio, was born in Medina county, Ohio, November 13, 1844, a son of Rowland F. and Betsy (Marsh) Bissell. He received a limited common-school education, and enlisted in January, 1864, in Capt. Jonas Schoonover's company H, Twenty-ninth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and served until he was honorably discharged, in July, 1865, on ac- count of the closing of the war, with the rank of corporal. He was in the battles of Mill Creek Gap, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Knob, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. He was then on the march to the sea and in the battle at Savannah, Ga.; North Edisto River, S. C, and Goldsboro, N. C, March 23, 1863. He marched in the grand review, at Washing- ton, D. C. , and then returned to Ohio. After the war Mr. Bissell settled in Bath township. Summit county, Ohio, where he married Addie M. Conkling January 7, 1869 — daughter of Rial and Hannah (Sweet) Conk- ling, and in 1873 moved to Garrettsville, and, with the exception of two years when he lived in Akron, has since resided here. For some time he was engaged in draying and expressing; he has also been in the grocery and coal business, and on July 21, 1896, he bought his present property, which consists of a residence and twenty acres. He also owns another residence and lot in Garrettsville, and is now engaged in the ice business. Mrs. Bissell is an invalid, and for twenty- three years has not walked a step, but uses a wheeled chair skillfully and does much work. She bears her great affliction with rare patience and fortitude, and is a lady of much refine- ment. In politics Mr. Bissell is a stanch re- publican. He is a member of the G. A. R., Mark Horton post, Garrettsville, and has held the office of quartermaster. He is also a member of the Blue lodge, F. & A. M., at Garrettsville, and of Portage lodge. No. 456, I. O. O. F. Mr. Bissell has always been a straightforward, industrious and reliable man. He was a good soldier, and is an excellent citizen. John Bissell, the grandfather of subject. 948 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD was bom in New England. He married Miss Fish, and settled in Ontario county, N. Y., where he died. His children were Rowland, Lorenzo, Carlos and Almira. Rowland Bissell, the father of subject, was born in Ontario county, N. Y. , April 14, 18 10. He was a farmer and lumberman, and married Betsey Marsh, of Ontario county, N. Y. , a daughter of Marcius Marsh. Mr. Bissell moved to Ohio, and settled in Westfield, Mor- row county, about 1837, and bought land and cleared a farm. His children were Dilana, Mandona, Lorenzo, Louisa and John M. Mr. Bissell moved to Bath township in 1861, bought a farm and saw-mill, and here passed his remaining days. He was an industrious and substantial man, respected by all. He lived to be seventy-eight years old and died in 1889. Rial Conkling was a second cousin to Roscoe Conkling, the famous statesman. Rial was the son of Augustus and Rhodah (Denton) Conkling. Augustus Conkling was a citizen of Cajuga county, N. Y. Rial Conk- ling was born July 10, 1820, in Cayuga coun- ty, N. Y. , and came to Ohio in 1840 and set- tled in Bath, Summit county, Ohio, on land and here passed his remaining days. His children were Augustus, Addie, Austin, Sel- wyn, Frank and George. In politics he was a republican. He lived to be seventy-three years old and died in 1892. He was an up- right, industrious and respected man — car- penter and stone mason was his trade. John Bissell, the founder of the family, and with a brother came over from England to the Plymouth colony, Mass., in 1628. One brother was drowned in Plymouth harbor. John Bissell came with the colony to Windsor, Conn. , and was soon sent back to England for cattle. For faithful services he was rewarded with the Windsor Ferry, called to this day the Bissell Ferry. It is believed that all of the name in this country descended from him. Benjamin Bissell was a soldier in the war of the Revolution and died of camp dysentery in middle life. He had three sons, viz: Israel; Justice, who settled in Aurora, Portage coun- ty, Ohio, where he died, aged seventy years, and Robert; also four daughters: Eunice, Roxanna, Prudence and Anna. Benjamin Bissell died in Massachusetts. Prof. Samuel Bissell, foHnder of Twinsburg academy, was born in Middlefield, Hampshire county, Mass., j April 28, 1797, and died in Twinsburg, Ohio, August 26, 1895. ta ILLIAM M. HANSEL, an eminent educator of Suffield township. Port- age county, Ohio, and an ex-sol- dier of the late Civil war, was born in Stark county, Ohio, April 6, 1848, and is a son of Thomas M. and Mary Ann (Nees) Hansel. He spent his boyhood days in his native county until his eighth year, when he came to Portage county, receiving his element- ary education in the public schools, later at- tending the Marlboro high school for one year, and then entering Mount Union college, where he remained two years. He next entered the Normal university for two years, and then spent a year of study at Hiram college, finish- ing his education at the Ohio State university at Columbus. He began teaching, in 1868, in Lake township. Stark county, Ohio, and also taught in Portage and Summit counties. In 1880, he began teaching in the city schools of Kent, and taught there until 1890, since when he has been teaching in the Uniontown high school, and ranks as one of the most; pro- gressive instructors of youth in this section. Mr. Hansel, at the early age of sixteen years, manifested his patriotism by enlisting. May 2, 1864, and serving until the following February, when he was honorably discharged, and immediately re-enlisted in company H, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 949 One Hundred and Eighty-fourth O. V. I., and served until October, when he was again hon- orably discharged, owing to the close of the war. William M. Hansel was first married, De- cember 25, 1887, to Miss Emma Myer, who had been his pupil when but seven years old and was a daughter of E. Y. and Matilda (Darner) Dyer. To this union was born one son, Clay Devailt, September 7, 1888. Mrs. Hansel died March 10, 1889, aged twenty-five years, and Mr. Hansel next married, November 20, 1 89 1, Miss Laura Adams, daughter of Charles and Rachel (Reidenbach) Adams, who were natives of Lancaster, Pa. The parents of our subject were natives of Stark county, Ohio. The father was born in August, 1 818, and was engaged in farming all his life. He married Miss Mary Ann Nees, daughter of Jacob Nees, and to this marriage were born a family of eight children, six of whom still survive, viz: Peter, residing in Missouri; William M., our subject; Catherine E., wife of Frank Hoover; Joseph, residing in Thendon, Mich. ; James Murrey, of Summit county, Ohio, and Ransom. Those passed away were John Wesley and Warren. The mother was a member of the Reformed church, and passed away in i886, aged sixty-six years. The father still survives, and resides at Union- town, Stark county, with his daughter. He has passed the allotted " three score and ten," by nine years, and is still a hale and hearty old gentleman. Anthony Hansel, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Maryland, the son of a large slave holder there. Anthony came to Stark county, Ohio, about 1812, and bought the old homestead of about 280 acres, where he lived and died. He was married three times^ — the first time to a Miss Murrey, to which marriage were born nine children; his second marriage was to a Miss Hooven, and to this union was born ten children; his third marriage was with Miss Mary Carr, but to this union there was no issue. Mr. Hansel passed away in 1868, and his third wife died in 1864. Jacob Nees, the maternal grandfather of William M. Hansel, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and came to this state and settled in Stark county, where he engaged in farming. He held the office of justice of the peace of his township for thirty years. He also was married three times, his third wife having been a Mrs. Crestleaf. Mr. Nees died in 1866, aged sixty-eight years; his widow then married a William Myers, and still survives. Jacob Nees, great-grandfather on the maternal side, was a native of Pennsylvania and served as a soldier in the war of 18 12. The family of our subject's first wife were natives of Summit county. Her father, E. Y. Myer, had been a manufacturer and was also the inventor of eighty different patterns for potter's ware. He was married to Miss Ma- tilda Crame, daughter of John Crame, and their union was blessed with seven children, four of whom are still living, viz: Ida, Mary, Carilla (wife of Charles Gibe, secretary of the ABC street railway, and residing at Cuyahoga Falls) and Bertha, residing at Mansfield; those passed away were Emma (wife of our subject), Elmer and Salvina. The parents of the second wife of our subject were natives of Lancaster county, Pa. William M. Hansel, when a young man, learned the carpenter's trade, serving an ap- prenticeship of four years under Henry Miller, of Stark county, after which he followed the trade for two years. Beside his duties in teaching, Mr. Hansel is engaged in farming and breeding fine stock, owning some of the finest horses in the county, such as Eva Wilkes, by Robert Wilkes; Alba Hyle, bred by Hyle; also Hyle's Maid, by Hyle; also Bounding Boy, by Almatuna; Kitty Almatuna, 950 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and Maggie and Jerry Almatuna; also King Northlight, by Northlight, and Maud North- light, by Northlight. Mr. Hansel also pos- sesses two Morgan horses — Highland Boy and Highland Pearl, by Highland Boy; also some other stock, descendants of Bell Northlight. Our subject, Mr. Hansel, has served as school director for a number of years, but, with all his multitudinous duties, he still finds opportunities to keep in touch with the outer world by taking extensive trips through the west and south during his vacations — in i8Si taking a journey of 8,000 miles, visiting Cali- fornia; in 1882 he visited the northwest, and in 1883 spent some time in Florida, but has finally settled in his pleasant home in Union- town, a genial, enterprising and respected citizen. a APT. JAMES HORNER, of Garretts- ville. Portage county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Philadelphia, July i, 1827, a son of Samuel and Jane Horner. He was ed- ucated in the public schools of Philadelphia and enlisted in the regular United States army in January, 1851, in company A, engineer corps, Capt. George B. McClellan, afterward served in the Civil war. Mr. Horner served five years as an artificer. He was stationed at West Point about one and a half years, and then was one of a detail of ten men from his company on the original survey of the North- ern Pennsylvania railroad, crossed the conti- nent on this survey, and passed the winter of 1853-4, at Olympia, on Puget Sound. He left Fort Snelling, north of St. Paul, Minn., and saw no more of civilization until the sur- veying party reentered Olympia, on Puget Sound. When crossing the plains, the com- pany met with different wild tribes of Indians, including the Chippewas, Sioux, Blackfeet, Snakes, Spokanes, Flatheads and the Chi- nocks, but had on trouble. The plains were alive with game, and in one enormous herd Capt. Horner saw, on the prairies in western Minnesota, one estimated to contain at least 1,000,000 buffalo, elk, deer and antelope. It was one year from the time he left West Point, until he returned. The expedition was about three months in crossing the great plains and the Rocky mountains. Capt. Hor- ner was mustered out and honorably dis- charged in 1856, and came to Ohio in the spring of that year and engaged in the shoe business at Cleveland, Mr. Horner married, in December, 1S56, at Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio, Ella A. Moore, daughter of Watson W. Moore, from Connecticut. Capt. Horner then settled in Trumbull county, and enlisted in the Civil war, August 26, 1861, on the first call for three-year men, in company A, Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war. He then, while in camp Wood, recruited company K, of the same regiment, and was commissioned first lieu- tenant of the company, October 29, 1861, and was promoted for meritorious and gallant conduct to be captain, February 8, 1862. He resigned March i, 1864, having served about two years, seven months and three days. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Tenn., Stone River, Tenn., Woodberry, Tenn., Liberty Gap, Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga. , and at Brown's Ferry, Orchard Knob, Tenn., Mission Ridge. Capt. Horner was always an active and effi- cient officer, and was not wounded nor in hos- pital nor a prisoner. He was in all the battles, skirmishes, campaigns and marches in which his regiment was engaged and was always an active and gallant officer. Capt. Horner was in eight battles and many skirmishes. He lost his saber at the battle of Stone River, it being shot out of his hand. OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 951 Capt. Horner returned to Trumbull county and engaged at Mesoptomia in the shoe busi- ness. He went to Philadelphia in 1870, en- gaged in the carpet business, returned to Ohio in 1889 and settled in Garrettsville, Ohio, and is now retired. He is a member of G. A. R. post, No. 2, of Phildadelphia. Capt. Horner and wife are the parents of Lottie M., Nettie A. and Florence B. Samuel Horner, father of the captain, set- tled in Philadelphia, about 1825. He became a manufacturer of carpets, and was a well-to- do man. His first wife died in Philadelphia, and he then married Jane E. and their children were Catherine L. , Samuel, Jr., and Robert. Samuel, Jr., was a ' private in the Civil war in a Pennsylvania regiment and served three years. His regiment was stationed at Long Bridge and Washington, during the war and Samuel, Jr., was one of the guards when J. Wilkes Booth crossed the bridge, on horseback, on his flight after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. '^y^l'ILLIAM H. LINTON, trustee and ■ ■ I superintendent of the Ravenna WjL^ water-works, was born in this city December 23, 1853, and is a son of Isaiah and Mary (Riley) Linton, natives of Pennsylvania, Quakers in religion, and parents of three children, two of whom are still living, viz: William H., the subject of this memoir, and Edith, the wife of Arthur D. Knapp. Mahlon Linton, the paternal grandfather of William H. Linton, was a descendant of the family of that name who came with William Penn to America in 1682 and settled in Bucks county, Penn. He settled in Washington county, in the same state, about 1800, and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until his death, in the Quaker faith, after having reared the un- usually large family of thirteen or fourteen children. John Riley, the maternal grand- father of subject, was a glassworker, reared a large family, and also ended his days in the Keystone state. Isaiah Linton was early taught civil engi- neering in his native state and in 1847 came to Ohio, making his home in Ravenna. He was chief engineer of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh for over forty years, was county surveyor two terms, and for a number of terms was resident engineer of the Ohio board of public works, and enjoyed a widespread reputation for his wonderful accuracy in the science which was his life-long pursuit. His death took place at the age of seventy-four, " in 1891, and his memory is still kept green by his numerous friends. His widow is still a resident of Ra- venna — a revered and honored lady. William H. Linton was principally educated in the public schools of Ravenna and graduated from the high school in 1872. He acquired the greater part of his knowledge as a civil engineer, his life profession, under the tuition of his accomplished father. He has held his present position of water-works trustee of Ravenna for over eleven years, and his pro- found knowledge of hydraulics is universally conceded to be a fixed fact. The marriage of William H. Linton took place October 3, 1883, to Miss Clara A. Knapp, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Carson) Knapp, who rank among the most respected residents of the city. One child has blessed this union, and is named Robert Isaiah. Mr. and Mrs. Linton are always welcomed in the social circles of Ravenna, with whom they are held in high esteem, as they are both of genial, pleasant disposition and very corteous, having kind words for all, regardless of rank or station. In politics Mr. Linton is a republican, but not a partisan in the office-seeking sense of the word, but is simply a republican from con- scientious conviction that his party's principles 952 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD are better adapted than those of any other of the leading parties for the proper government of the country. *^J^ OBERT G. MARSHALL, who is just I /^T entering upon his career as a farmer M. . F and stockbreeder in Northampton township, Summit county, was born in Akron, December 12, 1868, a son of Thomas C. and Rachel (Fuller) Marshall, who are the parents of three children, viz: Inez, who was born July 20, 1866, and is now a teacher in the public schools of Akron; Robert G., whose name opens this paragraph; and Thomas J., who was born December 12, 1874, and who resides with his parents in Akron, the latter being of Pennsylvania origin. Thomas C. Marshall, the father of subejct, was a wagonmaker by trade, but for the last twenty-seven years has been i n the employ of Altman, Miller & Co., manufacturers. In 1894 he purchased the farm of 216 acres on which subject now resides. He has made all the improvements on this place in the way of buildings, etc., so far made, and this farm will be one of the finest in the county when all the plans now under headway shall have been completed. The location is one of the most delightful to the eye in the township, overlooking, as it does, Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. Robert G. Marshall was educated in the public schools of Akron, and in 1886 entered the employ of Altman, Miller & Co., and re- mained with them until the spring of 1896. March 30, of the same year, he married Miss Jessie Smetts, daughter of George A. Smetts, also of Akron. The young couple immediately went to housekeeping on the beautiful farm mentioned above, where their prospect for a happy future is most flattering. Mr. Marshall is fond of good horses and his stable is well supplied with blooded stock, and this will re- ceive his special care, as it is his intention to devote his time to graded live stock as well as to farming: Mr. Marshall is a prominent member of Atoclia lodge, No. 24, Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a republican. Mr. Marshall is of pleasing address and has many warm friends in Akron who esteem him most highly, and as he has always been an industrious and temperate young man, of broad intellect and comprehensive views, there can exist no doubt that he will make a success of life in his new field of industry. ISAAC MISHLER, a leading farmer of Sufifield township. Portage county, was born in Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio, September 14, 1838, a son of Joseph and Magdalene (Garl) Mishler. Joseph Mishler was born in Lancaster county. Pa., November 11, 181 1, and came to Ohio when a young man, settling in Summit county, where he bought land and engaged in farming. November 23, 1837, he married, in New Berlin, Stark county. Miss Garl, who was born in Stark county. May 4, 1817, a daughter of Reuben Garl, and to this union were born eleven children, six of whom are still living, viz: Isaac, our subject, the eldest; Jacob, born December 9, 1843; Benjamin, born August 27, 1845; Eliza, born June 15, 1850, and married to Conrad Brumbaugh; Catherine, born April 17, 1854, now the wife of J. B. Richard, and Joseph W. , born July 27, 1857. The deceased children were David, who died July 18, 1840; Levi, who died March 20, 1 841 ; Elizabeth, who was the wife of John May, died in May, 1896, at the age of fifty years; twin boys, who died at birth, in Decem- ber, 1856. Both parents died in the faith of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 953 the German Baptist church, of which they had been life-long members. Isaac Mishler passed his early life on his father's farm, receiving, meantime, a limited education in the common school. At the age of twenty-one he began learning the carpen- ter's trade, which he followed fourteen years, and in 1866 settled on his present farm in Suffield township, where he has ever since been prosperously engaged in cultivating his fields. The marriage of Mr. Mishler took place in November, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Lutz, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Mishler) Lutz, and to this union were born five children, viz: Maria, wife of Jeremiah Garl; Nancy, married to Henry Gaymeyer, and Aaron, liv- ing with his parents; Reuben, died when one year old, and Levi died October 7, 1870, at the age of seven months. Mrs. Mishler was born March 7, 1 841, in Lancaster county. Pa., whence her parents came to Ohio in 1845, ^'^'^ settled in Portage county. They had born to them a family of twelve children, of whom four are now deceased, viz: Kate, Sarah, Margaret and George; the survivors are Henry, Susan (wife of Isaac Grouse); Ezra, Eliz- abeth, William, Maria (Mrs. Henry Woodring), Nancy (wife of Benjamin Radabaugh), and Joseph. The father of this family died in Au- gust, 1875, and the mother in June, 1885, the latter being aged seventy-nine years, and both were devout members of the German Baptist church. Mr. Mishler has served as school director twenty-three years. He and family are all members of the German Baptist church, and fully live up to its precepts. He has led a truly good and useful life, has always been in- dustrious and intelligent in the management of his affairs, and as a result is in quite comfort- able circumstances, enjoying the good will and esteem of all who know him. at ALLACE SCOTT, a native of North- ampton township, and a prosperous farmer, was born September 15, 1843, and is a son of Isaac and Fanny (Wallace) Scott, who were, as the name fully implies, of Scottish origin. Isaac Scott, father of subject, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, March 31, 1817, son of Banlield and Lydia (Norris) Scott, who were natives, respectively, of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and the parents of two chil- dren — Isaac and Sarah. Mrs. Lydia Scott was thrice married, her first husband having been Stephen Lamonyon, to whom she bore three children — Charles, Cornelius and Ste- phen; her second marriage was with Mr. Scott, with the result mentioned above, and after his death, in Medina county, Ohio, in 1832, she married Joseph Dean, by whom she be- came the mother of one child, James. The father of subject, at the age of fifteen years, commenced the battle of life on his own re- sponsibility, and until twenty-two years old worked at different employments in Summit and neighboring counties. December 28,1 837, he married Miss Fanny Wallace, daughter of Henry and Clarissa (Strong) Wallace, and to this union were born three children, viz : Henry, December 28, 1840; Wallace, the sub- ject of this notice, and Walter, January 23, 1852, but who died December 9, 1864. Henry, the eldest child, married Miss Ida Bishop, in 1 86 1, and then enlisted in company H, Twen- ty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, but was hon- orably discharged in 1862, on account of poor health; the next year he re-enlisted and en- tered company H, One Hundred and Seventy- seventh volunteer infantry, as first corporal, was promoted to sergeant and served until the close of the war. Mrs. Isaac Scott was a na- tive of Stowe township. Summit county, and was born April 14, 1822. Her grandfather, Theodore Strong, was a commander of a ves- 954 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD sel of war under Admiral David Porter, in the war of 1S12-15. He knew little, indeed, of ease and comfort until within a few years of his death, in the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which his wife was also a member. Wallace Scott, the subject, was united in marriage, March 3, 1867, with Miss Mar\' E. Best, who was born June 17, 1857, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Watsoni Best; of the seven children born to this marriage two died in infancy; the survivors are Charles, who was born Angust 9, 1875; Fannie, August 20, 1877; Florence, January 2, 1880; Mollie Z., March 3, 1882, and Frank W., March 25, 1886. Mr. Scott purchased the farm of 100 acres on which he now resides, in 1867, and he also owns another tract of sixty-five acres in this town- ship, and is recognized as an excellent farmer. Although his own education was acquired in the district schools, he believes in a higher class of education and has seen to it that his children have done and are doing better in this respect. His daughter, Fannie, is a graduate of the Cuyahoga Falls high school and is now teaching in school-district No. 3, Northampton township; Florence has also at- tended the high school at Cuyahoga Falls, and one term at Buchtel college. In politics Mr. Scott is a democrat, and has held several town- ship offices, among them that of treasurer for eight years. He is an honorable gentleman in all respects, and he and family, who are nicely situated on the farm near Cuyahoga Falls, are held in high esteem by all who know them. REMUS STANFORD, a retired farmer and one of the oldest and most high, ly respected citizens of Randolph, Portage county, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Mar- ietta, August 25, 18 14, a son of Oliver and Olin (Mason) Stanford, natives of Massa- chusetts, who settled in Ohio in 181 2. Oliver Stanford was a carpenter by trade, but later became a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Olin, daughter of Andrew and Pris- cilla (Galop). Mason, were born nine children, three of whom are still living, viz: Oremus, the subject; Harry, of Nebraska, and Nesslie of Rootstown, Ohio; the deceased were Will- iam; Mary, who was the wife of William Law- rence; Orren, Leroy, Squire, and Jancley (wife of K. Redfield). The father of this family died in 1866, at the age of eighty years, two months, and seventeen days, and the mother at the age of eighty-four. Andrew Mason, the maternal grandfather of Oremus Stanford, was a farmer, and also for many years a manufacturer of brick. He reared a family of ten children, named as fol- lows: Olin, Squire, Lauren, Orrison, Ruby, Polly, Adaus, Emeline, Noble and Orrin. Oremus Stanford received a good public- school education, and learned carpentry and joining under his father, with whom he re- mained until 1832, when he came to Ran- dolph and followed his trade twenty-five years, and also worked as a millwright, constructing a large number of water-wheels. April 14, 1836, he married Miss Sallie Chendon, daugh- ter of Almon and Gertrude Chendon, who early came from one of the eastern states and first located in Atvvater, Ohio, but later came to Randolph, the father being a farmer; they reared eight children, of whom only one is now living — Susanna, Mary, wife of Dr. Garlie; the deceased were named Victor, Hiram. Al- mon, Sallie (Mrs. Stanford), John, Henry and Chancie. Mr. Chendon died at the age of sixty-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Oremus Stanford were born two children — Frank, who resides in Brimfield township. Portage county, and Vic- tor, who was killed in the army b}' the explo- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 955 sion of a gun in 1864. Mrs. Stanford was called to her final home February 14, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years, a devout Christian, a loving mother, and a loyal and affectionate wife and helpmate for fifty-six years. Mr. Stanford has always been a strong temperance man, and in politics is a repub- lican. He has served his fellow-citizens in several official capacities, among them that of township trustee for many years. He had been, up to the date of his retirement, an in- dustrious and skillful mechanic and intelligent agriculturist, and is now enjoying in peace and comfort the fruits of his long and useful life, deservedly honored by all his neighbors, and by the community in general, as an up- right man and a conscientious Christian. >T^AMES S. SWEENEY, M. D., who has m been in active practice in Kent, Portage /• 1 county, for more than a quarter of a century, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, August 14, 1 83 1, a son of John and Dolly (Brown) Sweeney, natives, respectively, of Ireland and Vermont (or New Hampshire), but married in Trumbull county, Ohio. John Sweeney, father of subject, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1793, and before he had reached his majority was impressed into the British army and sent with the troops to America to aid in crushing the dearly-bought liberties of the United States by invading the country from 1 8 1 2 to 1815.- He took part in the battle of Pittsburg, and when the British army went into winter quarters Mr. Sweeney quietly left the army and went to Detroit, where he worked as a laborer. In 18 14 or 18 15 he came to Ohio, stopped for a while in Cleve- land, and then removed to Painesville, in Lake county, where he purchased land. He was then prepared to take a wife and was married. in Trumbull county, to Dolly Brown, a native of New England (either of Vermont or New Hampshire), who came to Ohio with her brother, Ephraim Brown, and settled in Trum- bull county. On his marriage Mr. Sweeney removed to Middlefield, Geauga county, and purchased a farm, and here lost his wife in 1865, his own death following in 1874. To John Sweeney and wife were born three chil- dren, viz: Edward J., born July 4, 1824, was educated for a physician but later became an attorney, and died at Painesville at the age of sixty-three years; Thomas, born in September, 1820, was a physician, and died at Chardon at the age of about sixty years; James S., the youngest, is the subject of this memoir. James S. Sweeney was educated element- arily in the district and select schools while being trained to the hard labor of his father's farm. \\'hen fully prepared, he read medicine with his eldest brother, Edward J., at Nelson, and then with a Dr. Coulter, continuing his studies from 1850 until 1854. He then en- tered upon practice at Parkman, Geauga county, where he remained four years, and thence removed to Chardon, then to Stowe, in Summit county. In November, 1861, he enlisted in company A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until December, 1862, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. On returning he suffered from ill health for two years and then resumed practice, finally settling in Kent, in 1871, where he has since built up one of the most respectable and lu- crative lines of practice in the cit^'. The marriage of Dr. Sweeney took place June 20, 1854, to Miss Addia Rockwell, a na- tive of and residing in Rome, Ashtabula county, and a daughter of Joseph Rockwell. Three children have blessed this marriage, viz: Dolly, wife of Byron Longcoy, residing near Kent; Edward J., who died April 21, 1886, at 956 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD the age of twenty-two years, and Alice B., wife of C. W. Bales, of Marion county. In politics the doctor is a democrat, and has served one term as mayor of Kent, and several terms as a member of the city council and as a member of the school board, and has done much toward promoting the many im- provements that were so much needed a few years since in the way of electric lights, side- walks and water-works. Fraternally, he is a member of A. H. Day post, G. A. R. , of which he is a past commander. The doctor is a whole-souled, genial gentleman, ever ready to aid a friend or to advance a public improve- ment, and the first $500 he ever made went to satisfy a security note. He is thorough in his profession and has maintained his office and residence in the same locality since 1871. He has been a soldier, as has been seen; his father was a soldier, and his grandfather lost all his property by confiscation for the patriotic part he took in the Irish "rebellion " of 1798. IHOMAS J. WILLIAMS, the able superintendent for the Hudson Coal company, in Palmyra township, Port- age county, Ohio, and an enterpris- ing business man, was born in Pontrahydfend- digaid, shire of Cardigan, Wales, February 27, 1848. His father was a miner, and came to America about 1848, and for a short time lived in Pittsburg, Pa., but later settled in Youngs- town, Ohio, where he had charge of a blast furnace the remainder of his life. Of his eight- een children, four still survive, viz. : David, Thomas J., Lizzie (wife of John P. Williams) and Griffith. In 1852, while temporarily liv- ing at Crab Creek, Ohio, Mr. Williams, in company with his brother, drove from Palmyra to Paris Center, and while they were crossing the Mahoning river, the water being high, they missed the road and were both drowned, to- gether with both horses. The mother of sub- ject still survives and resides in Deerfield, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, and in excellent health. Thomas J. Williams was but a trifle over a year old when brought to America by his parents, and was four months crossing the ocean. He received but little education in boyhood, as he was early set to work in the mines, and it is through his personal attention to his duties, perseverance and indomitable pluck, added to habits of the strictest integrity, that he has reached his present responsible position. After the death of his father, he lived with an aunt, Mrs. Davis, in Paris town- ship, about six months, and then he, with a brother, went to Crab Creek, where he re- mained with his mother until twenty-two years old, being engaged, meanwhile, in different capacities, in the mines. November 22, i868, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Will- iams, daughter of Ebenezer and Everina (Howells) Williams, and this union has been blessed with seven children, viz: Lizzie, wife of William R. W^illiams; Everina, wife of Will- iam James; Catherine, wife of Rachers Lewis; Lavitta, wife of Henry Lewis; Thomas J., Jr. ; Myrtle, and Elmira, who died September 27, 1885, at the age of one year and eight months. Marriage seems to have energized Mr. Will- iams to greater exertion, as in 1872 he was promoted to be foreman of the Church Hill mine, in which he had been working, and held the position until 1885, when he went to Jack- son county, Ohio, where he sank a coal-mine shaft, known as the Glenroy, which he worked one year, when he sold it to a syndicate and returned to Church Hill and opened a mine known as the Toddhouse, and remained one year. In 1887 he went to Center Point, Ind., opened a mine for Weaver, Todd & Co., stayed a year, and in 1888 returned to Church Hill, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 957 and opened a mine for the Vienna Coal com- pany, but a short time afterward was sent to Pennsylvania to open the Royal shaft for the same company. Six months later he returned to Church Hill, where he was superintendent of the Toddhouse until the spring of 1889, then came to Palmyra township, where he held the position of " boss " for the Hudson Coal com- pany until 1896. During this period of seven years, he sank a shaft for this company at Deerfield, which is now the best equipped in the district. In 1896 he was appointed super- intendent of the Hudson Coal company, his present position, controlling mines No. i to 4, of which No. 3 was finished by Mr. Williams himself. The proudest event in the life of Mr. Will- iams was probably that which happened when he left Church Hill, when the employees, numbering about 6®o, presented him with a gold watch that cost $135, as a token of their esteem for him as their foreman. In politics Mr. Williams is a republican, and has served as township committeeman and school director, and also as a member of the executive board of Portage county. Fra- ternally he is a member of Western Star lodge. No. 21, F. & A. M., of Youngstown, of chapter No. 93, R. A. M., and St. John's commandery, No. 20, K. T. Mrs. Catherine Williams, wife of our sub- ject, was born in Romney, Wales, December 10, 1849, and was brought to America by her parents when two years of age. Her father was a miner, and to his marriage with Miss Everina Howells were born three children, two of whom are still living, viz: Mr. Williams and Elizabeth, wife of Edward Miller; the de- ceased child, William, died in 1857, aged one year. The father of Mrs. Williams died August 16, 1 868, aged forty-four years, and the mother May 8, 1857, aged thirty-four, and both members of the Welsh Methodist church. (D RS. ELIZA BRADFORD (PRICE) WETMORE is a member of one of the most respected of the pioneer families of Cuyahoga Falls and one of the most venerable ladies living in the county. Henry Wetmore, her husband was the son of Judge William and Anna Wetmore. Judge Wetmore was born in Hartford, Conn., in 17.71. His wife, who was Anna Ogden, was born January 10, 1775, in Connecticut. They both descended from good old Puritan colonial families, and were married November 28, 1795, at Hartford, Conn. Anna Ogden was the daughter of Jacob Ogden, a prominent merchant of Hartford. Judge Wetmore was engaged in business in early life in company with his father-in-law, as a contractor, and built the court house of Hartford. Judge Ogden later moved to New Haven, and moved to Ohio in 1805, as the agent of Judge Joshua Stowe, of Middletown,Conn., the judge being a large owner of land on the Western Reserve. William Wetmore first settled in in the woods three miles from Silver Lake, now in Summit county, being the original pioneer in that part of the township, and the country around Silver Lake being then peopled by the Indians. Here he built a log cabin and lived a short time, and then moved to Raven- na, Ohio, where he was one of the first set- tlers, and held the office of recorder. He resigned this office and settled on a large tract of land which he bought of Judge Stowe, at Silver Lake, the township being named Stowe after Judge Stowe. Judge Wetmore built a residence on the banks of the lake, which was then called Wetmore pond, and cleared up a large farm. At one time he established a store between the lake and Cuyahoga Falls, at what is now called the old village. His first wife, Anna Ogden, died, and on his return to Con- necticut, to buy goods, he married at New 958 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Haven, her sister, Jerusha Ogden (born at Hartford, Conn., in March, 1777), but no children were born to this marriage. Judge WiUiam Wetmore was one of the organizers of Summit county. He was long circuit judge from the county and filled the office until he resigned. He died October 9, 1827, aged fifty- six. He was a man of great force of character and noble presence. His nearest neighbor was at Hudson, Ohio, were he traded. He was very friendly with the Indians and accus- tomed to deal with them, treating them kindly at all times, and was always at peace with them. Henry Wetmore, son of above, and the husband of our subject, was born February 10, 1 801, in Hartford, Conn., and was a child of four years when brought to Ohio by his par- ents. He was brought up in the pioneer wil- derness and gained his education at Tall- madge, Ohio, where a minister from Connec- ticut had a celebrated school in those days. He early engaged in mercantile business with his father, and married Eliza Bradford Price, December 8, 1830, at Kent, then Franklin, Portage county, Ohio. This lady was born October 2, 1810, at Caldwell's Manor, near Lake Champlain, Vt. , a daughter of John and Hulda (Stillwell) Price. John Price, her father, was the son of Dr. Price, a surgeon during the Revolutionary war in the British army, and a descendant from a family of En- glish nobility — the family having a coat of arms. Dr. John Price married, in England, a Miss Mary Brownjohn, of New York city. Their children were John, William, George, Mary and Eliza. Dr. Price settled in New York city after the Revolutionary war, and his sons, WiUiam and John, bought property on lake Champlain at Caldwell's Manor. They built warehouses and stores at Platts- burg and Montreal, and did a large business during the war of 1812. John Price, the father of the subject, mar- ried Hulda Stillwell, and their children were Eliza Bradford, Mary (who died aged twenty- five years) and John (who died young). Mr. Price died while engaged in the mercantile business on lake Champlain. His wife soon sickened and died, and our subject, Eliza, was reared by her uncle, William, who moved with his family to Kent, Ohio, probably about 181 5, when she was very young, as Mrs. Wet- more, born in 18 10, can remember but one incident of the journey. Mrs. Wetmore was brought up among the pioneers and received a limited education at Warren. Ohio. Her uncle was a merchant and miller at Kent and withal a prosperous farmer. He was killed by an accident in 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Wet- more, after marriage, settled in Cuyahoga Falls, where he and his brothers had built the .first houses and where he engaged in the mer- cantile business and owned the first stone house in this place, and, in company with his brother, Ogden, Mr. Wetmore cut the first trees and marked out the town. They built the first bridge and dam and dug the first well, and built the first flouring-mill, paper-mill, saw-mill and grist-mill, and engaged in the manufacturing of tools, and did an extensive business. They were well known and ener- getic pioneers, and the real founders of the town. Mr. Wetmore always refused to hold office, although it was frequently offered him, but in politics was a whig and later a repub- lican. He was a stanch temperance man, and, in company with Dr. Wilcox and E. N. Sill, organized the first temperance society in the state of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs Wetmore were both liberal in religious views and assisted to build, and aided with their means, all the dif- ferent churches in Cuyahoga Falls, and as- sisted all other good causes. Mr. Wetmore lived to the great age of over ninety years and died January 10, 1892. He erected many OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 959 buildings, among them the old part of the present hotel, which he used as a store, and in the back part his brother lived with his family. He accumulated a handsome prop- erty, but was always a public-spirited and lib- eral man, and was much respected for his honorable character. The children that blessed his marriage were Henry W., born November i6, 1834, and George Prentiss, born September 19, 1836. George Prentiss Wetmore married Harriet Tanner Hanford, September i, 1862, and they had three sons — - all now deceased — who were named William H., born June 7, 1863; Henry Price, born July 21, 1866, and George Sackett, born Feb- ruary I, 1868. Mrs. Eliza B. Wetmore is now a venerable lady of eighty-seven years of age, but retains her faculties wonderfully. She made a trip, for pleasure, to California in 1896, and trav- eled six months with friends, enjoying the trip remarkably. In 1897 she made a trip to Flor- ida. Mrs. Wetmore's reminiscences of pio- neer days are of great interest, running over the entire settlement of the country. The following genealogical record, found among Mr. Wetmore's private papers, in his own handwriting, is well worth the space it occupies in this volume: Thomas Wetmore, born in England, 161 5, came to America in 1635, when twenty years old, married Sarah Willock in December, 1645. Their children were John, Elizabeth, Azariah, Beriah, Nathaniel, Joseph, Sarah and Judith. His wife died, and he married Mary Piatt, and their children were Mehitable M., Seth, Katherine, Benjamin, Abigail and Han- nah. Seth Wetmore, Sr., married Mary Wright, November 14, 1768. Births: Seth Wetmore, Jr., September 10, 1769; WiUiam, September 16, 1771; Hannah, May — , 1773; Samuel, October 5, 1775; Mary, September 14, 1777; Willard Wright, October 14, 1779; Titus, July 16, 1 781; J , July 21, 1783; Lucy, April 6, 1786;' Nathaniel, October 30, 1790. Seth Wetmore, Sr. , married Lucy Scott, March 27, 1791. Children: Julia, born June 21, 1792; Harriet, born September 23, 1794. William Wetmore married Anna Ogden, No- vember 28, 1795. Children: William, Jr., born September 5, 1796, and died June 12, 1852; Edwin, born September 25, 1798; , December 25, 1782; Henry, born February 10, 1801; Clarissa, born March 18, 1804, died April 26, 1864; Jacob Ogden, born June 29, 1807; Harriet, born February 17, 1S16. Deaths: Daughter, Harriet, Sep- tember 16, 1823; mother, June 10, 1825; fa- ther, October 5, 1827; son, Ogden, June 8, 1841; son, William, June 12, 1852; daughter, Clarissa, May 9, 1864. Jerusha Ogden Wet- more, second wife and sister of first wife of William, died in August, 1854; son, Edward, December 25, 1872. ,V^^ORMAN M. WEYRICK, a rising I M young attorney at law, is a native ^ f of Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio, but has his business office in room No. 4, Abbey block. No. 126 Main street, in the city of Akron. John W. Weyrick, father of Norman M., was also a native of Summit county, Ohio, and was a son of David Weyrick, who came from Pennsylvania, and was one of the earli- est settlers of Springfield township. Summit county, Ohio. John W. was reared on his father's farm, married Miss Susannah Snyder, daughter of Joshua Snyder, and became the father of seven children, viz: William F., Milton B., Henry D., Ira S., Ellen E., Nor- man M. and Loverta M., now the wife of John Smith. The father, John W. , became heir to the old homestead, was an excellent and pros- perous farmer, served many years as township trustee, was greatly respected by his fellow- townsmen, and died July 4, 1891, a pious and consistent member of the Reformed church. 960 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD His widow still resides on the homestead, is also a member of the Reformed church, and is most highly esteemed by the entire community. Norman M. Weyrick was born April 26, 1874, and was reared on the home farm, which he assisted in cultivating during the summer months. He was educated in the district school, which he attended during the winter months until eighteen years of age, and then taught school one term. In 1893, however, he had begun the study of law under the well- known lawyer, ex-Mayor Watters, and was ad- mitted to the bar in June, 1895. He at once opened his office at the address mentioned in the opening paragraph of this article, and has already secured a very fair share of current patronage. He is still unmarried, and his leisure hours are passed on the old homestead, with his mother, in Springfield township. He is a member of the Reformed church, in poli- tics is a democrat, and is highly respected for his individual merits, and there is beyond a doubt a bright career awaiting him in the near future. aH. WHIPPLE, M. D.,of Barberton, Norton township, Summit county, Ohio, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Mansfield, Tioga county, August 18, 1859. His great -great- grandfather, Benjamin Whipple was long a captain in the war for American independ- ence, and a brother of Abraham Whipple, who was an admiral in the United States navy. Joseph Whipple, grandfather of the doctor, was born and reared, and farmed until his death, in Rutland county, Vt. , and was a strong abolitionist in his politics. Joseph Whipple, father of the subject, was born in the city of Fair Haven, Rutland county, Vt. , August 22, 181 3, and always followed the vocation of farming. He married, in Pultney, Rutland county, June 7, 1839, Miss Eliza A. Culver, a native of Vermont, born December 19, 181 5. Some considerable time after mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Whipple removed to Earls- ville, N. Y. , and later to Mansfield, Pa., where Mrs. Whipple ended her days February i, 1885, and Mr. Whipple April 26, 1894. C. H. Whipple, the subject, passed his early days on his father's farm in the Keystone state, and was preliminarily educated in the district schools. He also attended the Pennsyl- vania state Normal school and prepared him- self for teaching, a vocation he followed for nine successive winters — farming in the sum- mers. During this period he industriously devoted himself to the study of medicine under proper preceptors, and in the fall of 1887 en- tered the Hahnemann (Homeopathic) college, Chicago, and immediately on graduating, eight years ago, chose his present field for prac- tice, and that he has been successful is proven by his long stay. The doctor has for fourteen years been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, and in this he has filled the office of steward; in his politics he is a prohibitionist, and fraternally he is a member of Knights of Pythias lodge. No. 486, in which he has filled all the chairs. He is ex-examining physician of Ben Hur tribe, but his private practice now requires all his available time and attention. The doctor is an affable gentleman, and is as much respected for his genial and pleasant disposition as for his professional skill. Mrs. K. W. Cory, M. D., the accomplished lady physician of Barberton, Ohio, was born in Mansfield, Pa., November 9, 1849, and in June, 1868, graduated from the Mansfield Normal college. For the ten following years she was engaged in school-teaching — studying medicine the meanwhile. In 1880 she gradu- ated from the Cleveland Homeopathic hospital and college and at once began practice in Painesville, Lake county, Ohio, meeting with OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 961 phenomenal success. In June, 1882, she was united in marriage with N. S. Cory, a me- chanic of Barberton, Ohio, to whom she has borne one son — Jay W. In 1889, Dr. Cory located in Akron, where she controlled a lib- eral share of patronage until 1894, when she settled in Barberton, occupying the same office with her brother, Dr. C. H. Whipple. She has been physician to the Ben Hur tribe and I. P. A., and the Ladies' Maccabees society, but her private practice now absorbs all her attention. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a teacher in the Sunday-school, and has gained hosts of friends since she has taken up her residence in the city of Barberton. BRANK H. WHEELER, secretary of the Van Wart Liquor & Opium Cure company of Akron, Ohio, is a native of this city and was born March 2, i860, and here his parents, Henry F. and Ella (McMasters) Wheeler, still maintain their resi- dence. The son, Frank H., received his pre- liminary education in the public schools of the city, and this education was supplemented by an attendance at Buchtel college until he had attained his eighteenth year, when he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Jacobs; being prepared for advanced in- struction, he entered the Rush Medical college of Chicago, 111., and attended the usual course of lectures. In 1884 he went to New York city, having accepted the position of secretary of the Fabric Fire Hose company, in which capacity he proved to be so usefully compe- tent that he was retained until 1893, when, as more congenial to his medical education, he associated himself with the Van Wart company, of which further mention will be made, and in 1894, returned to Akron to assume the duties of his present responsible position. 42 Frank H. Wheeler was united in marriage, in January, 1890, with Miss Mary E. Draper, of Brooklyn, N. Y. , and this happy union has been blessed by the birth of one child — Henry Stevens Wheeler. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler is at No. 1 14 South Summit street, where, the center of a coterie of ge- nial friends and neighbors, they pass the too fleeting hours of leisure in tranquil happiness. The Van Wart Liquor & Opium Cure com- pany was incorporated, under the state laws of Ohio, in 1894, with a capital stock of $200,- 000. It was formed, as its name implies, for the treatment of the victims of the too prodi- gal use of either alcoholic beverages or of opium in any form, and for the annihilation of the appetite for, and the toxical effects of, and indulgence in their too frequent use. The preparations used for this treatment are en- tirely harmless, and the desired result is reached within ten days, improvement taking place immediately after the first portion or dose, with no consequent evil effect, after full treatment. The remedy is pleasant to the taste, and can be partaken of by the patient either at his own home or at the office of the company, at No. 20 li South High street, with no detention from business, nor any inconve- nience whatever. The officers of the company are: W. C. Jacobs, M. D., president; B. F. Clark, vice-president; G. C. Berry, Jr., treas- urer, and F. W. Wheeler, secretary. eDGAR WHITTELSEY, e.x-county commissioner and one of the oldest and most experienced farmers of At- water township. Portage county, Ohio, his native place, was born March 9, 1828, and is the second of the five children born to Ran- dolph S. and Clarissa (Mansfield) Whittelsey, and who were named, in order of birth, Pat- 962 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD rick, Edgar, Friend, Randall and Clara, the last named being the wife of Ambrose Goss. John H. Whittelsey, the paternal grand- father of Edgar, was a native of Wallingford, Conn., was of Scotch descent, and came to Ohio in 1807, settled in Atwater township, and developed a fine farm from the woods, afterward inherited by his only living son, John B. Whittelsey. Randolph S. Whittel- sey and wife were also natives of \\'allingford, Conn., the former born in September, 1799. and the latter in November, 1800. Randolph S. was but seven years of age when brought to Atwater township by his parents, was here reared to manhood, and was here married; he here reared his family, and died in 1870, a most honored gentleman. His wife was called away in 1875. Edgar Whittelsey received a common- school and academical education in Atwater, and after finishing his educantion engaged in farming, a vocation to which he had been well trained in his youthful days. November 10, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Teel, who was born September 16, 1823, and this union has been blessed with two children, Lucy and Powell. He has con- tinued his farming and stockraising until the present time, and has made a specialty of the live stock branch of his industry in partner- ship with his brother. Friend Whittelsey, for years, and together they do an immense busi- ness in this line; in conjunction with his son, Powell, he owns over 700 acres of land, which is devoted to grazing and agriculture. At the present time he is engaged in shipping large numbers of hogs to the stockyards at West Liberty, Pa., but at other times has frequently found a market for stock further to the east. In politics Mr. Whittelsey is a stanch re- publican, and has served two terms — 1876 to 1882 — as county commissioner, and has also served as township trustee and assessor. While not a member of any church or secret order, he is recognized as one of the most upright men of the township and is everywhere hon- ored for his probity. He is a worthy repre- sentative of the early pioneers of the county, and maintains the fair fame of his ancestors without blot or blemish. sr ILLIAM L. WILCOX, one of the most prosperous farmers and re- spected citizens of Deerfield town- ship. Portage county, Ohio, is a son of Alexander H. and Betsey (Diver) Wil- cox, was born on his father's farm in Deerfield township March 20, 1845, and was here reared to manhood, receiving a good education in the district school in the meantime, and aiding in the cultivation of the home place until he reached his majority, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. March 4, 1879, Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Miss Adelia Haines, daughter of Stacy and Rebecca (Armstrong) Haines, and the same year purchased his present farm in Deerfield township, where he has since made his home, and where have been born his three childien — Earl M., Edna D. and Stacy H. Rebecca ( Haines) \\'ilcox was born in Deer- field township, September 20, 1852. Her father, Stacy Haines, was a native of New Jersey, was born in 1808, and by trade was a shoemaker, but in his later years became a farmer. Her mother, Rebecca (Armstrong) Haines, was born July 31, 1815, in Goshen township, Mahoning county, Ohio, and bore her husband six children, of whom five are still living, viz : Albert, Eliza (wife of John Frank), Mary (Mrs William Spires), Rebecca (Mrs. Wilcox) and Clark; the deceased child, Libbie, was thirty j'ears of age at the time of her death, October 6, 1889. Stacy Haines died on his farm in Deerfield township July OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 963 31, 1876, a highl)' respected citizen, and his widow, at the age of eighty-two years, still re- sides on the homestead, in the enjoyment of excellent health, and venerated by all who know her. Ale.xander H. Wilcox, father of William L. , was born in Saundersville, Mass., Novem- ber 27, 18 1 2, a son of William and Louisa (Gibbs) Wilcox, and in 181 5 was brought to Ohio by his parents, who for a short time lived in Tallmadge township, Summit county, and then settled in Deerfield township, Port- age 'County. There Alexander H. served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade under Lyman P. Hanlin, and after en- gaging in business on his own account, etected some of the most substantial buildings in the township, including the First Methodist church, and also built the bridge across the Mahoning river south of Deerfield, which stood fifty years. He later engaged in farming, which he successfully conducted in conjunction with his business of contracting. His first marriage took place Afay 4, 1837, to Miss Betsey Diver, daughter of John and Catherine (Hartzell) Diver, to which union' seven chil- dren were born, of whom the living are Hen- rietta (wife of John Hoffman), George, William L. and Charles E.; the deceased were Susan E., who died September 5, 1850, at the age of three years; Joseph, who died May 16, 1865, when twenty-two years old, and Julia, who died April 5, 1872, the wife of William Wil- son. The mother of this family departed from earth August, 6, 1850, aged thirty-five years, and Mr. Wilcox next married. May 15, 185 1, Miss Adaline Barrick, who was born February 24, 1 81 7, a daughter of William and Sarah Barrick, to which union have been born three children — E. B. , J. B. , and Sarah, who died November 3, 1861, at the age of ten years. Mr. Wilcox has always been a democrat in politics, and for a number of years served as school director and township supervisor; he also carried the mails between Deerfield and Enon Valley, a round distance of thirty-seven miles, making the trip twice a day. William Wilcox, grandfather of subject, was a native of Massachusetts, was a farmer nearly all his life, and to his marriage with Louisa Gibbs were born eleven children, of whom two survive — Alexander H. and Cla- rissa, wife of Elias Mowen. The deceased children of these eleven were named Julia, Harriet, Emma, Lucinda, Mary, Seneca, Law- rence, George and Newell. William Barrick, mentioned above, was a native of Maryland, and his wife, Sarah Romich, of Berks county. Pa. To their mar- riage were born seven children, viz: Adeline (Mrs. A. H. Wilcox), and John, who still sur- vive, and Harriet, Elizabeth, Mary, William and Cornelius, all five deceased. George A. Wilcox, the eldest son of Alex- ander H. and Betsey (Diver) Wilcox, was born October 2, 1841, in a diminutive log cabin just northwest of Deerfield, and has been a farmer all his life. October 3, 1866, he married Miss Calista E. Kibler, daughter of George and Mary (Ruggles) Kibler, one of the oldest families in the township, the union resulting in the birth of six children, viz: Mary, wife of Arthur Jenkins; Lucy, wife of Charles E. Burkey; Grace G., Clayton G. and Bessie, all still living, and Bertha I., who died May 28, 1895, ^t the age of nineteen years, nine months and three days. In 1868 Mr. Wilcox settled on his present farm, a half mile west of his father's homestead, and until 1873 was engaged in the production of potash, etc., since which date he has devoted his time to general farming. Mr. Wilcox is very popu- lar in the township and has filled the offices of school director and supervisor for several years. Calista E. Kibler, the lady who became the wife of George A. Wilcox, was born in 964 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Palmyra township, Portage county, Ohio, January 7, 1845, her mother being a native of the same township and her father of the state of Virginia. To the marriage of George Kib- ler to Mary Ruggles, daughter of William and Malinda (Wilson) Ruggles, were born seven children, viz: Melissa, now Mrs. Lester Pat- terson; Calista E., the wife of George A. Wil- cox; Maria, married to Charles Waller; Jesse C, Charles M., and Blanche May, the wife of Arthur Williams. George Kibler met with an accidental death July 31, 1889, being killed by a fall from a wagon, but his wife had passed away November 1 1, 1888, at the age of sixty- nine years. The grandfather of Mrs. George A. Wilcox, Henry Kibler, a native of Virginia, was one of the earliest settlers of Palmyra township, was a farmer by occupation, but at one time owned the largest saw-mill in north- eastern Ohio. ORLANDO WILCOX, one of the lead- ing attorneys of Summit county and a respected citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, was born at Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, December 16, 1 851, a son of Dr. Orlando and Lucy fFletcher) Wilcox, who descended from Connecticut Puritans, of English stock, the name being originally spelled Wilcoxson. Lemuel Wilcox, grandfather of Orlando, was the son of Joseph. He was born in Con- necticut, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He settled in New York state, after his mar- riage to Rhoda North, about 1800. His chil- dren were Orlando, Alanson, Evelyn, Lemuel, Adelia, Mary and Sarah. Lemuel Wilcox moved, in 1830, and settled at Hinckley, Me- dina county, Ohio, on a farm, although a stone- mason by trade. He reached the venerable age of eighty-four years and died a knight templar Mason. Dr. Orlando Wilcox, father of our subject, was born February 22, 1802, at Broadalbin, in New York state. He received an excellent medical education in New York city, gradu- ated about 1827, and settled for the practice at Cuyahoga Falls, about 1828. Dr. Wilcox mprried, in this place, Lucy Fletcher, March 26, 1829. She was born on Grand Island, lake Champlain, July 6, 1809, and saw, as a child, the naval battle on that lake. Her fa- ther moved to Burlington, Vt., and from there to Ohio, in 1817, and settled as a pioneer in the woods of Boston township. Summit county, but later moved to Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, where he died, aged about seventy years. Dr. Wilcox was one of the pioneer physi- cians,' was a member of the early medical societies of Cuyahoga Falls, and well known throughout the surrounding country. He moved to Hinckley in 1831, where he practiced for many years. He died in Cuyahoga Falls, April 3, 1886. He was a strong advocate of temperance and as early as 1829, in connec- tion with Henry Wetmore, of Cuyahoga Falls, organized the first temperance society in Ohio. His children were Nelson E., Rev. Alanson, Lester, Rebecca, Lucy and Orlando. Politic- ally, he was a free-soiler, abolitionist and republican. Orlando Wilcox, subject of this sketch, received his education at Hinckley and Bald- win university, at Berea, Ohio, and read law at Cleveland, in the office of A. J. Marvin, a prominent attorney. He began the practice of his profession in 1884, and soon established a successful business. Mr. Wilcox married, October 7, 1874, Miss Zelia M. Severance, born at Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, a daughter of Asaph and Mary (Pierce) Severance, and to this union have been born two daughters — Lottie and Mabel. In politics Mr. Wilcox is a republican, and has held the office of city solicitor for ten years. He was a candidate for probate judge in 1896, OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 965 but was defeated for nomination by a small majority. He is a K. P., being a member of Pavonia lodge, No. 301, of Cuyahoga Falls, and also of the Ancient Essenic order. Mr. Wilcox and wife are members of the Disci- ples' church. BRANCIS ALBERT WILCOX, a lead- ing business man of Akron, Ohio, was born in Richfield, Summit county, May 17, 1852, and is a son of Jere- miah C. and Julia A. (Wilder) Wilcox, the former of whom was a native of Connecticut and the latter of Vermont. Jeremiah C. Wilcox descended from an English family that settled in America in 1636, but for the purposes of this narrative it will be only necessary to state that he was well edu- cated and came to Ohio in 1808, locating in Trumbull county, and there married a Miss Bushnell, who bore him five children, viz: Harriet, the deceased wife of Rev. Daniel Emmerson; Maria, deceased wife of the late Judge Robert Clark, of Sacramento, Cal. ; Jeremiah D., a retired merchant of Dead wood, S. D. ; Jerusha, wife of Gen. S. D. Sturgis, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Amelia, who died in early childhood. The mother of these chil- dren was called away in due course of time, and then Mr. Wilcox married Mrs. Pettee, formerly Miss Wilder, who became the mother of the subject. The father of Mr. Wilcox died in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years, but the mother still survives, and has now attained her eighty-second year. Francis A. Wilcox was educated in the common schools, then at the Richfield acad- emy, and at the age of seventeen years began teaching school, by which effort he was able to pay his way through Oberlin college, from which he graduated in 1878. His school work extended through nineteen terms — the last three years of which were employed as super- intendent of the Glenville schools. He had taken the opportunity, however, during the years he was employed as a teacher, to study law with T. E. Burton, of Cleveland, reading, under instruction, one year. In 1882 he lo- cated in Akron, bought a half-interest in the abstract business of W. W. Warner, and for two and a half years was associated with this gentleman in this specialty, then purchased his partner's interest, and for six months car- ried on the business on his own account. In 1885 he disposed of one-half of this business to Andrew H. Noah, and until January, 1896, it was carried on under the firm name of Wil- cox & Noah, when C. I. Bruner was admitted and the name changed to Wilcox, Noah & Co. , which has since done an abstract, insurance, real estate and general agency business, hav- ing in its supervision the affairs of the Akron Building & Loan association. Mr. Wilcox is, beside, treasurer of the Akron China company, is president of the Akron Electrical company, of which he was one of the organizers, and has been a director in the Akron Savings bank since its organization. His surplus capital is invested in the stock of various industrial con- cerns in the city, and he has done as much as any man of his age to advance the progress of Akron in its material, educational and moral prosperity, and is emphatically what is usually denominated a self-made man. In politics Mr. Wilcox is a republican and has served as a member of the city council in Akron, as well as in Glenville. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow, in the latter order having filled the office of past grand and having represented it in the grand encampment, and is, beside, the organ- izer of the lodge of Maccabees in Akron. Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage No- vember 9, 1893, with Miss Delia M. Doyle, daughter of W. B. Doyle, of Akron, and this 966 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD union has been blessed with one child, Doyle Wilcox, born May 7, 1895. ^I^- ^"d Mrs. Wilcox have also taken to their hearts and home a little girl, who was left an orphan by the death of a brother of Mrs. Wilcox and whom they have adopted as their daughter, and who was born August 13, 1894, and is named Elizabeth Lulu Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox, with his family, resides at No. 1 10 Park place, where he and wife enjoy the company of a large circle of friends, to whom a generous hos- pitality is always extended. ^"V" OLOMON C. WILD, a thrifty young v^^^^* farmer of Northampton township, ^^ y Summit county, was born in Union- town, Stark county, Ohio, December 7, 1865, a son of Frederick and Susan (Brum- baugh) Wild, the former a native of Switzer- land. Frederick Wild was born about 1839 and was the sixth child of Rudolph Wild, who died in his native land in 1844. Mrs. Wild came to America in 1854, landing in New York after a voyage of eighteen days, the quickest that had ever been made by a sailing vessel up to that date, and arrived at Uniontown, Ohio, on the first day of the foUowingyear. She brought with her the children she had borne to Rudolph Wild, who were named Jacob, Sophia, Sam- uel, Mary, Frana, Frederick, Rudolph and John. Of these, Frederick, father of our subject, worked as a day laborer for several years, and on reaching his majority married Miss Susan Brumbaugh, rented a farm in Lake township, Stark county, lived thereon seven years, and then purchased the farm of seventy-three acres on which his son, Solomon C, now resides. On this farm Mr. Wild made most of the im- provements and placed it under good cultiva- tion, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying June 19, 1892. His wife, Susan, was born in Stark county, Ohio, her parents hav- ing come from Pennsylvania. Her death took place September 10, 1886, leaving to mourn her loss her husband and three children — Clement, Solomon C. and Irene. Solomon C. Wild has added considerably to the improvement and cultivation of the old home farm and has made it both attractive and profitable, being an industrious as well as a well-trained agriculturist, and having had possession of the premises ever since the death of his father. November 9, 1886, Mr. Wild married Miss Fannie Galloway, daughter of Adam and Almira (Cochran) Galloway, of Stowe township, the union resulting in the birth of one son and one daughter — Harold C, April 2, 1890, and Susan Almira, January 5, 1897. Adam Galloway, father of Mrs. Wild, was a brave soldier throughout the late Civil war, having served as second lieutenant in the Sixth Ohio volunteer artillery, and as a citizen was one of the most respected residents of Stowe township. In politics Mr. Wild has always acted with the democratic party, and while he has been true in his allegiance to the same and active in promoting its welfare, has never yet sought preferment at his party's hands nor been desirous of holding public office. He and wife active long been active and ardent members of the United Presbyte- rian church, at Metz, Ohio, and have lived con- sistently with its tenets and teachings. Both are likewise members of the Patrons of Hus- bandry order, and are socially classed among the most respectable in the society circles of Northampton township. HNDREW.J. WILHELM, one of the best known attorneys at law in Akron, Ohio, has his ot^ce at No. 1 1 1 South Howard street and has been a resi- dent of the city since 1882. His birth took OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 967 place in Canton, in Stark county, Ohio, No- vember 19, 1863, and he is one of the three children born to Frederick and Matilda (Pon- tious) Wilhelm, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Pennsylvania, of German extraction, and both are now deceased. Of the three children, Andrew J. is the only survivor. He was reared by his maternal grandparents, Samuel and Sarah Pontious, from his si.xth until his fourteenth year, and he then began to take care of himself. He was educated in the district and graded schools, and at the age of sixteen years began teaching, and in this vocation was employed two terms in Stark county, six terms in one school in Portage county, and one term at anotherschool in the same county, and two terms in Summit county, making a total of eleven terms. Dur- ing vacations he was employed as a clerk and also as a carpenter. In 1881 he entered Union college and defrayed his expenses en- tirely from the funds he had previously earned as teacher, carpenter and clerk. In 1887 he began the study of law with Voris & V^oris and was admitted to the bar March 6, 1890, and soon afterward formed a partnership with Samuel Rogers, under the firm-name of Rogers cS: Wilhelm, but six months later the firm dis- solved, and since then Mr. Wilhelm has been in practice alone, and has attained a proud distinction as a general attorney. During the period of self-instruction Mr. Wilhelm was first strongly inclined toward the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was and is now a member, and passed a success- ful examination as a candidate for ordination, delivered many sermons, and acted as a "sup- ply," but circumstances led to the practice of the law, and in a financial sense the change was a fortunate one, as his abundant success as an attorney has since proven. In politics Mr. Wilhelm is a member of the republican party, and as an attorney is equally popular with his fellow-practitioners as with the general public. He was married, May 30, 1888, to Miss Rose Anna Price, daughter of George Price, and this marriage has been blessed with three children — Earle P., Lillian A. (deceased) and Edith. ^^yrw»iLLIAM L. WILLIAMS, the old- ■ ■ I time blacksmith and wagonmaker of • jLjI Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, was born in Wales August i, 1833, a son of William L. and Margaret (Jones) Williams, who came to America in 1839. William L. Williams, the father, was also a wagonmaker and blacksmith, and on coming to America settled in Palmyra, where he fol- lowed his trade as long as strength permitted. To his marriage with Miss Jones were born seven children, of whom three are still living, viz: Ann, Elizabeth and William L. The deceased were named Isaac, John, Henry and Martin, the last named of whom died in Wash- ington, D. C. , May 10, 1894, at the age of sixty-four years. The father passed away November 18, 1861, when fifty-six years old, and the mother October 17, 1887, at the age of eighty-three years — both devout members of the Methodist church. \\'illiam L. Williams, in whose interest this biography is written, was but five years of age when brought to Palmyra, Ohio, here at- tended the district school and learned his trade under his father. When his father became invalided, he for some time managed the busi- ness, and in 1854 started a shop in Palmyra on his own account, and up to the present time has been very successful in this line, as well as in farming, which he carries on in conjunction with his trade. June I, 1867, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Maria M. Williams, daughter of William and Martha (Roberts) Williams, 968 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD and this marriage has resulted in the birth of two children, viz: Warren B., who married Miss Kate Lewis, daughter of David and Mary Lewis, and William, who is still unmarried. Mrs. Maria M. Williams was born in Palmyra township July i8, 1840, of Welsh parentage. Her father was a painter, and to his marriage with Martha Roberts, daughter of Thomas Roberts, were born seven children, two of whom are still living — T. R., whose biography appears on another page, and Mrs. William L. Williams. The deceased were named Ann, William, David, John and Martin- — of whom the last named died in Minneapolis, Minn., December 10, 1891, at the age of sixty years. The parents of Mrs. William L. Williams set- tled in Palmyra township in 1832, and here the father died October 26, 1846, at the age of fifty-two years, and his widow died October 15, 1880, at the age of eighty, both in the faith of the Methodist church. William L. Williams has always been an industrious mechanic and farmer and has con- sequently won the respect of all who know him. He and family are members of the Methodist church, of which he has been a trustee for many years, and to the support of which he liberally contributes, and the teachings of which constitute his guide and monitor in his walk through the paths of life. • HOMAS R. WILLIAMS, ex-sheriff of Portage county, and a greatly re- spected retired farmer of Palmyra township, was born in Wales, No- vember 23, 1823, and was but eight years of age when brought to America by his parents, William and Martha (Roberts) Williams, who settled in this township, in 1832. Thomas R. is the eldest born in a family of five children, of whom two only are still living — he and a sister, Maria, wife of William L. Williams, of Palmyra. The deceased were David, who was killed by falling from a barn when nine years old; William, who died when quite young, and John, who was drowned in California. The father of this family was a painter by trade, but on coming to Portage county also engaged in farming, and here died in 1850, at fifty years of age; his widow, however, reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. Thomas R. Williams was educated in the district school and assisted on the home farm until eighteen years of age and then served an apprenticeship of three years at painting and paperhanging with M. Carnahan, for whom he worked as a journeyman three years longer, and then bought him out and continued the business for six years on his own account, taking his stock to Ravenna. He then sold out to a Mr. Turby and returned to Palmyra and engaged in farming on the home place until 1858, when he was elected sheriff of Portage county on the republican ticket, and so well did he fill the duties of .the office he was re-elected at the expiration of his term. At the conclusion of his second term he re- sumed farming, and in 1864 was elected coro- ner of Portage county for two years, and about 1868 was elected justice of the peace. Mr. Williams has also filled many township offices, such as constable, school director, etc. , and in every position has given thorough satisfaction to his constituents and gained the approbation of the general public. Mr. Williams was united in marriage Oc- tober 28, 1850, to Miss Mary E. Merwin, daughter of William M. and Phebe (Vaughn) Merwin, and this union has been blessed with seven children, four of whom are still living, viz: Martin R., who lives in Anderson, Ind., and is manager of the strawboard works; A. J., an employee of the Muncie Land company of Ohio; Arthur E., with the strawboard works in Anderson, and Herman M., with the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 969 same company, with headquarters at Noble- ville. The deceased children were: Nelson, who died at the age of twelve years; Alice, who died when eleven years old, and one child, who died in infancy. The mother of this family was called away July 27, 1896, at the age of fifty-five years, in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she had been a devout and exemplary member for many years. Her parents were both natives of Ohio and had born to them four children, all now de- ceased, viz: Sarah, who died when small; Cordie; Abigail, wife of David Force, and Mrs. Williams. The father had been a very prom- inent man in his day, and for fifteen years was a justice of the peace, dying in ofifice in 1851, at the age of fifty years. Fraternally, Mr. Williams has been a Free- mason since 1861, and is now a member, in good standing, of Charity lodge. No. 530, of Palmyra. He has been all his life a man of enterprise and public spirit, and has done much toward the development of Palmyra township, and no man stands higher in the es- teem of its residents than he. >nr*ULIUS T. WILLIAMS, a prosperous fl business man of Brimfield , Portage /• 1 county, Ohio, is a native of the town, was born February 27, 1833, and is a son of the late James C. and Elizabeth (New- hour) Williams, pioneers of Portage county. James C. Williams, father of subject, was born in Meadville, Pa. ; Elizabeth Newhour was a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and when a child was brought to America by her parents. James C. was a farmer, early came to Portage county, Ohio, and to this union with Miss Newhour were born fourteen chil- dren, of whom four are still living, viz: Silas, James, Julius T., and Martha, wife of Samuel Fauser. The father died June 2, 1845, at the age of forty-eight years, a member of the Methodist church, but the mother survived until October 3, 1870, when she expired at the age of seventy-eight, in the same faith. Julius T. Williams passed his early boy- hood on the home farm, receiving but a lim- ited education, as he was but twelve years of age when he lost his father. At the age of sixteen he began learning the shoemaker's trade, which he continued to follow, in all, sixteen years, studying, in the meanwhile, and greatly adding to the meager education ac- quired in boyhood. On relinquishing shoe- making he embarked in the grocery business, which he has conducted with marked success ever since, handling, also, wool, clover and timothy seed. In 1887 he erected a large cheese factory in Brimfield, which is still un- der his sole management and ownership. In politics Mr. Williams has always been a democrat, and for four years filled the re- sponsible office of township treasurer, and that of township-trustee four years, and for twenty years was postmaster of Brimfield, retiring from the latter office in the spring of 1897. The marriage of Mr. Williams took place April 3, 1853, to Miss Sarah A. Moulton, daughter of Anson and Daphne Moulton, and to this union have been born five children, of whom three still survive, viz: Cora, a school- teacher, and still unmarried; Millie, wife of Ralph Waldron, and Harry, who married Miss Nina Moulton. The deceased were Clarence, who died November 13. 1856, at the age of eight months, and an infant, who died un- named. The father of Mrs. Williams was a native of Massachusetts and was a farmer; her mother was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married in 1820, and had born to their union fourteen children. The father of Mrs. Williams, who had held various public offices, died at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife at the age of seventy-eight. Jeremiah 970 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Moulton, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Will- iams, was of French descent, was a farmer and school-teacher, a justice of the peace and also a county judge, and died at the age of seventy-six years, a member of the Methodist church, in which faith his wife also died at about the same age. They reared a family of ten children, all now deceased. Mr. Williams is emphatically a self-made man, and is highly esteemed in trade circles for his enterprise and integrity, and in social life he and family are among the most re- spected of the residents of Brimfield. HRVIN WILSON, one of the old sol- diers of the Civil war, and a re- spected citizen of Hiram, Portage county, Ohio, was born February 19, 18 17, at Tyringham, Mass., a son of Capt. Oliver and Patience (Thompson) \\'ilson. He received a common education and early began to work for himself, as he was but ten years old when his father died. He learned the fork- makers' trade, and afterward learned the trade of a blacksmith. He first married, in Massachu- setts, May 28, 1840, in Sandersfield — Louisa B. Wolcott, who was born in Sandersfield, a daughter of Capt. Samuel and Rebecca (Mark- ham) Wolcott. Mr. Wilson continued to live in Tyringham, where there were born two children to him, and then, in 1847, came to Ohio and settled in Shalersville, in Portage county, and worked at his trade of blacksmith until he moved to Freedom, Ohio--a short time before the breaking out the Civil war, and there enlisted, September 10, 1861, in Capt. A. J. Konkle's battery D, First Ohio light artillery, to serve three years, unless sooner discharged, and was honorably discharged at St. Louis, Mo., January 3, 1863, on account of disability. Shortly after his enlistment he was detailed as an artificer, or as one of the blacksmiths of his battery. He always marched with his battery and was on active duty until he was disabled by exposure and hardships in the mountains of Kentucky, where he took a severe cold, which finally caused valvular disease of the heart. He was in hos- pital at St. Louis, Mo., in 1862, from the middle of May until January 3 following, at which time he was discharged as not being fii for further duty. He returned to Freedom, Ohio, where he lived until he came to Hiram about December, 1863, and on partial recovery worked at his trade of a blacksmith, but for more than twenty years has been entirely dis- abled, and for some years he owned and lived on a small farm north of Hiram. The chil- dren by his first wife were Maria R., Alzadia L. and Mary S. Mrs. W^ilson died at Shalers- ville and he next married, at Mantua Center, Lucella Reynolds, who was born in Mantua, April 5, 1835, a daughter of Robert G. and Elizabeth (Stevenson) Reynolds. Robert G. Reynolds was born January 26, 1796, and his wife was born May 15, 1809. His children were Louisa, born August 27, 1824; Lucius, born February 13, 1826; Me- lissa, born February 3, 1828; Robert C, born July 25, 1829; Alvin V., born June 26, 1833; Orrin, born October 23, 1836; W. H. H., born July 15, 1840; Vincent, born December 19, \ 1 841; Albert, born July 9, 1843; W'aiter, born March 15, 1845; Orville, born F"ebruary 2, 1848; Emory, born July 25, 1851; Martha, born October 17, 1855, and two others. There were fifteen children, ten sons and five daugh- ers, of whom all lived to maturity, and four- teen of them raised families. Of the Rejnolds children five served as soldiers in the Civil war — Alvin, Vincent, W. H. H., Albert and Orville. Alvin served in an Illinois regiment; the remainder in Gen. Garfield's regiment, and all escaped without wounds, although in many battles. Mr. Reynolds was a whig in OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 971 politics and was a strong Union man. He was well educated for his day, and taught school in Au;burn a number of years — also at Kingville and Mantua. He was a straight- forward and respected man, and died at the age of seventy jears. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been settlers in Hiram since December, 1863. They were the parents of one .daughter, Lora, who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Wilson has always been known as a respected citizen and upright man, and he and wife are members of the Disciples' church. In politics he was first a democrat, but later became one of the original republicans, and was a justice of the peace two terms, and constable at Freedom. ,Mr. Wilson is now a venerable man, but retains his mental faculties unimpaired, and has an excellent memory. His father, Capt. Oliver Wilson, died aged about forty-five years. He was the son of Joseph Wilson, and was a lieutenant in the militia. Capt. Oliver Wilson was a captain in the old Massa- chusetts state militia. His wife. Patience Thompson, ;was a daughter of James Thomp- son, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a boy about si.xteen years old when he was on the campaign against Lord Cornwallis. Capt. Oliver was the father of Charles, Aba- line, Jarvis, Arvin, William, Harriet and Lovell. Joseph Wilson, the grandfather of Arvin Wilson, was a farmer, and a strong member of the old republican party, and represented his town in the Massachusetts state legislature for several years. m ' ARREN A. WILLMOT, junior part- ner in the firm of Miller & Willmot, proprietors of the Actual Business college of Akron, was born in Mas- sillon, Ohio, June 12, 1868. His parents, Joseph and Lucinda Willmot, were respect- ively natives of Brussels, F"rance, born No- vember 28, 1844, and Richville, Ohio, August 13, 1840. The paternal grandparents of Warren A. Willmot, also natives of France, came to America in 1846, and settled in Massillon, Ohio, where the grandfather followed his trades of cooper and wagonmaker until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. Of the paternal great-grandparents of Mr. Willmot not much is remembered, but they were re- nowned for great physical strength, and the great-grandfather for longevity; he died at a great age, but his wife was killed in the bom- bardment of Luxembourg by being struck by a cannon-ball. The maternal great-grand- parents were also noted for their longevity, the great-grandmother attaining an age of over 100 years. Grandmother Willmot, who bore the maiden name of Remy, was a native of France, was small of stature, but also noted for her great strength as well as longevity, as she lived to be eighty-one years of age. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Willmot were natives of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio early in the 'thirties, and settled at Richville, near Massillon, where Grandfather Wear followed his trade of weaver, but later moved to Can- ton, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-two years — his wife having died at the age of seventy-seven years. Warren A. Willmot began his school career at the early age of four and one-half years in Canal Fulton, whither his parents had removed, and continued his studies until nineteen years old. He then learned telegraphy in the of- fice of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad company at Easton, Ohio, and then for seven years was employed in the telegraph and accounting service of the following rail- road companies: Cleveland, Lorain & Wheel- ing; Cleveland, Canton & Southern; Cleveland 972 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD & Marietta; Cleveland, Akron & Columbus; Northern Pacific; Erie, and Baltimore & Ohio. December 27, 1894, Mr. Willmot relin- quished the railroad service and took up the study of shorthand at the Akron school of Standard Phonography, which was then under the control of H. A. Miller, his present part- ner, and studied the art under the personal di- rection of that gedtleman until May, 1896, at which time he accepted a position with the N. C. Alten Hardware company, at Lorain, Ohio, which position he held three months. Sep- tember I, 1896, he associated himself with H. A. Miller in the ownership and management of the Actual Business college of Akron, un- der the firm name already mentioned, and of which further information may be gained from a preceding review of the life of Mr. Miller. aALVIN G. WILSON, traveling sales- man for Voegle & Dinning, dealers in candies and cigars at Mansfield, Ohio, has been a resident of Akron since 1869, and has his residence at No. 418 West Center street, this city. He is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born at Wilson's Corners, Medina county, December 24, 1837, a son of John and Elizabeth Wilson, who were among the pioneers of the county named, where the father was first a farmer, but later engaged in the manufacture of matches, being one of the first to embark in that industry in that part of the country. At the age of fourteen years Calvin G. Wilson was withdrawn from the public schools of his district and sent on the road by his fa- ther with a wagon to sell cigars and matches, and thus initiated into his present employ- ment. At the death of his father in 1861, an elder brother of the subject succeeded to the business, for whom our subject continued m the same capacity until August, 1 864, when he shipped on board the gunboat Argosy, No. 27, of the Mississippi river squadron, and served seven months as captain of the hold, on the lower river. After being honorably discharged he returned to his native county and town and conducted a small grocery store for one year; then went to Seville, and thence came to Akron, and for nine years was employed as traveling salesman by Collett & Carr, candy manufacturers, and for the following four and a half years traveled for Clark & Co., Elyria, Ohio, also manufacturers of candy. In 1882 he formed his present business connection, and the statement that he has been phenom- enally successful and faithful is substantiated by the fact that he has held this position for over fourteen years, traveling all over the ter- ritory of northeastern Ohio. Mr. Wilson was admitted as a member of Wadsworth lodge. No. 119, I. O. O. P., in 1866, and is at present a member of Akron lodge. No. 547; he is also a member of Akron encampment, No. 18, and a charter mem- ber of Akron canton, No. 2. He is likewise a member of the Cleveland Commercial Travel- ers' association, the Travelers' Preferred of Chicago, and of the United Travelers' council, No. 87, of Akron. Mr. Wilson was united in marriage June 12, 1859, with Miss Emily E. Houghton, daughter of Oliver Houghton, and this union has resulted in the birth of three children — Charles L., Carl A., (deceased) and Frank C. Frank C. Wilson, city clerk of Akron, and also clerk for the city commissioners, is the youngest child born to Calvin G. and Emily E. (Houghton) Wilson, who are spoken of in full above. He has been a resident of Akron since two years of age, having been brought to this city by his parents in 1869. His birth took place in River Styx, Medina county, Ohio, October 10, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of Akron, and at the age of OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 973 fifteen years entered the city engineer's de- partment, where he was employed nine years. April 25, 1893, he was appointed commission- ers' clerk, which position he has most ably filled until the present time, through annual re-appointments. April 20, 1896, he was elected city clerk by the republican party, of which he is a stanch adherent in principle and active in support, and has also served as sec- retary of the city board of elections. He is a member of McPherson lodge, K. of P., Akron lodge, I. O. O. F., and is active in all things pertaining to the welfare of the city and county, having for the past two years been treasurer of the Union Charity association. He was married October 4, 1893, to Miss Ma- bel E. McGhee, and has his happy home at No. 416 West Center street. "^Y'OSEPH K. wise, a representative m farmer of Randolph township, Portage A J county, Ohio, was born in Lorraine, France, March 19, 18 19, a son of John and Eva Wise, but was brought to the United States when only five years of age, his parents coming here early in 1832, and being seventy- three days on the ocean. Their family con- sisted of six children, of whom three are still living, viz: Joseph K., John and Anthony; Catherine died at the age of twenty-six years, Eva at the age of thirty, and Theressa, who was married to Wendell Uhlem. The father died at the age of sixty-six and the mother at seventy years — all in the faith of the Catholic church. On coming to America the family lived one year in Canfield, Ohio, and then came to Randolph, Portage county, where they remained six years on a farm, when they sold the estate and moved to Kno.\ county, where they lived four years, and then came back to Portage county. In 1841 the father bought the farm on which our subject now lives, and here passed the remainder of their days. Joseph K. Wise was reared to agricultural pursuits and was well trained in pioneer farm- ing. He has been twice married — first, in January, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Earhart, a daughter of Lawrence Earhart, but this lady was called away in 1858, at the age of thirty- nine years, leaving no issue. The second mar- riage of Mr. Wise took place May 2, 1859, to Miss Catherine Kline, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Knapp) Kline, and this union has been blessed with ten children, born in the fol- lowing order: Mary, who is the wife of George Becks, of Kent; Eva, wife of Philip Seigfried: Joseph, who married Ella Bixler; Clara, mar- ried to John Kauffman; Louisa, wife of Michael Hoover, of Akron; Emma, now Mrs. William Colton, of Rootstown; Frank, who married Emma Maxon; George, manager of a machine shop in Kent; Rosie and Laura, still under the parental roof. The mother of this family was called to her eternal home September 16, 1889, at the age of forty-eight years, dying a true Catholic. Her parents were natives of Ger- many, and came to the United States about 1831-, settling in Randolph township, where the father engaged in farming until his demise, in 1888, at the age of eighty years, in the faith of the Catholic church, his remains be- ing interred in Saint Joseph's cemetery, beside those of his wife, who had passed away in 1857. Of their seven children five survive, viz : Adam; John; Elizabeth, wife of Harvey Ward; Nancy, widow of William Neff, and Betsey, wife of Peter Kline. In politics Mr. Wise is independent, and votes for the man best fitted for the office. He has served as township supervisor and school director many years. He is a devout Catholic, being a member of Saint Joseph's congregation, and has been very liberal in his contributions to the church and in aid of all 974 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD its charities and good works. He is greatly respected for tils many excellent traits of char- acter, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his neighbors, with whom he has passed so many years of his useful life. t^y^R. JOSEPH WINGERTER, veteri- I I nary surgeon, No. 804 South Main /<^^_^ street, Akron, Ohio, is a native of this city, was born February 6, 1864, and is a son of Lewis and Mary (Smith) Win- gerter, the former of whom was born in Paris, France, and the latter in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, Germany. Lewis Wingerter, on reaching America with his wife and younger children, at once came to Akron and superintended the Wilcox pottery on Lock avenue until his removal to Coventry, Summit county, where he erected a pottery of his own in 1840, and operated it until 1891, when he retired from business. In politics, as a democrat, he served as postmaster of Coventry seven or eight years, and also filled several township offices. Having lost his wife in the spring of 1893, he has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lewis Yeck. To Lewis Wingerter and wife were born six children, in the following order : Lena, wife of Lewis Yeck, of Coventry; Lewis, who is a potter in Coventry; Philip, who resides at No. 135 Wooster avenue, Akron, and is comb in- spector at the Goodrich rubber works; Leo, a potter, residing at No. 205 Wooster avenue, Akron; Augustus, a horse-trader, residing in Coventry, and Joseph, the subject of this biography. Joseph Wingerter was reared in Coventry, or Wingerger's Crossing, was educated in the common schools, and later entered the Ontario Veterinary college at Toronto, from which he graduated in 1894. On first quitting school, however, he became a shipping clerk in the O. B. Hardin & Co. pottery, and afterward was for eight years connected with a brother in the livery and saloon business, but his livery barns having been destroyed by fire, he en- tered the veterinary college mentioned above, and since his graduation therefrom has been in active practice in Akron. In connection with his veterinary practice he conducts an infir- mary for the treatment of unsound, sick or in- jured animals, and has, beside, a well equipped livery stable, and in all these he is doiug a thriving business. j Mr. Wingerter is a member of the Veteri- nary Medical Association of Toronto, Canada, and is considered,- by his fellow-members, and the public in general, to be an able veterinary surgeon. He is careful, tender and humane in his treatment of the animals confided to his care, inflicting no unnecessary pain in his surgical operations. He is, like all his family, a devout member of the Catholic church, and as a citizen is respected by all who know him. He was united in marriage February 6, 1897, to Miss Clara A. Serfass, a native of Summit county, Ohio, and daughter of Peter and An- sennetta Serfass. aHARLES L. WILSON, the accom- modating and popular proprietor of the livery, feed and sales stables at No. 717 South Main street, Akron, was born June 24, i860, at Wilson's corners, Medina county, Ohio, and is a son of Calvin G. Wilson, whose biography will be found above. He came to Akron in 1869, with the remainder of the faniil}', as has already been mentioned in the biography of his father, and here he was educated in the excellent public schools of the city. At the age of eighteen years he entered the employ of the city in its engineering department, in which he remained seven years, reaching the position of assistant OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 975 city engineer. His next position was with the Akron Knife works, in the shipping deparlnient of which he performed his responsible duties in a most satisfactory manner for five years. He then succeeded Mr. Buhrlee in the livery business on South Main street, and, in com- pany with his brother, under the firm name of Wilson Bros. , carried on a very satisfactory trade until the fall of 1895, when he assumed control in full of the establishment. In con- nection with his ordinary livery, feed and sales stables, he also does a great deal of coach work, but as a livery and sales stable his es- tablishment has its broadest celebrity, inas- much as it is one of the best ordered in the city. Politically, Mr. Wilson is a democrat, and in his fraternal relations is a member of Akron lodge. No. 547, I. O. O. F., with which he has been united for more than fifteen years. No- vember 2, 1883, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Clara Cahow, a daughter of Daniel Ca- how, of Akron, and this union has been blessed with six children, viz: Bessie, Josephine, Hazel, Mabel, Calvin G. and Catherine. The residence is at No. 563 Exchange street. ^y* ACOB E. WISE, a young and sucessful ■ farmer, and a respected citizen of A 1 Green township. Summit county, Ohio, was born here March 10, 1868, on his present farm, which was entered by his grand- father. John Wise, father of Jacob E., was born in Germany, June 16, 1809, and when a boy was brought to Ohio by his parents, who set- tled in Green township. Summit county, Ohio, where his father purchased the farm alluded to above. John here grew to manhood, and married Miss Catherine Semler, who was born in Germany, March 24, 1827, a daughter of Michael Semler, and to this union were born two children — Charles, who married Mary Stametz, and resides in Stark county, and Jacob E., whose name opens this biographical sketch. John Wise assisted in clearing up the original homestead, and on his father's death, succeeded to its possession. John prospered greatly in his management of the place, and became a highly respected citizen. He served as a member of the school board, and was an active member of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which he died April 5, 1895. His widow is now seventy years of age, and makes her home with her son, Jacob E. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Wise were also natives of Germany, but early settlers of Ohio, Michael Semler being a stonemason. To his marriage were born six children, of whom five are still living; of these Mrs. Wise, mother of Jabob E., is the eldest; Frederick is the next in order of birth; Caroline is the wife of Jona- than Snyder, and Godfrey and John are the other two survivors; Jacob was the name of the deceased child. Mr. and Mrs. Semler died in the faith of the Methodist church, and had been among the steady-going and sub- stantial residents of the township. Jacob E. Wise was reared a practical farmer, was educated in the common schools of his district, and has lived on the home- stead all his life, with the exception of five years, when he was employed in the sewer- pipe works of his neighborhood. He was united in marriage, September 25, 1892, with Miss Elizabeth Sloat, daughter of Monroe and Mary Ann (Oberlin) Sloat, and this union has been blessed with two daughters, Vernie C. and Mary Irene. Mrs. Elizabeth Wise was born in Jackson township, Stark county, Ohio, December 5, 1874, of which county her par- ents were also natives, the father having been born in Lake, and the mother in Jackson township; they now reside in Green township, Summit county, and of their children six are 976 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD still living, viz: Elizabeth (Mrs. Wise), Charles, Sarah, William, Mary and Bessie. Mr. Sloat has been a farmer from his youth upward, is a highly respected citizen and has served as school director for some yeirs. Mr. and Mrs. Wise are consistent members of the Lutheran church, and have so lived as to merit the re- spect of all who know them, and which is be- stowed upon them in a very marked degree. SON. SIMON PERKINS WOLCOTT. of Kent, Portage county, was born in Summit county, Ohio, January 30, 1837, a son of Alfred and Mary Ann (Scovill) Wolcott, natives, respectively, of Ohio and New Haven, Conn., and paternally descends from Henry Wolcott, who came from England in 1633 and settled in New England. Alfred Wolcott, grandfather of subject, was the first of the family to settle permanently in Ohio, was a school-teacher and surveyor, and founded his home in Summit county. To the parents of our subject were born eleven chil- dren, five dj'ing in infancy and Andrew Au- gustus in the army; four are still living: Simon P., the subject of this memoir; John M., a resident of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Anna Au- gusta, wife of Rev. Lemuel C. Bissell, a Pres- byterian minister of Monroe, Mich. ; Alfred, an attorney of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Fremont C, was a manufacturer in Canton, Ohio, and died in that city in the fall of 1895. Simon P. Wolcott, the subject proper of this memoir, received his elementary education in the country schools of Summit county, and at the age of fourteen years entered Hiram institute (now Hiram college), which he at- tended three winters. He then taught school a few terms, re-entered Hiram institute and was prepared for college, partly under the pre- ceptorage of his former fellow-student, James A. Garfield — a life-long friend. He next en- tered the Western Reserve college at Hudson, Summit county, from which he was graduated in 1862, and then read law with Hon. H. B. Forrester, of Hudson, and later read with Judge N. D. Tibbals, of Akron, and in the latter city was admitted to the bar in 1864. He at once settled in Kent for the practice of his profession, and is now the oldest lawyer in the city, and for ten years was, and now is, the attorney for the Erie Railway company. A stanch republican in politics, Mr. Wol- cott has risen to prominence in his party and state. His first public office was that of mem- ber of the school board of Kent, which he filled ten years; was also city solicitor of Kent two terms; was elected the second mayor of the city in 1866, and was re-elected, serving two terms, and has also served as a member of the committee of school examiners. In the fall of 1 88 1 he was elected to the state senate, to represent the senatorial district comprising the counties of Portage, Summit, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula, and so satisfactorily did he perform the arduous duties of this office, he was re-elected to succeed himself in the fall of 1883. During these two terms he served on the railroad committee, the judiciary commit- tee, was chairman of the committee on sol- diers and sailors' orphans' homes, and of the committee on the school for feeble-minded youths, at Columbus. As a member of the railroad committee one grand speech made his name famous throughout the state, and this was an argument before the committee of the whole senate in opposition to the Brigham bill (senate bill. No. lo) for the regulation of transportation rates by railways, and this was so fair and convincing that the railwaj' com- panies printed and circulated 5,000 copies of the argument in pamphlet form. For six years Mr. Wolcott has also served as deputy state supervisor of elections of Ohio for Por- tage county, having been appointed to the OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 977 office by the secretary of state. April 28, 1 884, he was appointed by Gov. McKinley one of the board of managers of the reformatory at Mansfield, and under this administration there was erected one of the finest buildings of its kind in the country. Mr. Wolcott has also been appointed attorney for Ohio to represent the county of Portage and five or six adjoining counties, under Dr. B. F. McNeil, food com- missioner of Ohio, in 1894, and still holds this office. Mr. Wolcott was happily married, July 17, 1866, to Miss Mary Helen Brewster, daugh- ter of Anson A. and Sally P. (White) Brew- ster, the former a merchant of Hudson, Ohio, and a direct descendant of Eider Brewster, who came to America with the Puritans. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott has been blessed with three children, named as follows: Nellie B. , who is a teacher in Kent; Jennie B., married to E. S. Parsons, of Kent, and Duncan B., who graduated from the Western Reserve college in June, 1896, was his class orator, and is now a law student. Mr. Wolcott has not only won the reputa- tion of being one of the foremost lawyers and statesmen of the state of Ohio, but is recog- nized in his community as being one of the most energetic citizens of Kent, the prosperity of which city has always been one of his chief aims and the promotion of the material in- terests of which has been his constant study. *-|-» lEUT. FRANCIS H. WRIGHT, of I j Tallmadge, Ohio, one of the old sol- ^^^J^ diers of the Civil war, a respected citizen and descendant of one of the best families and first pioneers, was born July 7, 1834, at Talmadge, a son of Francis H. and Eliza (Fenn) Wright. He received an aca- demic education in the excellent academy at Tallmadge and was one winter at the agricult- 43 ural college in Cleveland, Ohio. He was reared to farming and enlisted in the Onio national guards in the winter of 1862-63 to serve five years, was elected first lieutenant and was called out with his company by Gov. Brough and mustered into the United States service May 11, 1864, at Cleveland, as first lieutenant of company D, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, for lOO days. He served out his time and was honorably discharged at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, August 27, 1864, having served about four months. His service was at Arlington Heights, Va., opposite Washington, D. C. , on guard duty. Mr. Wright was always an active and efficient officer and always on duty, and prompt and and cheerful in its discharge. He was not in hospital and was always well and hardy. After the war Mr. Wright returned to Tallmadge and has since been engaged on the farm. He married January 28, 1858, at Akron, Ohio, Harriet Eliza Killbourne, born January 29, 1838, in Akron, a daughter of Louis and Eliza (McCune) Killbourne, and to this union have been born four children, viz: Winnifred B. , who'died June 10, 1882; Elberta C, Fran- cis H. and Ida L. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wright settled on their present home- stead, and for the last six years has been en- gaged in dairy farming. He is a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., at Akron. In politics he is a republican and has served as a member of the board of education several terms. He was a member of the board when the present high school was organized and clerk of the board for some years. Mr. Wright is a well known and respected citizen and stands high for integrity of character. Elizur Wright, grandfather of subject, was born at W^estfield, Litchfield county. Conn. He had a good education, probabh' acquired at Yale college. He married Rhoda Homer, in 978 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Connecticut, for his first wife, and their chil- dren were Polly, Harriet, Amelia, Francis H. and Philo, all born in Connecticut. He mar- ried for his second wife, also in Connecticut, Clarissa Richards, and their children were Elizur, James R. , Clarissa, Martha and Lucy. Two of these children were born in Tallmadge. Mr. \\'rio;ht moved with his family to and settled in, Tallmadge, in 1810, on the farm where Daniel A. Upson now lives. He bought 3,000 acres of land and was one of the first teachers and founders of the Tallmadge acad- emy, which he taught si.x years. His home- stead consisted of 200 acres, on which he erected, in 181 3 or 18 14, the present substan- tiel residence in which Mr. Upson now lives. Elizur Wright was one of the founders of the Congregational church at Tallmadge and was a deacon many years. Politically he was first a whig, and next an abolitionist. He was a man of sterling character and lived to be seventy-seven years old. Francis H. Wright, father of our subject, was born April 16, 1795, in Connecticut, and was a boy when he came to Ohio. He first married, in Tallmadge, ClarindaFenn, and they had one child, Eliza. Mrs. Wright died, and Mr. Wright married Eliza Fenn. and their children were Clarinda, Harriet, Francis H. and Martha. Mr. \\'right was a prominent pioneer and substantial farmer. He lived to the venerable age of ninety-three years and died in 1SS6. He was a man who was well known for his sturd}' traits of character, and was respected by all. '^t'OHN H. WXXHTER, of Norton town- M ship. Summit county, Ohio, was born (9 J on the farm he now owns and occupies, April I, i860, and which, with the ex- ception of one year, has been his life-long residence. John Wuchter, grandfather of the subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was the first of the family to come to Ohio, settling in Summit county in the pioneer days. Eli Wuchter, son of John, and father of subject, was born in Lehigh county. Pa., January 12, 1827, and was but eight years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled on the farm now owned by John H., the subject of this memoir. Eli was educated in the log school-house of his district in Norton town- ship, and in this township married Susan Betz, who was born August 19. 1833, a daugh- ter of John and Rebecca (Byers) Betz, the former of whom was born March 15, 1808, and died February i, 1863, while his wife, who was born January 27, 1807, survived until December 17, 1887. Eli Wuchter, after residing on the farm in Norton township for fifty-one years, removed to Johnson's post- offke, in 1887, where he died April 29, 1896, and where his widow still resides. Eli was a strong republican in politics, and, with his wife, a strong adherent of the Lutheran church, in which he was an officer, and in which he was highly honored, as well as in the communi- ties in which he had lived. John H. W'uchter received the usual com- mon-school education, and clung affectionately to the home farm until 1883, which year he passed in South Dakota. After his return to his farm in Ohio he married. May 20, 1886, Miss Ida May Souers, a native of New Port- age, Summit county, who was born November 8, 1865, and is a daughter of David and Cath- erine (Brown) Souers. The father, David Souers, was born in Summit county, Ohio, in November, 1839, and for twenty-four years was a blacksmith of New Portage; later he moved to the Reservoir in Franklin township, where he followed his trade eighteen years, and now owns a farm of seventy-seven acres, but makes his residence in Akron. He and OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 979 wife are parents of four children, viz: Ida M., Arthur C, Harvey and Albert R., who all attend the Disciples' church. In politics Mr. Souers is a republican. David Souers, grand- father of Mrs. Wuchter, was a native of Penn- sylvania, and he and wife were early pioneers of Coventry township, Summit county, Ohio, where he died September 29, 1888, aged seventy-eight years, and where his widow died April 17, 1892, at the age of seventy-seven years, eight months and three days — both members of Grace Reformed church. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. John H. Wuchter are named Charles H., Gertrude F. and Susie M. Mr. Wuchter is a strong republican in pol- itics and is very influential with his party. During the late campaign he was called by wire to Chicago by Major Charles Dick, of Akron, and for twelve weeks his influence and advice were felt and heeded at republican headquarters in that city. In religion he is a Lutheran, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has a neat farm of fifty-five acres, and is highly respected as a citizen and gentleman. HUSTIN T. WOODS, M. D., of Loyal Oak, Norton township, Summit coun- ty, Ohio, was born in Union Town, Stark county, April 6, 1856, and is of English extraction, his paternal grandfather, John B. Woods, having come from England; he first located in Pennsylvania, whence he came to Ohio and made his home in Summit county and later in Stark. J. B.Woods, father of the doctor, was born in Springfield township, this county, Decem- ber 17, 1823, and was two years of age when taken by his parents to Union Town, Stark county, where he was reared on a farm, and later clerked in a store in Union Town. In i860 he returned to Summit county and engaged in business at Akron, forging rapidly to the front as a business man and financier, realizing wealth and influence. He married Miss Susan Willis, who was born March 28, 1848, and who died June 26, 1897, the marriage result- ing in the birth of the following children: Mrs. Emily J. Andrew, Perry, John B., Dr. Austin T. , and Mary, the wife of John H. Hil- bish. Mr. Woods died August 14. 1896, a member of the Universalist church, and hon- ored by all who knew him. Dr. Austin T. Woods graduated from the Akron high school, and later graduated from the Akron Business college, and then entered Cleveland Medical college in the fall of 1876, from which he graduated in 1879, since which time he has been in active and lucrative prac- tice in Loyal Oak. June 15, 1880, Dr. Woods was joined in wedlock to Miss Ella O. Harrier, who was born in Norton township, Summit county, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Santee) Harrier, and his only child, Lillie B., born November 25, 1882, is now attending Norton Centre high school. In politics the doctor is strongly republican, but his professional duties are too engrossing and extended to permit him to de- vote much time to political matters. He has been very successful and has won a high posi- tion as a physician and surgeon. >^OHN VOSLER WYCKOFF, a substan- m tial and well-known farmer of Bath m J township, Summit county, Ohio, was born in New Jersey, August 16, 182 1, and is a son of Tunis and Ann (Vosler) Wyck- off, also natives of New Jersey, and the for- mer of whom descended from an old colonial family. Peter Claus Wyckoff, the founder of this family in America, came from the Netherlands 980 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD in 1665, bringing with him his wife, whose maiden name was Grietye Hendrick. To this couple were born seven sons, named Claus, Hendrick, Cornehus, John, Gerritt, Martin and Peter. To the third named of this fam- ily, Cornelius, was born Simon; to Simon was born Dennis, and to Dennis was born Tunis, the father of our subject. Tunis Wyckoff was born January 25, 1797; his wife, Ann Vosler, July 7, 1797. To their marriage were born seven children, in the fol- lowing order; Margaret Melick, May 17, 1819; John Vosler (subject), August 16, 1821; Ann Eliza, March 6, 1824; Dennis, September 21. 1826; Luke Vosler, March 23, 1829; Sarah Ellen, May 29, 1831, died March 31, 1897, and Mary, April 13, 1834. The mother of this family died May 23, 1847, and the father, May 4, 1 87 1. Of their children, Dennis died in California May 5, 1876; Ann Eliza (Mrs. Munson), in Missouri, in October, 1884, and Luke v., in Bath township, Summit county, Ohio, in November, 1892. John V. Wyckoff was a mere lad when he came to Ohio with his parents, who located on a farm in Wayne county. Being then the eldest boy in the family, he assisted on the home farm until 1841, when he came to Bath, Summit county, where he worked at various occupations for eight years, when he married Miss Sarah Tinkler, December 28, 1849. This lady was born in England January 4, 1829, and in 1834 was brought to America by her parents, who settled in Wayne county, Ohio, to which county Mr. Wyckoff removed after marriage and remained until 1850, when he went to California and worked in the mines two years. On his return to Summit county, in 1852, he purchased his present farm of 114 acres, in the northwestern part of Bath town- ship, about fifteen miles from Akron, which he has improved with fine buildings. To the marriage of Mr. Wyckoff were born four children, viz: Ellen N., born April 14, 1853, is the wife of Webster Bowles, of Me- dina county; Luke, born October 21, 1854; Elizabeth, born July 28, i860 — died April 3, 1863; John Grant, born September 9, 1864 — died April 16, 1885. The mother of this fam- ily died June 22, 1891, a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Wyckoff also adheres. In politics Mr. Wyckoff is a stanch republican. He cast his first presi- dential vote for William Henry Harrison; he has served as school director several terms, and also as assessor. He has been industrious, hardworking and prudent since the days of his youth, having assisted in clearing the Wayne county farm, as well as the one on which he now lives, and has always been respected. Luke Wyckoff, the elder son of John V., was reared on the Bath township farm, which is now under his charge, the father having vir- tually retired from active labor. In March, 1878, Luke married Miss Omie Wise, who was born August 25, 1856, and died Novem- ber 7, 1895, leaving one daughter, Florence, born June 3, 1879. Florence is now house- keeper for her grandfather and father, and a very good housekeeper she is. She received her education in the common schools and also at the Richfield high school. Luke Wyckoff is a stanch republican iri^ politics. He is a member of Osborn's Corners' grange. No. 1079, and is the present master, and his daughter. Flora, is organist and Ceres of the grange; she is also a member of the I. O. of G. T. , No. 194, at Richfield, Ohio, an organization of about seventy-five members. ' w ^ ENRY D. YOUNG, a thriving young. »^^^ farmer of Suffield township, was born J ^ P in Summit county, Ohio, March ii, 1 86 1, a son of David and Catherine (Mishler) Young. He received his early edu- OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 981 cation in the public school, which he attended until he reached the age of twenty, and here he passed his life on his father's farm, until his twenty-first year, when he commenced farming for himself. He was married, Octo- ber 4, 1 88 1, to Miss Emma Schrantz, daugh- ter of Alfred and Fiana (Martin) Schrantz, and to their union was born a family of five children, viz: Ellen, January 5, 1883; Har- vey, November 12, 1886; Delia, June 24, 1891 ; Bessie, April 16, 1894, and Lottie, October I, 1896. In the spring of 1886, Mr. Young removed to the farm which he now occupies, and he and family are faithful members of the German Baptist church. The parents of our subject were both na- tives of Lancaster county. Pa. In the days of his early manhood, the father learned the trade of a potter, and followed that trade for a number of years after coming to Summit county, Ohio. He afterward engaged in farm- ing, and in 1865, he came to Portage coun- ty, where he has since resided. He was mar- ried June 28, 1849, to Miss Catherine Mishler, daughter of Henry and Nancy (Eberly) Mish- ler, and six children came to bless their union, of whom only three remain: Nancy, wife of Benjamin Mishler; Henry D,, and Lovina (wife of Samuel Royer); those passed away were Maria, who died in 1861, aged ten years, Louisa, who died in 1861, aged eight years, and Lizzie, who died in 1861, aged two years — ^these three all having died within a week of that dread disease, diphtheria. Mr. Young, father of our subject, was ordained as a minis- ter of the German Baptist church, in which he is still preaching, also being an elder of the church; both parents reside in Suffield township. Samuel Young, paternal grandfather of Mr. Young, was a native of Pennsylvania and in his early days was a teamster, driving a team between Pittsburg and Philadelphia, Pa. He came to Ohio and settled in Summit county, where he lived all his life. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Rhoads, and to them were born eight children, seven of whom are still living, viz: John, Henry, Simon, Samuel, David, Lovina (wife of Henry Landis) and Frederick. The grandfather was the owner of a large pottery in Summit county and also engaged in farming. He passed away Novem- ber 20, 1880, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, eight months and ten days. Henry Mishler. the maternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Pennsyl- vania and emigrated to Ohio when a small boy. He afterward located in Portage county, where he engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Nancy Eberly, and eleven children blessed this union, eight of whom are living, viz: Annie (wife of Michael Rabenstine), Susan (wife of William Mills), Catherine (wife of David Young), Jacob, Elizabeth (wife of Dan- iel Merkley), Martha (wife of Emanuel Bell- inger), Emma (wife of Joseph Stevens), and Fiana (wife of Richard F. Adams). Those who have passed on before were Henry, Oli- ver, and Polly. Mrs. Young, wife of our sub- ject, was born April 13, 1863, in Stark county, Ohio, which was the birthplace of both her parents, her father having been born Septem- ber 4, 1 84 1. He was principally engaged in farming and also engaged in threshing. He was married November 5, 1861, to Miss Fiana Martin, daughter of Jacob and Maria (Surbey) Martin, and to them were born two children, Mrs. Young being the elder, and Alvin, the younger, resides in Suffield. The father died September 21, 1866, at the early age of twenty-five years, in the faith of the German Baptist church. His widow was next married to Jacob Mishler, to whom she has borne two children, but one of whom is living — Ellen (wife of Silvanus Fausnight); John died in infancy. 982 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD Michael Schrantz, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Young, was born October 3, 1819, in Lititz, Lancaster county, Pa., his parents then residing near a place known as Shaffer's Mill. In his early boyhood days he attended the graded school under the tutorage of Prof. John Beck, at Lititz, when his parents emi- grated to Stark county, Ohio; he was then in his sixteenth year, and was instructed with the driving of one of the teams. He remained with his parents on their farm, two miles north of New Berlin, Stark county, until his marriage with Miss Sally Mohler, which occurred March 15, 1840. They began housekeeping on a small tract of land in Stark county, and in the spring of 184s removed to a farm three miles north of Canton, Ohio, where they re- sided until the spring of 1851, when they re- moved to the old homestead in Stark county, which the family have ever since occupied. Mr. Schrantz was a member of the German Baptist church and died September 12, 1887. The fruit of this marriage with Miss Mohler was eight children, viz : Alfred, Mary, Cath- arine, Malinda, John, Mahala, Henry and Sarah. Henry D. Young, although still a young man, has exhibited wonderful skill as a farmer, and his well-tilled fields give evidence of most excellent management. He and family hold a high position in the social circles of Suffield township, and are among its most respected residents. HLEXANDER B. YOUNG, superin- tendent of the Kent Water & Light company, is a native of Carbondale, Pa., was born July 11, 1849, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Bryden) Young, natives of Scotland. William Young, father of Alexander Bry- den Young, the subject, was a farmer in Scot- land, but for some years lived in Glasgow. He and wife came to the United States in 1845 ^nd settled in the Keystone state, where Mr. Young engaged in the grocery trade in Carbondale and also engaged in draying. Later still he removed to Scranton (then known asSlocum's Hollow) and was employed as foreman in the mines of the Pennsylvania Coal company; his death took place May 20, 1892, at the age of seventy-two years, and his widow is still a resident of Scranton. They were the parents of fourteen children — seven sons and seven daughters — of whom thirteen grew to maturity and were reared in the re- ligious faith of their parents — that of the Pres- byterian church. Of these children, James D. is superintendent of the Pennsylvania Coal com- pany's mines and resides in Dunmore, Pa. ; Andrew was a molder by trade and also a miner, and died in Scranton, Pa., December 12, 1893; Maggie is married to James Bryden and resides in Carbondale, 111. ; Alexander B. is the subject of this biography; Mary is wife of James Meers, of Hyde Park, Pa.; Belle mar- ried Alexander Smith; David is a baker and grocer of Newburg, Ohio; Katie, Jennie and Lizzie are living with their mother; Thomas, is a foreman in Gj'psy Grove colliery and lives in Dunmore, Pa.; William died in Scranton; Robert is a locomotive engineer at Scranton. Alexander Bryden Young was six years of age when his parents moved to Scranton, and at the age of nine years was placed at work in the coal mines as a mule driver. These mines were closed about four weeks each winter, and during these periodical closings young Alex- ander attended school. At the age of fifteen years he entered the molding shops of the Pennsylvania Coal company and learned the trade, serving as an apprentice until nineteen 3'ears old. and then visited Oswego, N. Y. , and Cleveland, Ohio. December 10. 1869. he came to Kent and was appointed assistant OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 983 foreman in the railroad shops, and so served, with the exception of one year, until appointed to his present position, about 1886. The Kent Water & Light plant, which is owned by an eastern syndicate, was con- structed in 1886-87, although the light plant was not completed until 1889. The water is obtained from six Cook wells, which supply a reservoir of 12,000,000 gallons capacity — the average, daily consumption being about 350,- 000 gallons. In the light plant the Westing- house system is used, and furnishes both arc and incandescent lights. Of the former, the city makes use of sixty, which are furnished at $60 each per annum, and of the latter about 1,000 are in use. Mr. Young superin- tended the construction of these plants, has been the superintendent of the company ever since, and is the only officer of the companj' resident in Kent, the president, C. C. Pomroy, and the secretary and treasurer, C. E. Kim- ball, being residents of New York city. The marriage of Mr. Young took place March 9, 1872, with Miss Mary F. Newberry, who was born in Kent, March 4. 1850, a daughter of O. H. Newberry, an old re-sidtnt of the city, and this union has -been blessed with seven children, viz: Mamie, James E., Oliver H., Irena S., Harry Alexander, Will- iam C. and Robert Hamilton. In politics Mr. Young is a republican and always takes an active part in the campaigns of his party as far as his time from business will permit. Fra- ternally he is a royal arch Mason, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. Young has two uncles and three aunts still living, who came to the United States with his father, William Young. Of these, Thomas Young was lost sight of soon after arrival; David is a machinist at Norwalk, Ohio; Belle married Andrew Bryden and died in Pittston, Pa. ; Mary is still unmarried, and Betsey is married to John Hoyte, a resident of Michi- gan. Mr. Young has been the maker of his own way in life and has well won the high es- teem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens of Kent. ^^y^ILLIAM E. YOUNG, .mayor of the ■ ■ I ^'^'^ °^ Akron and the senior mem- ^_%^ ber of the law firm of Young & Wanamaker, No. 182 South Main street, Akon, was born in Mount Hope, Holmes county, Ohio, February 3, 1863, a son Mathias and Catherine (King) Young, natives of Tuscarawas and Holmes counties, respect- ively, and of English and Irish t. descent, and now reside in Canton, Ohio. The father is a mechanic, politically is a democrat, and for many years has been a leader in local politics and a man of much influence. He and wife are members of the Methodist church, and in this faith have reared their children, of whom there are five, viz: William E., the subject 984 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD of this memoir; Lottie A., of Canton; Har- vey R. , advertising manager for Bryce Bros. , clothiers, of Columbus; Nora and Joseph R. , at home. William E. Young was reared in Holmes county, Ohio, and educated in the public schools, alternating the winter months in study with the summer months in farm work for about three years, until seventeen years old, when he began teaching, a vocation he followed for five jears, applying his salary, as fast as he collected it, to the defraying of his college expenses, and alternating his time between the school-room and the college, as he had pre- viously done between the farm and school- room; this college was the Ohio Normal uni- versity at Ada, which he entered in 1882, and from which he graduated in 1 888. In the fall of the latter years, he was appointed principal of the high school at McConnelsville, Ohio, which position he held two year, and while thus en- gaged passed an examination and was granted a life certificate as teacher. In the fall of 1890 he entered the law department of the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in 1892, and then came to Akron, Ohio, and was here appointed local editor and business manager of the City Times, and local correspondent of the Cleve- land Plaindealer. January I, 1893, he opened a law office in the Pfleuger block, on Howard street, Akron, having been admitted to the bar in March, 1892, and practiced his profes- sion alone until October i, 1893, when he formed his present partnership with Mr. Wana- maker, since which time his growing practice has absorbed all his time and attention. In politics Mr. Young is a democrat and takes and active part in advancing his party and its principles, and in April, 1897, was elected mayor of the city of Akron, being the only democrat elected upon the cit\' ticket at that election. In his fraternal relations. he is a member of McPherson lodge. No. 63, Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of the Akron club. Mr. Young was united in marriage, June 12, 1895, with Miss Mary R. Pouts, daughter of W. O. Pouts, of McConnelsville, Ohio. Mrs. Young is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have their home at No. 417 Perkins street, where they are surrounded by a host of estimable and esteeming friends. 'HARLES YOUNG, residing in Tall- madge, Ohio, and one of the old sol- ^^^^/[ diers • of the Civil war, was born October 20, 1834, in the north of Ireland, is of sterling Scotch-Irish ancestry, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Kemmer) Young. He received a common-school educa- tion, and came to America when he was but fourteen years old, with his mother and sister Bella, '"ho had married Robert McGull. They came in October, 1849, in a sailing vessel, and were six weeks on the passage to New York city, whence they made their way to Akron, Summit county, Ohio. When old enough, Charles Young engaged in common labor, as he had to support his mother. He enlisted at Akron, Ohio, in Au- gust, and was mustered in at Camp Jefferson, Ohio, September 30, 1861, for three years or during the war, in company G, Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, Capt. John Clemmer, and served until honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, October i, 1862, on account of disability — typhoid fever. He served in the Shenandoah valley, Va. , and was in the battle of Kingstown, near Winchester, and in several skirmishes, and in many hard marches in the winter of 1861. He was in the hospital sick with chronic diarrhea for some time, and on partial recovery assisted as nurse in the care OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 985 of the sick and wounded, and about one month was sick with typhoid fever. He was in all the battles, skirmishes, marches and cam- paigns in which his regiment was engaged and did his full duty while in health. Mr. Young married, the first time, in New Castle, Pa., before the war, Margaret Orr, who was born in the north of Ireland, a daugh- ter of Samuel Orr, and to Mr. and Mrs. Young were born John and Bell (both deceased), Char- lotte, Margaret and Fannie. Mrs. Young died in 1865, at New Castle, Pa., and Mr. Young was ne.xt married in Akron, Ohio, in March, 1868, by Rev. Fitch, to Lucy Telley, and the children were Charles, born in Delaware coun- ty, Iowa, February 28, 1870, and died in May, 1879; John S. , born December 27, 1872, in Dubuque, Iowa; Thomas, born at Tallmadge, Ohio, May 5, 1875, and died May, 1879; Mary, born at Tallmadge, Ohio, May 25, 1876, and died May, 1879; James, born May 8, i878, at Tallmadge, Ohio; Grace M., born May 3, 1 88 1, in Akron, Ohio; D. K., born at Tall- madge, September 28, 1884. In politics Mr. Young is a republican. He is a member of Buckley post, G. A. R., at Akron, and has al- ways been a hard-working, industrious man, but is much disabled from his service to his adopted country. Samuel Young, father of Charles, was a native of the north of Ireland, and to his mar- riage with Miss Kenner were born ten chil- dren, all of whom lived to marry and rear children, and all of whom came to America, except the second son, Robert. These children were Samuel, Robert, Isabel, Jane, John, Fannie, James, Charles, Nancy, and Mary, who died when young. Samuel Young died in Ireland and his widow came to America and died in Akron, Ohio, an old lady. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. Charles Telly, father of Mrs. Charles Young, was a farmer, born near Dublin, Ire- 44 land, and was a foundry man by occupation. He married, in Ireland, Mary Byrne, and the children were Catherine, Thomas, Charles, Mary, John and Lucy. Mr. Telly came to America directly after his marriage, located at Monroe Falls, but soon moved to Cuyahoga Falls, where he worked in a foundry and there passed his remaining days. All the children were born there except Catherine, who was born at Munroe Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Telly were members of the Catholic church, and had two sons in the Civil war — John and Charles. John was out one year, was in sev- eral battles, and on Sherman's march to the sea; Charles was in the 100-day service. Mr. and Mrs. Young went to Iowa after marriage and lived in Dubuque county several years, but are now among the most respected citizens of Tallmadge township. Summit county, Ohio. tJX ILLIAM H. YOUTZ, formerly one of the most respected farmers of Suffield township, Portage county, Ohio, but now deceased, was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 12, 1840, a son of Henry and Mary (Ream) Youtz. When he was sixteen years of age his parents came to Portage county, but he continued his resi- dence in Stark county until he reached his six- teenth year. He then came to Portage county, and engaged in farming, and June 29, 1867, married Miss Louisa Weaver, daughter of Jacob and Hosanna (Little) Weaver, the cer- emony being performed by 'Squire William Paulus. To this congenial marriage were born seven children, five of whom still survive, viz: Minnie, wife of Seward Thomas, of Akron, Ohio; Charles E. , who married Miss Elizabeth Vile, and is residing in Mogadore; Murray, bookkeeper in Cleveland; Thomas and Flossie H. Those who passed away were Bertha, who died May 21, 1871, at the age of 986 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD nine months and one da)', and Nellie, who died March 15, 1885. at the age of four years and four months. Mr. Youtz, who was a very industrious man, accumulated considerable property in his vocation as a farmer, and af- forded his family a ver\' comfortable home, but was called away, August 2, 1896, at the age of fifty-five years and eight months, a mem- ber of the Methodist church, of which he has been a devout member and a trustee. The parents of William H. Youtz were both born in Dauphin county. Pa., but were among the early settlers of Ohio. Henry Youtz, the father, was a district school-teacher in his young manhood, and was also a farmer. To his marriage with Miss Mary Ream, a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Wagoner) Ream, were born eleven children, besides the subject, six of whom are still living, viz: Urias; Elizabeth; Mary Ann, wife of Noah Falor; W infield, married to Tillie Thornton; Zachariah, married to Kate Pack- ard, and Sarah, the wife of Isaac Paulus. The deceased were Jefferson, Josephine, two that died in infancy, and William H., our sub- ject. The parents were consistent members of the Evangelical church, and died at the re- spective ages of eighty-six and seventy-nine years. Mrs. William H. (Weaver) Youtz, wife of our deceased subject, was born in Summit county, Ohio, October 7, 1848. Jacob Weav- er, her father, was a native of Germany, was born January 14, 18 19, and his wife, Hosanna (Little) Weaver, was born in Columbiana count}', Ohio, May 8, 1812, of English parent- age. Jacob Weaver came to America in 1840, and located in Fulton, Ohio, where he joined a brother, but later changed from place to place, engaged in trade, mostly of a mercantile character, until i860, when he came to Port- age county, where he purchased a small farm, on which he lived a few jears and then sold, purchasing the one now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Youtz, and on which his death took place. To his marriage, October 28. 1846, with Miss Little, daughter of Adam and Sarah (Miller) Little, there were born two children — Mrs. Youtz and Sarah, the lat- ter now the wife of William Hively, and the mother of two children, Minnie and Burd. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were members of the German Reformed church, of which Mr. Weaver was a deacon and elder, and in the faith of which he died September 7, 1892, his wife having preceded him to the grave March 5, 1889, at the respective ages of seventy-one and seventy-two years. Daniel Weaver, the grandfather of Mrs. Youtz, on the paternal side, came from Ger- man}- to the United States, and with his wife and three children settled in Uniontown, Stark count}', Ohio, and engaged in farming. Six months later he lost his wife, who, it is said, died of home-sickness. Daniel and Elizabeth Weaver died at the respective ages of seventy-two and fifty years, both in the faith of the German Reformed church. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Youtz were natives of Dauphin county. Pa. The grand- father came to Ohio when a young man, settled in Columbiana county, where he was a school-teacher for several years, but event- ually settled down to farming. He was a man of influence in his township, and served thirty years as justice of the peace; was also a soldier in the war of 18 12, and in the war with Mexico. To his marriage with Miss Sarah Miller, daughter of George and Kate Miller, were born eight children, who were named, in order of birth. Andrew, Hannah (who was married to Charles Post), John, Cathena (Mrs. John Chubb), Thomas, Will- iam, Hosanna and Eli. The deaths of the parents of this family took place December 9, i860, when the father was ninety-six years OF PORTAGE AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. 987 old, and that of the mother occurred in 1840, at the age of sixty -seven. The great-grand- father of Mrs. Youtz was a cloak merchant in England, made a successful business trip to America, but on his return homeward died on shipboard, and was buried in the depths of the Atlantic ocean. Mrs. William H. Youtz still resides on the family homestead in Suffield township, and is regarded with the utmost esteem by all her neighbors and the hundreds of friends whom her many amiabilities of mind and heart have drawn to her side. >^OHN A. ZOOK, of Cuyahoga Falls, ■ Ohio, was one of the old soldiers of /• J the Civil war and is a respected citizen. He springs of German and Scotch an- cestry, was born July 6, 1840, in Pittsburg, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Mun) Zook. Jacob Zook was born in Washington coun- ty. Pa., was a ship carpenter and farmer and married, in Pennsj'lvania, becoming the father of six children, viz: John A., James, Michael A., Lydia, Mary C. and Margaret E. Jacob Zook came to Ohio in 1844 and settled in Coshocton county, where he engaged in farm- ing. He enlisted, in the fall of 1861, in the Eightieth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war. He was wounded while bridge building, and was honorably discharged and returned home, and on recovering went to Indiana, where he en- listed in an infantry regiment, for three years. He had served but two years, when the w'ar closed and he was again honorably discharged, and died at Fort Madison, Iowa, August 12, 1887. He had two sons in the Civil war — James and John A. James enlisted in the Nineteenth Ohio infantry, for the three-months' service, and was in the battles of Rich Mount- ain, and Laurel Hill, Va. He died of sick- ness — black measles — one week before his time expired. John A. Zook was but four years old when brought by his father to Ohio. He received a common-school education and was reared to farming. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in Coshocton county in company K, Twenty-fourth Ohio \olunteer infantry, Capt. Josiah Givens, to serve three years or during the war, served eighteen months, and was honorably discharged, on account of sickness, at Camp Chase in the fall of 1862. After partial recovery, he enlisted, at Camp Chase, Ohio, in company A, Second Ohio cavalry, for three years or to the close of the war, and served until honorably discharged, in Novem- ber, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. He was in the battles of Greenbrier Mountain, Va., and Pittsburg Landing, while in the infantry, but was taken sick with typhoid fever after the battle of Shiloh and was confined in hospital three months at Lawrenceville, Ky. In the cavalry service he was in the battle of Cum- berland river, Ky. , on the raid after Morgan in Ohio, at the siege of Knoxville, at Blue Springs and Bristol, Tenn., and at Strawberry Plains and Green Station; he fought through the Wilderness, and was in the Shenandoah valley, fighting through to Appotomax Court House. Mr. Zook was alwa3S an active sol- dier, was never a prisoner nor wounded, and served his country faithfully. Mr. Zook married, in Summit county, Oc- tober 5, 1868, Maria Thompson, who was born in Pennsylvania, September 22, 1833, a daughter of William and Eliza (Matthews) Thompson. Mr. Thompson was a farmer and his children, beside Mrs. Zook, were George, Ann, Elizabeth, Louisa, Nancy, Jennie and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were mem- bers of the Seceder Presbjterian church, and Mr. Thompson lived to the great age of nine- M^ 988 PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD ty-six years, dying at Hudson, Ohio, in 1892, at the home of his daughter, Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Zook have lived in Summit county since the war, and came to Cuyahoga Falls in 1888, and bought a pleasant residence. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Zook are William J., Margaret, E. J. E. and Mary C. Mr. and Mrs. Zook are members of the Methodist church, and in politics he is a re- publican. He is a member of the G. A. R., post. No. n , at Cuyahoga Falls, and is a highly esteemed member of the community in which he now lives. m. ^ILLIAM HENRY ADAMS,of Akron, may well be classed as among the leading liverymen of northeastern Ohio. He was born in Manchester, Summit county, July 15, 1848, the fifth of a family of si.x children who blessed the union of Daniel and Mary (Shook) Adams, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Summit county, Ohio, pior to 1830, and now reside on a farm near Manchester, although the father is by trade a stonemason and plasterer, and through his skill and industry in this line acquired suf- ficient means with which to purchase his farm and retire to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. William H. Adams was educated in the common school of his district, which he at- tended until fourteen years of age, and then began learning the plasterer's trade under his father, and continued this trade until 1882; he next carried on the butchering business for two years, and then farmed for about seven years, when he came to Akron, and for three years traveled for the Columbian Medicine company. On severing his connection with this company he engaged in the livery business in the Empire barn, one of the oldest livery stands in this city, as well as one of the best appointed barns in the county. For twenty- five years Mr. Adams has been manufacturing Adams' Eureka Liniment, for man and beast, the efficacy of which secures for it a ready sale. Mr. Adams was married, in 1868, to Miss Lavina E. Workinger, daughter of Emannel Workinger, and this union has been blessed with two daughters — Jennie and Mabel. In politics, Mr. Adams is a democrat, and Mrs. Adams is a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Adams is a popular and genial gentleman, is accommodating to his patrons, and on all occasions manifests a disposition to please, and prosperity has been the reward of his fair and liberal methods in transacting his present business. ':in 1,° "^^v A N^t '^^^ o V ^'-^ V 4 o ■p. o V nfC t96av =^W:^; y^ \